VATICAN CITY (AP) — In his Christmas Eve homily Thursday, Pope Francis noted the simplicity of Jesus' birth as he rebuked what he called societies' intoxication with consumerism, pleasure,... READ MORE »

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gaze up into the sky and you'll see something rare. And, no, it won't be Santa. He and his reindeers will have already zoomed across the horizon. On Christmas Day, there... READ MORE »

ASHLAND, Miss. (AP) — Instead of doing some last-minute shopping or wrapping gifts, families across the South spent Christmas Eve taking stock of their losses after an unusual outbreak of... READ MORE »

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Mall of America was used as "a decoy" to start a protest that quickly moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and blocked a terminal on a busy holiday... READ MORE »

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The type of blood clot revealed in the autopsy of a woman who died after being forcibly removed from a hospital is often "difficult to detect and can be impossible... READ MORE »

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (AP) — An 8-year-old girl who lost her father and younger siblings in an arson fire that left her severely scarred is sharing the good cheer that has been bestowed on her,... READ MORE »

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey girl called 911 after she touched her Elf on the Shelf. Police say 7-year-old Isabelle LaPeruta of Old Bridge was worried because, according to the... READ MORE »

BEIJING (AP) — A migrant worker was pulled out alive Wednesday after he was buried for more than 60 hours in a massive landslide that swept through part of a major manufacturing city in... READ MORE »

SEATTLE (AP) — Astrid Rau just baked 16 kinds of Christmas cookies, including a batch in the shape of snowflakes. But she's nevertheless having trouble getting in the holiday spirit, thanks... READ MORE »

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Maine high school has reversed its decision to prevent a math teacher from keeping a pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom. Bangor High School officials... READ MORE »