National News

	High season for tornadoes ahead Storm chasers are watching the Southeast as a nasty storm brews with the potential to spin off a batch of tornadoes. 24 minutes ago
	Girl in critical condition after school shooting Police say the eight-year-old critically wounded by a gunshot at her elementary school near Seattle apparently was shot accidentally. 36 minutes ago
	Judge: BP liable for civil penalties for oil spill A federal judge has ruled that BP PLC and one of its minority partners in the blown-out Macondo well are liable for civil penalties under the Clean Water Act for their roles in the nation's worst offshore oil spill.
	Obama signs payroll tax cut extension into law President Barack Obama has signed an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut through the end of the year.
	Jury sentences former U.Va. lacrosse player A jury says a former University of Virginia lacrosse player should serve 25 years in prison for the second-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend.
	Solicitor general to handle probe of Ariz. sheriff The Arizona attorney general's office has designated Solicitor General Dave Cole to head an investigation into allegations that Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu abused his power.
	Report: Maryland man at Gitmo reaches plea deal The U.S. has reportedly reached a plea deal with a former Maryland man held at Guantanamo accused of joining al-Qaida and participating in a series of post-Sept. 11 terror plots.
	FDA panel backs previously rejected obesity pill A panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration overwhelmingly backed approval for a highly anticipated anti-obesity pill from Vivus Inc.
	W.Va. mine boss charged with fraud in deadly blast Federal prosecutors investigating the West Virginia coal mine explosion that killed 29 men are working their way up the corporate ladder with criminal charges.
	UC Davis students sue over pepper-spray incident A California university where campus police pepper-sprayed peaceful student demonstrators last year is facing a federal lawsuit.