High heels for first-graders? Families, shoe biz, medical world fret over potential dangers

Parents, doctors debate tots teetering in heels

LaLa Vazquez reveals plans of summer wedding with Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony

Actress Vazquez talks of summer wedding with ‘Melo

Chairs, chandeliers from NY’s Tavern on the Green restaurant auctioned to pay off its $8M debt

NY’s Tavern on the Green restaurant items for sale

NY Gov. Paterson says son wasn’t gambling, debit card police found on him was found in garbage

NY Gov. Paterson: Son wasn’t gambling in dice game

Former NFL star Herschel Walker ’serious’ about MMA debut in Florida on Jan. 30

Herschel Walker ’serious’ debut MMA bout

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. — Even Herschel Walker’s mother apparently isn’t too keen on her son’s latest competitive venture.

US Nordic combined skier Billy Demong dives back into life after swimming pool accident

A fateful dive helped Billy Demong rise to the top

Cardinals supportive of McGwire after steroids use admission

Cardinals stand behind McGwire

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals can only hope their new batting coach will now cease to be a sideshow.

Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who defected in July, agrees with Reds

Aroldis Chapman agrees to deal with Reds

CINCINNATI — Aroldis Chapman knew so little about baseball in the United States that before he could pick a team, he had to look at a map. The left-hander from Cuba had never seen a major league game on television and couldn’t name all the teams.

Pandas attempt mating at National Zoo in Washington, female later artificially inseminated

Pandas attempt to mate at National Zoo

WASHINGTON — Two pandas at the National Zoo attempted to mate before zoo officials determined they had not been successful and artificially inseminated the female, Mei Xiang.

Randall, Kornfield take classic sprint titles at 2010 US Cross Country Ski Championships

Randall, Kornfield win cross-country sprint titles

Thousands of fans and Elvis Presley’s family come out to celebrate his 75th birthday

Thousands celebrate the King’s 75th at Graceland

National Zoo in DC plans goodbye party for panda Tai Shan before he departs for China

DC zoo plans goodbye party for panda Tai Shan

Vt. hunter shot after being mistaken for bear joins senator on bill mandating orange clothes

Vermont bill could require hunters to wear orange

Texas star QB Colt McCoy’s career ends with shoulder injury early in BCS title game

Texas’ McCoy out of BCS game with shoulder injury

Texas star QB Colt McCoy leaves BCS title game with injury on Longhorns’ opening drive

Texas QB McCoy hurt on his 1st drive in BCS game

White House gate-crashers heading to Vegas party _ yes, they’re on the list

White House gate-crashers on list for Vegas party

Cardinals CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returns to practice, WR Anquan Boldin still out

Cards’ Rodgers-Cromartie back, Boldin still out

Oaklawn opens new electronic gambling room with more than 800 seats for bettors to try ’skill’

Oaklawn Park revamped with electronic gambling

Police: Husband of missing Utah woman appears to be moving out of suburban Salt Lake City home

Missing Utah woman’s husband appears to be moving

Fannie Mae to review hundreds of Florida condo projects, approve more loans for buyers

Fannie Mae relaxes Florida condo standards

Cincinnati Bengals practice in cold, snow before hosting New York Jets in playoff game

Bengals practice in snow ahead of Jets game

Naked jogger taken into custody near White House, hospitalized for mental evaluation

Naked jogger nabbed after run near White House

Police: Conn. mom left young children in cold car while she went to salon for tanning session

Police: Conn. mom left kids in car while tanning

Ky. man out shopping on Christmas Eve says lottery ticket printed in error was $128M winner

Kentucky couple win $128M Powerball prize

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A central Kentucky autoworker is lucky he held on to the $128 million Powerball ticket he bought on Christmas Eve during some last-minute shopping — after all, it was printed by mistake.

Husband out shopping on Christmas Eve says lottery ticket printed in error was $128M winner

Kentucky couple win $128M Powerball

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A central Kentucky autoworker says he bought a Powerball lottery ticket worth $128.6 million on Christmas Eve while doing some last-minute shopping.

Ky. man out shopping on Christmas Eve says lottery ticket printed in error was $126M winner

Kentucky couple win $126M Powerball prize

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A central Kentucky autoworker is lucky he held on to the $126 million Powerball ticket he bought on Christmas Eve during some last-minute shopping — after all, it was printed by mistake.

Atlantic City casino to offer ‘retro’ blackjack with $2 minimum bet, 25-cent per hand fee

Atlantic City casino revives $2 blackjack tables

Berkshire Hathaway announces $1B debt offering to pay off current notes

Berkshire Hathaway files $1B debt offering

Man shopping on Christmas Eve says lottery ticket printed in error was $126M Powerball winner

Kentucky couple claim $126M Powerball prize

Kentucky Farm Bureau says state’s food prices saw 5.6 percent decline in 2009

Farm bureau says Ky. food prices decline in 2009

David P. Murbach, man who selected Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, dies at 57 in Fla.

Man who selected Rockefeller Center tree dies

Glaus optimistic about health, move to 1B, after finalizing $1.75 million deal with Braves

Troy Glaus and Braves finalize $1.75 million deal

Tenn. officials try to recover Davy Crockett document from 90-year-old Florida woman

Tenn. officials want Davy Crockett document

Kikkan Randall wins women’s 10K in Anchorage; Kris Freeman takes 15K

Randall wins women’s 10K freestyle in Anchorage

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers get USDA grant to study safety of microwave ovens

Neb. univ. researchers to study microwave safety

Miami helps Italian family whose 6-year-old son was shot by stray bullet on New Year’s Eve

Miami helps Italian family whose son was shot

Man killed while eating breakfast when vehicle plows into California fast-food restaurant

Man killed when SUV plows into Calif. restaurant

Warship due to return to Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor after months of maintenance work

Battleship Missouri set to leave drydock this week

Police: 16-year-old girl runs over, kills brother while playing in Arizona mall parking lot

Ariz. girl accidentally runs over, kills brother

SC’s Spoleto festival embraces renovated theater for the 2-week celebration of the arts

2010 Spoleto embraces renovated SC theater

Police: Sister runs over, kills brother at Arizona mall

Sister accidentally runs over, kills brother

Florida father: Identical twins born in 2 decades will get to celebrate birthdays individually

Identical Fla. twins born in 2 separate decades

Thousands line up in Pasadena for Rose Parade marshaled by hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger

Thousands line up for Pasadena’s Rose Parade

Mummers strutting up Broad Street in Philadelphia as rain holds off on New Year’s Day

Mummers strutting in Philly as rain holds off

NH gays ring in New Year with weddings at Statehouse as same-sex marriage law takes effect

NH gays celebrate new law with Statehouse weddings

Hundreds of thousands of revelers gather in NYC’s Times Square to usher in a new decade

Crowds gather in NYC’s Times Square to mark 2010

Jets will celebrate 26 years at Giants Stadium at halftime vs. Bengals

Jets to hold halftime Giants Stadium celebration

NYPD: No bomb inside van abandoned in Times Square, evacuated high-rises allowed to re-enter

NYPD: No bomb inside van abandoned in Times Square

Bomb squad investigates van abandoned at NYC’s Times Square as high-rises partially evacuate

Bomb squad investigates van left in Times Square

One of the world’s oldest giraffes dies at the Birmingham, Ala., zoo at age 24

One of world’s oldest giraffes dies at Ala. zoo