California Democrat considered for trade job

Rep. Xavier Becerra, a strong proponent of labor protections in free trade pacts, is in discussions with the Obama transition team about taking the job of U.S. trade representative.

Pierce to play despite Burress shooting probe

The New York Giants expect Antonio Pierce to play in Sunday's game against Philadelphia while the team gathers information on the linebacker's involvement in a shooting that led to the season-ending suspension of star receiver Plaxico Burress.

Alert over Web sites touting stem cell therapies
Consumers should be wary of Web sites from clinics that offer stem cell treatments, says a study that found a lack of firm medical evidence to back up their claims.

Fewer toys with high lead levels, group finds

After the high-profile recalls of millions of lead-contaminated toys last year, a watchdog group said that its tests found fewer toys with high levels of chemicals in them this year.

Obama names Richardson to Cabinet

President-elect Barack Obama named Bill Richardson as his choice for commerce secretary on Wednesday, after passing over his vanquished Democratic rival for secretary of state.

World's oldest pot stash totally busted

Nearly two pounds of still-green plant material found in a 2,700-year-old grave in the Gobi Desert has just been identified as the world's oldest marijuana stash, according to a paper in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Botany.

What's the new black? 'Mimosa'

Enough gloom and doom: There's a prediction from a leading color source that cheerful and sunny yellow will be the influential color of 2009.

Wall Street ends volatile day strong
Wall Street absorbed more bad economic news, closing higher as investors shuttled between pessimism about the recession and hopes that the nation might start to see some relief soon.

MySpace delivers video to mobiles
MySpace users with mobile phones are about to find out if they can walk and watch TV at the same time.