Hurley's World

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose by a larger than expected 27,000 last week to their highest level in 16 years, Labor Department data showed on Thursday, as a harsh economic environment forces employers to cut back on hiring.

Oil fell toward $50 a barrel on Thursday, deepening losses over the previous four sessions as battered financial markets reflected ever lower confidence in the world economy and evidence mounted of falling fuel demand.

New Hampshire biologists say the deer and bear kill is below peak marks this hunting season so far, but is still within expected ranges.

A Missouri woman established a fake identity online to torment a vulnerable teenage girl who later committed suicide, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday in a trial that is being closely watched by the burgeoning social networking industry.

A 49-year-old Belfast man has been charged with operating an unlicensed car dealership out of his home.

Democratic officials say that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is a leading contender for the job of secretary of homeland security in President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

An alert witness is credited with helping Conway, N.H., police track down a robbery suspect.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is standing steadfastly behind the forces opposing a $25 billion "bridge loan" for struggling Detroit auto manufacturers.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's top choice to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources.

Authorities count hundreds of Amber Alert cases across the country as success stories when they start explaining why the media-friendly and politically popular bulletins are so important.

Tina Meier often sat with her daughter while she was online to ensure nothing fishy was happening. Lori Drew wanted to find out what kind of nasty rumors were being spread about her daughter.

A Coventry woman has pleaded guilty to mail fraud for her role in the counterfeiting and distribution of about $1.6 million worth of phony checks.

A South Carolina man accused of shooting a man to death in a Milford motel room last year has rejected a plea deal.

New Haven police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man on a city street.

The attorney for a Torrington special education teacher falsely accused of viewing pornography on school computers says he's come to an agreement with the school board.

Chances dimmed that a last-minute plan being crafted by Republican senators, with White House support, to provide $25 billion to bail out U.S. automakers would receive enough backing from Democrats to pass before the end of this week.

Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, convicted last month of corruption charges, conceded defeat on Wednesday in his bid for an eighth term, a day after his Democratic opponent claimed victory.

Thousands donned aprons and hair nets Thursday outside Seoul's City Hall in a bid to make the world's biggest batch of kimchi, the spicy pickled cabbage that is Korea's best-known dish.

After being denied probation, a Plymouth woman accused of starving her 4-year-old dog to death is headed to trial.

As the manual recount in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race began, one volunteer judge asked the city election director what to do if she spotted a questionable ballot and no one else did.