Top headlines:
Lead for car batteries poisonstown: The dirtin this town on the fringes of Dakar, Senegal's capital, is laced with lead left over from years of extracting it from old car batteries. And it is poisoning children. ›08:47 4 Jan, Sun
Bush familys 18-year-old cat dies: The first family, who are leaving the White House this month, will be without one of their longtime members: their cat India. The 18-year-old black American shorthair, which was namedafter pro ballplayer Ruben Sierra, died Sunday at the White House. ›16:46 5 Jan, Mon
5 Blackwater guards plead not guilty: Five Blackwater Worldwide security guards have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in the 2007 shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad. ›22:32
Richardson, Obama teams trade blame: The camps of President-elect Barack Obama and N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson have exchanged comments over the disclosure of information about an investigation into Richardson's gubernatorial office. ›09:30
Coulter: Liberals are assaulting America: In what might be her most controversial book yet, Ann Coulter calls out liberals for playing the victim, arguing that they are in fact the victimizers. Here is an excerpt from her new book, "Guilty." ›19:46
Florida town embraces Travolta during tragedy: Following the death of their 16-year-old son Jett, Ocala, Fla., is where the Travoltas have come to grieve. The city is welcoming them quietly and respectfully. ›22:03
2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Cars Makers Should Greenlight: The concept cars that we think should become production models. ›07:00 31 Oct, Wed
Kittengarten: Take your cat to class!: It's just what it sounds like: a class for kittens and their owners. The goal is to make sure that cats are happy and healthy in their adoptive homes and that they stay there. ›19:36 5 Jan, Mon
Tenn. gov. pledges more oversight of ash ponds: Tennessee's governor promised greater oversight of coal ash retention ponds Wednesday after viewing damage from a spill that released more than a billion gallons of ashy sludge. ›01:37 1 Jan, Thu
Obama designer Pinto sticking to Chicago: Despite being a Michelle Obama fashion favorite, Maria Pinto stresses that her clothes are for real women, not just ingenues who are here today and gone tomorrow. This may be why the Chicago-based designer hasn't campaigned to become a household name. ›20:46 5 Jan, Mon
Afghan cleric shot to death in mosque: Two gunmen shot a Muslim cleric to death inside a mosque in southern Afghanistan, the second such incident in the area in less than two weeks, an official said Tuesday. ›12:31
To find happiness, turn losses into wins: In "The Great Eight," gold medal Olympian Scott Hamilton reveals the secrets to happiness that helped him through his battle with cancer. In this excerpt, he writes about how each of life's challenges can be a gift. ›15:00
by Lawrence Ulrich: MSN Autos columnist Lawrence Ulrich talks turkey about the 10 worst cars of recent memory. ›07:00 31 Oct, Wed
Bush creates huge marine sanctuaries: Announcing the largest marine conservation effort in history, President George W. Bush on Tuesday designated three remote Pacific island areas as national monuments. ›19:21
Craig Ferguson ties the knot over holidays: Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson had quite a surprise for his audience Monday night. The talk show host announced he got married during his holiday break. ›15:26
Green New Deal? S. Korea ahead of U.S.: South Korea said Tuesday it will invest 50 trillion won ($38.1 billion) over the next four years on environmental projects in a "Green New Deal" to spur slumping economic growth and create nearly a million jobs. ›22:47
Scoop: Britneys tour gets off to shaky start: According to Us Weekly, Britney Spears just doesn't have the work ethic she used to and it's affecting her upcoming tour. ›02:25 7 Jan, Wed
Preview: 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser: Toyota's iconic machine gets more grunt, a smoother ride and sweeter duds. ›07:00 18 Oct, Thu
Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton found dead: Ron Asheton, the guitarist for the Stooges whose raw sound helped inspire the first generation of punk musicians, has died. He was 60. ›21:49
Great Barrier Reef's coral growth is slowing: The growth of coral in the Great Barrier Reef has slowed to the most sluggish rate in at least 400 years and signs point to manmade greenhouse gas emissions as the culprit, according to a new study. ›19:00 1 Jan, Thu
Video: From the fall of Saigon to halls of Congress: Jan. 6: Louisiana Congressman Joseph Cao is the first Republican in more than a century to win the seat representing New Orleans, marking an extraordinary journey by a man who toppled a political giant and bucked conventional wisdom in the process. NBC's Ron Mott reports.(Nightly News) ›00:11 7 Jan, Wed
Fantasy writer becomes real-life knight: Fantasy author Terry Pratchett has carved out a career as a best-selling author with tales of wizards and sorcerers. Now he has been given knighthood, alongside Olympic athletes and rock singer Robert Plant. ›00:02 31 Dec, Wed
Cool ice-skating rinks in America: Enjoy the season with a dash of winter air at rinks around the country. ›16:16 5 Jan, Mon
Engineer: Ash spill warning signs ignored: The nation's largest government-run utility ignored two small leaks that could have provided a warning years before a Tennessee coal ash pond collapsed, a former federal regulator contends. ›23:35
