Sorting out NFL pretenders from contenders
Curran: Just which teams vying for the NFL postseason actually have a chance to reach Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla.? Tom Curran is here to sort out the top teams and figure out which are contenders and which are pretenders.

President, first lady buying home in Dallas

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush have bought a home in the Preston Hollow of Dallas where they will live after the president leaves office in January.

AT&T, DuPont cutting work forces
AT&T Inc. joined the recession's parade of layoffs Thursday by announcing plans to cut 12,000 jobs, about 4 percent of its work force. Separately, DuPont said it will cut 2,500 jobs.

Long-term risk in troop brain injuries
Many of the thousands of troops who suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk of long-term health problems including depression and Alzheimer's-like symptoms, researchers say.

Second-tier jobs will have clout in Obama era

We know who the new secretary of state will be in president-elect Barack Obama's administration. But what about the second-tier appointees who could end up immensely powerful?

Zimbabwe declares health emergency

Zimbabwe has declared a national emergency over its cholera epidemic and the collapse of its health system due to the country's economic crisis.

Police chief, club indicted in boy's Uzi death
A police chief and a gun club in western Massachusetts were indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself.

Bernanke urges more action on foreclosures
Fed chief Ben Bernanke called on the government to ramp up efforts to stem soaring home foreclosures, which are feeding into the country's deep economic troubles.

Pierce to talk with Burress investigators Friday

Antonio Pierce and the doctor who treated his New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress after he accidentally shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub will talk to investigators Friday.