Gulf oil spill and Iraqi combat behind him, President Obama takes vacation break

U.S. President Barack Obama

Prosecutors seek rare federal death penalty in Ohio fire that killed woman, 8 kids

Rare federal death penalty sought in Ohio fire

Oil-free Florida Panhandle preps for Obamas weekend vacation in Republican stronghold

Florida Panhandle preps for presidential visit

Prosecutors seek rare federal death penalty in Ohio fire that killed mom, 8 kids

Rare federal death penalty sought in Ohio fire

NAACP alleges in letter to BP that minorities helping with oil spill cleanup get tougher jobs

NAACP: Minorities assigned tougher oil spill jobs

Second man pleads guilty in Mass. black church fire set hours after Obama’s election

The White House

Second Mass. man expected to change plea in burning of black church after Obama election

US President Barack Obama

Mass. man pleads guilty in Mass. black church arson hours after Obama’s election

US President Barack Obama

Man expected to plead guilty in torching of Mass. black church in hours after Obama’s election

The White House

Tax cuts and expanded benefits for the unemployed are at heart of bill pushed by Democrats

Bill aims to expand benefits for the unemployed

White men charged with burning Mass. church in response to Obama’s election face more charges

Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama

Lena Horne dies at 92; she broke racial barriers as jazz star with the velvety voice

Barrier-breaking jazz star Lena Horne dies at 92

Media-savvy Mississippi white supremacist found dead; Authorities make an arrest

U.S. President Barack Obama joins Martha Coakley

Belgian rail workers find 2nd black box in fatal train crash; EU officials urge quick upgrades

Belgium: 2nd black box found in fatal train crash

AP Top News at 3:33 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:33 p.m. EST

Storm pounds snowbound Mid-Atlantic, East Coast

AP Top News at 3:32 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:32 p.m. EST

Storm pounds snowbound Mid-Atlantic, East Coast

Search teams off Lebanese coast recover crashed Ethiopian Airlines’ 2nd black box

Ethiopian jet’s 2nd black box retrieved from sea

AP News in Brief

President Barack Obama

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad

US President Barack Obama

Haiti’s history as first black republic creates a special bond with many African-Americans

Haiti’s history created bond with many US blacks

EPA chief Jackson’s quest for environmental justice traces back to her New Orleans roots

President Barack Obama speaks briefly on Afghanistan