KAMPALA, Uganda - Proposed legislation would impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report them to authorities. Even landlords could be imprisoned for renting to homosexuals. Full Story »
TEHRAN, Iran - Hard-line militiamen firing tear gas and throwing stones stormed a crowd of thousands of university students protesting for a second day Tuesday, as Iran threatened a tougher crackdown on the opposition after the biggest anti-government demonstrations in months. Full Story »
SEOUL, South Korea - An envoy dispatched by President Barack Obama launched a mission Tuesday to coax North Korea to rejoin international talks on ending its nuclear programs amid warnings of strong sanctions if Pyongyang refuses. Full Story »
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomb flattened a court building and an explosives-rigged ambulance blew down walls like dominos near the Finance Ministry during a wave of coordinated attacks Tuesday that targeted high-profile symbols of Iraqi authority. At least 127 people were killed. Full Story »
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California's promise of an affordable higher education for its residents is being jeopardized by state budget cuts, the leaders of the state's college and university systems warned Monday. Full Story »
LOS ANGELES - A handful of pets have been sickened with the H1N1 virus in recent weeks, but here are doctors' orders: Wash your hands and don't panic. Full Story »
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called for a major new burst of federal spending Tuesday, perhaps $150 billion or more, aiming to jolt the wobbly economy into a stronger recovery and reduce painfully persistent double-digit unemployment. Full Story »
NEW YORK - Investors sought safety Tuesday as concerns about spiraling debt loads and disappointing corporate reports tarnished hopes for an economic recovery. Full Story »
WASHINGTON - Only one in three homeowners who have signed up for the Obama administration's mortgage relief plan have sent back the necessary paperwork, highlighting continuing problems for the government's effort to stem the foreclosure crisis. Full Story »
LOS ANGELES - A colossal budget, visionary technology and a down-to-the-wire workload on a film whose fortunes are a real question mark. James Cameron has been here before on little ditties called “Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and “Titanic." Full Story »
WASHINGTON - Questioned by skeptical lawmakers, the U.S. general running the war in Afghanistan said Tuesday he did not get as many troops as he wanted and must work under a schedule he did not recommend, but he insisted the Obama administration's revamped strategy is the best way to win. Full Story »
DES MOINES, Iowa - A fierce winter storm hammered more than a dozen states Tuesday with dangerous ice, heavy snow and vicious winds that threatened to create 15-foot drifts in parts of the Upper Midwest. Full Story »
WASHINGTON - Abortion opponents failed to inject tougher restrictions into sweeping Senate health-care legislation Tuesday, and Democratic leaders labored to make sure fallout from the controversy wouldn't hinder the drive to pass President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Full Story »
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Tuesday proposed spending more than $3 billion to settle claims dating back more than a century that American Indian tribes were swindled out of royalties for oil, gas, grazing and other leases. Full Story »
ALBUQUERQUE - The state agency responsible for preventing contamination from natural-gas and oil operations and reclaiming past environmental damage will have to drastically reduce its routine field inspections as New Mexico searches for ways to plug a $650 million budget shortfall. Full Story »
DENVER - Federal officials, responding to a complaint by environmentalists, have agreed to review air-pollution standards for gas and oil operations to decide if they need to be updated. Full Story »
DENVER - The new year will not bring a new economy, a prominent Colorado forecaster said Monday. Full Story »
Editor's note: The Durango Police Department is upgrading a computer system that tracks calls to the Durango-La Plata Emergency Communications Center. The Blotter will resume in a few days once a police log becomes available. Full Story »
A term I have not heard for a while came up in conversation recently. A business owner talked about a “prestige" customer. By that he meant a customer so important that he would do anything necessary to retain that person. Full Story »
Eric Parker takes time out from shoveling his roof to taunt his neighbor’s kids by throwing snowballs at them Tuesday afternoon at East Fifth Avenue and 29th Street. Full Story »
A Durango man died in a single-vehicle rollover late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning on a private drive west of Elmore's Corner in Grandview. The driver was identified as James Michael Parsons, 42. Full Story »
A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet would establish an ombudsman to help college students struggling with private loans. Students currently have no federal official appointed to help them deal with private lenders, said Michael Amodeo, a Bennet spokesman. Full Story »
The Durango City Council unanimously approved City Manager Ron LeBlanc's final budget at Tuesday's special meeting, but his proposed legislative policy agenda ran into dispute. Full Story »
The federal government will spend $30 million to protect against dead and falling trees in Rocky Mountain forests, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Tuesday. Full Story »
A Pacific snowstorm deposited heavy snowfall on the Durango area Monday night, leaving 1,200 customers in the area without power. Nearly 4 feet fell in portions of the San Juan Mountains, with reported wind gusts up to 100 mph. Full Story »
Christmas decorations illuminate Berlin's main shopping streets. AP Photo/Franka Bruns
More Photos and Slideshow »
All Comics »
