national

Although nothing in this world is certain but death and taxes, even the funeral industry is getting squeezed by the recession.

For Pittsburgh-based Matthews International Corp., one of the world's leading suppliers of caskets and bronze cemetery markers, that's brought challenges and opportunities.

ELDORADO, Texas - The woman who stood up to now-imprisoned Warren Jeffs had no trouble standing up to a bulldog defense attorney Wednesday during the child sexual assault trial of a polygamist sect member.

A kindergarten teacher was removed from classroom duties Wednesday pending investigation of an incident in which she is accused of asking a 6-year-old girl to clean up another student's urine and then rewarding the girl with play money.

"Ever had leprosy? Thanks to animal research, you won't."

That message, emblazoned on 15 billboards around Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., strikes at the heart of a largely hidden but heated health care battle being waged beyond the national debate over access to medical care.

As the worst recession since the Great Depression appears to be ending, the Social Security Administration is grappling with a flood of disability applications due to aging baby-boomers and heavy job losses.

Pending claims are expected to jump 70 percent this year, said Dan Allsup, spokesman for Allsup Inc., which represents people applying for disability payments.

BEDFORD, Pa. - Land surveyor Lee Geisler was researching old property records not long ago when he spotted a criminal record from the 1890s. A man was sentenced to three days in the stocks and a public lashing for marital infidelity.

Federal agents are raiding thousands of homes of criminal illegal immigrants under Obama administration directives that emphasize apprehending dangerous criminals over arresting nonviolent illegal residents.

ELDORADO, Texas - When it came time to pick a Texas Ranger to wiggle through a little hole into the Temple Annex vault of the YFZ Ranch in April 2008, Sgt. Jesus "Jesse" Valdez was the one.

VENTURA, Calif. - Carolina Canosa turned 13 this year. She has "Twilight" posters hanging on her bedroom wall and loves the Jonas Brothers, manicures and frozen yogurt, like any other teenager.

Carolina also albinism -- a condition that results in vision problems and little color in her skin, hair and eyes -- and that's what people always seem to notice first.

The police auction of a souped-up motorized recliner, confiscated because the owner was drunk, is back on track, now that the La-Z-Boy company's concerns have been satisfied.