A federal investigation into the cause of three catastrophic cargo airplane fires concludes that current fire-protection systems aboard freight aircraft is inadequate, leading the National Transportation Safety Board to recommend improvements and changes to current regulations.

Mississippi-Abortion-Clinic

The owners of Mississippi's only abortion clinic are headed back to federal court in another attempt to stop a new state law which could close its doors -- effectively banning abortion in the state.

New-York-Murder-Free-Day

The big news in the Big Apple this week may be what didn't happen. There was not a single reported slaying, stabbing, shooting or knifing in any of the five boroughs on Monday, according to the New York Police Department.

California-Bank-Fraud-Sentence

Two California prison inmates who authorities say directed members of their respective groups -- a street gang and a transnational organized crime syndicate -- to help them steal $8 million from people's bank accounts were sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison. Angus Brown, 36, and Arman Sharopetrosian, 33, were convicted of leading the ring from California's Avenal State Prison, where they were cellmates in 2009, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally said. The case was one of two major federal indictments targeting the transnational Armenian Power crime group, to which Sharopetrosian belongs and which allegedly has ties to high-level crime figures in Armenia and elsewhere, authorities said.

MED-smoking-brain

That cigarette may be doing more damage than meets the eye. If you've been smoking for an extended period of time, you're likely familiar with at least some -- if not all -- of the bodily symptoms associated with smoking, including but certainly not limited to: Cravings, coughing, shortness of breath and changes to teeth, hair and skin. Coronary heart disease and/or lung cancer might not be far behind. But a new study published in the journal Age & Ageing concludes that smoking can damage your mind, too. A consistent association was observed between smoking and low global cognitive functioning, including memory. The bottom line: Smoking and long-term high blood pressure appear to increase the risk of cognitive decline.

TRAVEL-hotels-resort-fees-warning

If you've ever been hit with one, you know how an unexpected "resort fee" can take your breath away. At up to $30 a night, the dollars quickly add up when you spend a few nights in a hotel that charges a mandatory fee for amenities that might include the use of the property's gym or pool. The element of surprise that accompanies some of these mandatory fees has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, which recently sent a letter to 22 hotel operators warning that their online rate quotes may be deceptive and in violation of FTC regulations.

SPORT-Golf-Belly-Putter-Ban-Bradley

The controversial method of putting whereby the club is "anchored" to a player's belly or another part of the body is to be banned from 2016, golf's law makers announced Wednesday. The move follows victories for Keegan Bradley in last year's U.S.PGA Championship, his fellow American Webb Simpson at this year's U.S. Open and the triumph by South African veteran Ernie Els at the 2012 British Open.

POLITICS

POL-Fiscal-Cliff

An angry warning by President Barack Obama delivered well over a year ago foreshadowed his campaign-style approach on Wednesday aimed at pressuring Republicans to compromise and reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.

POL-House-Republicans-Fiscal-Cliff

As President Obama kicks off a series of events and meetings this week to pressure Congressional Republicans to reach a deal to avert the fiscal cliff, top House GOP leaders are planning their own public campaign to frame Democrats as the ones who are unwilling to budge.

POL-Cole-Fiscal-Cliff

Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who drew sharp disagreement from House Speaker John Boehner when he broke from party lines in the fiscal cliff negotiations, further stood by his position Wednesday night but added he would support the GOP no matter what decision was reached.

MONEY-blankfein-ceos-fiscal-cliff

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein said Wednesday that a compromise in Washington was essential to avoid the fiscal cliff.

POL-Huntsman-GOP-Fiscal-Cliff

Former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has some tough words for his party as they approach negotiations with the White House to avert the "fiscal cliff." "In my party, compromise cannot be seen as analogous to treason, which it has been recently," Huntsman said in a recent interview with The Huffington Post published Wednesday.

POL-Obama-Romney-Meeting

President Barack Obama and his former rival Mitt Romney will meet Thursday for their first get-together since the November 6 election, according to a statement from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

POL-Michael-Grimm-Investigation

Democrats pounced Wednesday on news from earlier this week about a Department of Justice investigation involving Republican Rep. Michael Grimm of Staten Island and possible campaign finance violations.

POL-North-Carolina-Race

In the final race deemed too close to call, Republican David Rouzer conceded Wednesday after a recount in the race for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District showed incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre won by a razor-thin margin.

MONEY

MONEY-powerball-550-million

Wednesday's Powerball drawing could be one for the history books, with the jackpot rising to a record $550 million.

MONEY-stocks-markets

U.S. stocks ended on a high note Wednesday as investors welcomed comments from President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner on the fiscal cliff negotiations.

MONEY-SAC-Capital-SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission is getting closer to taking enforcement against SAC Capital related to the largest insider trading case ever. SAC Capital, a $14 billion hedge fund run by billionaire Steven A. Cohen, received a Wells notice from the SEC late last week, according to a source familiar with the situation. The SEC issues Wells notices to warn firms that they are likely to bring an action against them.

MONEY-toys-r-us-black-Friday

Toys R Us may have bitten off more than it can chew. Since the beginning of the holiday shopping season, the toy store has unveiled one incentive after another this year, from price matching to layaways to earlier openings than ever on Thanksgiving, to lure in customers. But it seems the retailer may have pushed a little too hard, and has found it hard to keep up with demand. The retailer's Facebook page is teeming with dozens of customer service complaints after the Black Friday shopping weekend. Many shoppers claimed that they had placed orders to take advantage of some of Toys R Us' hottest deals, only to find out later that they were canceled because there weren't enough items in stock.

TECH-bing-scroogled