Top headlines:
Video: Oakland officials urge calm after violent protest: Jan. 8: Violent protests broke out in Oakland, California late Tuesday after a police officer shot an unarmed man in the back. NBC's George Lewis reports.(Nightly News) ›00:11 9 Jan, Fri
Strong earthquake rocks Costa Rica: A strong earthquake shook Costa Rica on Thursday, shattering windows, cracking walls and sending frightened residents running into the streets of the capital. ›21:49
Hormone therapy may cut colorectal cancer risk: Long-term use of hormone replacement therapy, abandoned by older women because of the risk of breast cancer, may substantially cut the risk of colorectal cancer, research shows. ›21:04
Police stop school bus on liquor-store run: A school bus driver made an unscheduled stop at a liquor store, then allegedly asked a student to help hide her purchases when police stopped her, the district superintendent said. ›21:56
Video: More trouble in store for retailers: Jan. 8: New sales numbers paint a grim picture for many of the country's retailers, including some big-name favorites. CNBC's Margaret Brennan reports.(Nightly News) ›23:48
Job hunts grow harder as recession deepens: New claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, but the number of people continuing to seek aid rose sharply. ›21:57
Winners in Madoff case face hard choices: The many Bernard Madoff investors who withdrew money from their accounts over the years are now wrestling with an ethical and legal quandary. ›23:47
Foreclosure suspensions extended through Jan.: Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the suspension of foreclosure sales and evictions from single-family homes through the end of January. ›16:47
Diet pills from Brazil pose big health risks: A new report highlights the potentially serious health risks of using imported Brazilian-made prescription diet pills that combine amphetamines and other prescription medicines. ›16:15 7 Jan, Wed
Man opens neighbor's door with chain saw: An eastern Pennsylvania man may face up to 37 years in prison for tearing open a neighbor's door with a chain saw. ›02:41
Researchers make car parts out of coconuts: A team at Baylor University has made trunk liners, floorboards and car door interior covers using fibers from the outer husks of coconuts, replacing the synthetic polyester fibers typically used in composite materials. ›23:59 6 Jan, Tue
January is the saddest movie month of the year: If youre a moviegoer, the transition from December to January is a rough one, like falling asleep in Willy Wonkas chocolate factory and waking up in the dystopia of Blade Runner. ›18:22 5 Jan, Mon
Chain stores post dismal December: Major retailers Thursday reported dismal sales for December, confirming fears that the holiday season was the weakest in four decades. ›00:41 9 Jan, Fri
EPA reconsiders perchlorate limit for water: The Environmental Protection Agency is taking a second look at its decision not to limit the amount of a toxic rocket fuel ingredient allowed in drinking water. ›22:41
Algae used in biofuel on jet test flight: Continental Airlines on Wednesday became the first U.S. commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration flight powered in part by alternative fuels. ›23:31 7 Jan, Wed
Salmonella outbreak: 1 in 5 victims in hospital: A nationwide salmonella outbreak that has struck 42 states has put about one in five of its victims in the hospital, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. ›01:34 9 Jan, Fri
Video: U.N. suspends food delivery in Gaza: Jan. 8: International pressure continued to build for a ceasefire as aid groups accused Israel of violating international law by not caring for and evacuating the wounded. NBC's Martin Fletcher reports.(Nightly News) ›23:52
Ugly Bettys Ana Ortiz is pregnant: They are thrilled and ecstatic, says a friend of the New York City-based couple. They cant wait to be parents. ›22:41
Dead Denny just one symptom of Grey's woes: What has happened to once-popular and praised "Grey's Anatomy"? Izzie is sleeping with a dead man, the interns are cutting each other up, and there are only a few glimmers of hope that the show will improve. ›19:45 30 Dec, Tue
The Globes are back in a partying mood: In keeping with the economic times, and to not appear like a French aristocracy sipping champagne before the peasantry, some party hosts are trying to tone things down and not boast about how many bottles are being uncorked. ›02:24 9 Jan, Fri
Low times for high tech as CES opens: Bill Gates isn't at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Steve Jobs isn't at Macworld. One way or the other, 2009 will be a turning point for the consumer technology industry. ›15:22
N.Y. judge: Monkey meat needs permit: A federal judge in Brooklyn has rejected a Liberian woman's argument that she had religious reasons for smuggling endangered monkey meat into the United States. ›23:40 3 Jan, Sat
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 6 Jan, Tue
FDA backs Vytorin after finishing study review: The Food and Drug Administration says patients should not stop taking Vytorin or other cholesterol-lowering drugs, based on its review of a controversial study. ›21:13
