Iowa City's flood protections face marathon test (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:28:06 GMT
AP - Even as flood fears eased in Iowa City, the state's south and east prepared for new problems ahead for a string of towns along the Mississippi River. Sandbagging was under way in Burlington, a key rail hub, to build the city's levee system and protect it from the river; 350 people had been evacuated.

Lesbian couple of 55 years ready to say 'I do' (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:27:12 GMT
AP - Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin fell in love at a time when lesbians risked being arrested, fired from their jobs and sent to electroshock treatment.

Taliban fighters take over several Afghan villages (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:40:35 GMT
AP - Hundreds of Taliban fighters took over several villages in southern Afghanistan on Monday just outside the region's largest city, and NATO and Afghan forces were redeploying to meet the threat, officials said.

Bush ends Europe trip in London, Belfast (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:24:46 GMT
AP - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown handed President Bush good news on two fronts Monday: a modest increase in Britain's troops for the tough Afghanistan fight and a fresh European effort to squeeze Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Iranian police crack down on dress code violations (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:28:40 GMT
AP - Police closed dozens of clothing stores and hairdressers and stopped cars and pedestrians in a crackdown on women who do not abide by Iran's strict Islamic dress code and men wearing fashions seen as too Western, Iranian media reported Monday.

Oil hits new record, then reverses on worries (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:52:19 GMT
AP - Crude oil futures swung wildly on Monday, rising to a record and then tumbling as investors wrestled with whether they should put stock in Saudi Arabia's promise to boost production. Retail gas prices rose to a record $4.08 a gallon.

NYC: No trans fats in restaurants as of July 1 (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:56:01 GMT
AP - Unhealthy trans fats in restaurant food? Not in New York City.

Winehouse taken to hospital after fainting spell (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:56:45 GMT
AP - Amy Winehouse fainted Monday at her north London home and was hospitalized, her spokesman said.

Judge reduces trust fund for Leona Helmsley's dog (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:01:43 GMT
AP - Leona Helmsley's dog isn't quite as well-heeled as she used to be. Manhattan Surrogate Judge Renee Roth has reduced the trust fund for the little dog, named Trouble, from $12 million to $2 million.

Tiger Woods hangs onto 1-shot lead after 12 holes (AP)
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:11:55 GMT
AP - Rocco Mediate made up two strokes in two holes and closed within a shot of an erratic Tiger Woods with six holes left in their 18-hole playoff Monday at the U.S. Open.