ST. LOUIS (AP) — Methamphetamine lab seizures rose nationally again in 2011, further evidence the powerfully addictive and dangerous drug is maintaining a tight grip on the nation's heartland, according to an Associated Press survey of the nation's top meth-producing states. read more

URBANA — A St. Joseph man who allegedly stole items from a friend over the weekend has been charged with residential burglary. read more

CHAMPAIGN — A Champaign man has been charged with residential burglary for allegedly stealing items from a relative's home in Champaign in January. Champaign police arrested Colby Fischer, 19, who listed an address in the 2100 block of Campbell Drive, on Tuesday evening in connection with a Jan. 20 burglary to a home in the 1400 block of Weathervane Drive. read more

DANVILLE — Meijer Inc. plans to build a new store in Danville next to the Kohl's development site on North Vermilion Street, according to Danville city officials. The regional supercenter chain, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., has optioned about 23 acres directly south of the Kohl's site at the stoplight intersection of Boiling Springs Road and North Vermilion Street. read more

PAXTON — A former employee of the Paxton Park District was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing money from the district over five years. Beth E. Tabor, 43, of Paxton, was arrested by state and Paxton police and Ford County sheriff's deputies after a court-ordered search at her home, according to a news release from state police at Ashkum. read more

SPRINGFIELD -- A pilot project to provide early screening and intervention for children with risk factors for dyslexia apparently is another victim of the state's gloomy fiscal condition. read more

URBANA — Three University of Illinois professors have been awarded prestigious Sloan Research Fellowships in recognition of their potentially ground-breaking research in physics, math and bioengineering. read more

A jury convicted former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely of second-degree murder in the 2010 death of his ex-girlfriend, Yeardley Love.

Letters containing a powdery substance were sent to at least three congressional offices this week, and the sender is threatening more that could include harmful material, the top Senate law enforcement official said Wednesday.

The grandmother and stepmother of a 9-year-old Alabama girl who died Monday after allegedly being ordered to run around her family's house -- for hours -- as punishment for lying about taking a candy bar have been charged with murder, police said Wednesday.

While stone carvers chisel new pieces to repair damage inflicted on the Washington National Cathedral by an earthquake last August, fundraisers say the cathedral's restoration fund is $18 million short of the repair cost.

One student was wounded and another was in custody Wednesday after a shooting at an elementary school in Bremerton, Washington, authorities said.

Speculation and messages of support surged in Venezuela Wednesday, a day after President Hugo Chavez announced he would travel to Cuba for surgery.

Violence left five people dead today as protests over Quran burning by coalition troops intensified in Afghanistan. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul went into lockdown.

Ted Turner: Congress is trying to do an end run to OK the Keystone oil pipeline, which could mean disastrous toxic spills and poisoned water.

Dean Obeidallah says the NYPD spying on Muslim American students at 16 universities is profiling at its worst. Why is there no public outcry?

Battling a severe cold, Tiger Woods beat Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 1 up in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.

Albert Pujols is objecting to the Angels "El Hombre" ads.

Players meetings are fine, but Magic Johnson thinks the Los Angeles Lakers need Kobe Bryant to sit down with management to address some issues.

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will take Joe Johnson's spot on the Eastern Conference roster at this year's All-Star Game after being named an injury replacement Tuesday by NBA commissioner David Stern.

Due to a left knee injury, New York Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert will not participate in the NBA's Slam Dunk contest this weekend. He will be replaced by Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans.

Temple is in talks with the Big East about joining the conference as early as 2012, sources confirmed Wednesday. The New York Times first reported on the discussions to add Temple in all sports.

In the wake of a new study, the national president of Pop Warner said he will propose a rule that, for the first time, would limit the amount of contact allowed in youth football practices.

UConn men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun, who is suffering from spinal stenosis, will undergo a surgical procedure Monday to help address the lower back condition.