Jeffrey Zarrillo and his partner Paul Katami and Sandy Stier and her partner Kristin Perry enter the federal courthouse in San Francisco, California in this July 2, 2009 file photo.

Perhaps it is the spirit of the season, but my empathy receptors are in overdrive for poor Barack Obama.

Blizzard-like storm slams U.S. East Coast A group of men help push a motorist through the street during a snow storm in Washington, Saturday, Dec.

The Senate cleared its year-end plate of some must-do work Saturday as it passed a critical budget bill that blends money for the Pentagon with additional help for the jobless.

A historic U.N. climate conference ended Saturday with only a nonbinding "Copenhagen Accord" to show for two weeks of debate and frustration.

After months of denials, Iran acknowledged Saturday that at least three people detained in the country's postelection turmoil were beaten to death by their jailers.