Korva Coleman

Good morning, here are our early stories:

AIG Would Be 'Hard Pressed' To Join Lawsuit Over Its Federal Bailout.

Talk Of Delaying Brennan Nomination 'Unfortunate,' White House Says.

And here are more early headlines:

Thousands of acres are burning in one of Australia's worst fire seasons ever. Firefighters are deployed in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, notes the Sydney Times Herald. About 140 fires are burning, and some of them aren't contained.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

'Enough,' Says Giffords As She Launches Campaign For New Gun Laws.

Benghazi Attack: Only Man Who Was In Custody Is Now Free, Lawyer Says.

And here are more early headlines:

The NFL has four wild-card playoff games this weekend, and millions of people will settle back in sofas to scream at their televisions in joy or frustration on Saturday and Sunday.

Historian Gerda Lerner, a pioneer in the creation of women's studies as an academic discipline, has died in Madison, Wisc. She was 92.

A prolific feminist author, Lerner wrote texts that traced the history of patriarchy going back thousands of years to more modern topics, such as African American women's history. Her many books included a two volume work called 'Women in History': the first book examined the history of patriarchy and the second dealt with the start of feminist consciousness.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Did Hiring Pick Up As 2012 Ended? We'll Find Out Shortly.

Malala Released From Hospital; Taliban's Attack On Teen Sparked Outrage.

There's media speculation that Kim Jong-un may have added another title to his roles as new North Korean leader and new husband - could he be a new father?

Notoriously secretive North Korea apparently released an image of Kim's stylish wife, Ri Sol-ju this week, attending a New Year's event. She's trim and glamorous in her purple suit, standing next to her saluting husband.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

With Those Lost In Mind, Sandy Hook Students And Staff Return To Classes.

Pace Of Layoffs Slowed Sharply In 2012.

And here are more early headlines:

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R), says the NCAA badly overreached itself when it imposed punitive financial sanctions on Penn State over the handling of sexual predator and former Penn State assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky. Corbett is filing a federal anti-trust lawsuit against the collegiate athletic association, saying it ignored its own disciplinary rules in its rush to castigate the Pennsylvania university.

The wayward Kulluk oil drilling platform remains stuck onshore near Kodiak Island, Alaska.

The unmoored platform, owned by Shell Oil, was being towed in the Gulf of Alaska last week when it broke away from its tow lines, as Bill wrote. But seas were so treacherous the crews disconnected the tow lines for their safety. They were later airlifted off the platform. The rig fetched up against Sitkalidak Island, just south of Kodiak Island on New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year - here are our early stories:

It's Not Over: Big Battles Ahead Even After 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal.

Bipartisan Outrage As Vote On Superstorm Sandy Aid Is Postponed.

And here are other morning headlines:

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Apocalypse Not? Seems Like It.

#MomentForSandyHook Today In Memory Of NewTown Victims.

And here are some early headlines:

Clarification at 7:32 p.m. ET: Vaccination Campaign Not Suspended:

The U.N. has halted its participation in a Pakistani-run polio vaccination program following attacks on health care workers. Lack of U.N. support is a big setback, but the government said it would not end the campaign. Officials say the country is committed to seeing polio eradicated and has suspended vaccinations only in Sindh province, where Karachi is located.

Earlier we reported that the campaign was suspended; it is the U.N.'s participation that has been suspended.

In a dazzling Las Vegas pageant with a lot of glitter, sequins and a great deal of skin, Rhode Island college student Olivia Culpo bested 88 other international competitors to win the Miss Universe crown.

Good morning - here are our early stories:

Today's 'Plan B' Vote: Part Of Posturing Or A Push Over The 'Fiscal Cliff'?

And here are other early headlines:

Winter Storm Hits The Plains, While Tornado Warning For Alabama. (CNN)

(Note at 8:30 a.m. ET, Dec. 20: The storm is indeed dumping heavy snow across several states. More here.)

In a statement early this morning, the Treasury Department says it's going to "exit" its investment in General Motors. The federal government holds just over 500 million shares of GM stock.

The automaker will buy 200 million of those shares, and the government will dispose of the rest "in an orderly fashion" over the next year and a half, depending on market conditions.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

UBS To Pay $1.5 Billion For 'Routine And Widespread' Rate Rigging.

President Obama Is 'Time' Magazine's 'Person Of The Year'.

The issue of gun control appears to have moved into business and finance. One of the largest private equity companies in the country is terminating its relationship with a firearms corporation associated with one of the weapons used in the Newtown school shooting.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

In A 'Numb' Newtown, Students Head Back To School.

Is A 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal Near?

And here are more early headlines:

Good Thursday morning, here are our early stories:

Report: North Korea's Satellite May Be 'Tumbling Out Of Control'.

Diplomatic Shift? Russia Acknowledges Assad May Be On Way Out.

And here are our early headlines:

Pope Benedict XVI is officially a tweep. He launched his new Twitter account with this blessing:

Good morning, here are our early stories:

'Global Chorus of Condemnation; After North Korea's Rocket Launch.

As Shots Rang Out In Oregon Mall, Shoppers And Santa Dove For Cover.

And here are more top headlines:

Update at 6:00 p.m. ET:

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law two controversial "right-to-work" bills passed earlier Tuesday by the state's House. This officially makes Michigan the 24th right-to-work state in the nation.

The two bills give both public and private employees so-called right-to-work protections — controversial pieces of legislation that have sparked protests in and around the state capitol in Lansing.

Good morning, here are our top stories:

Syrian Defector: Assad Will Use Chemical Weapons If He's Desperate.

And here are other early headlines:

Union Protesters Converge On Michigan Capitol Ahead Of Right-To-Work Vote. (Michigan Live)

That fledgling Democrat within Charlie Crist, former Republican governor of Florida, has emerged at last:

This should be The Decision That Surprised No One, since Crist was a featured speaker at the Democratic National Convention last September and had been a registered independent before that.

As NPR's S.V. Date writes,