Indiana stage builder cited in state fair collapse

Indianapolis— The company that built the stage ahead of last summer's deadly Indiana State Fair collapse appeared to be indifferent to safety standards, the state Department of Labor said Wednesday.

U.S., Japan pave way to send Okinawa Marines to Guam

Tokyo— Japan and the United States agreed Wednesday to proceed with plans to transfer thousands of U.S. troops out of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, leaving behind the stalled discussion of the closure of a major U.S. Marine base there.

U.S. searches for strategy to halt Syria violence

Washington— The United States appears to be out of answers on what to do with Syria.

Mom in China gives birth to 15.5-pound baby

Beijing — A mother in central China has given birth to a 15.52 pound baby, possibly the largest newborn on record since the country's communist founding in 1949.

Russia reaches lake under Antarctica

After more than two decades of drilling, Russian scientists have reached the surface of a gigantic freshwater lake in Antarctica that had been hidden under miles of ice for 20 million years, potentially holding life from the distant past and a clue to the search for life on other planets. Reaching Lake Vostok is a major discovery avidly anticipated by scientists around the world hoping that it may allow a glimpse into microbial life forms that existed before the Ice Age.

Court: California gay marriage ban is unconstitutional

Los Angeles — A federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage in California violated the Constitution, all but ensuring that the case will proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Rupert Murdoch’s company settles 9 lawsuits

London— All but one of the first wave of phone hacking cases against Rupert Murdoch's News International have been settled, victims' lawyer told Britain's High Court on Wednesday.

Cuba embargo has golden anniversary

Havana — When it started, American teenagers were doing “The Twist.” The United States had yet to put a man into orbit around the Earth. And a first-class U.S. postage stamp cost 4 cents.

Russia pushes Syria’s ruler to back reforms

Beirut — Days after blocking a U.S.-backed peace plan at the U.N., senior Russian officials pushed for reforms Tuesday during an emergency meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, promoting a settlement to end the uprising without removing him from power.

Briefs: U.S. to boost Alzheimer’s research funds by $50M

Washington — The Obama administration is boosting funding for Alzheimer’s research by $50 million this year to further investigate the genetic underpinnings of the disease and test drugs that may arrest its development.

Report: Teacher's aide sent love letters to boy

Los Angeles— Authorities are investigating allegations that a teacher's aide sent love letters to an 11-year-old boy attending the Los Angeles-area school where two teachers have been charged with molesting students.

Judge: Buy wife flowers, then take her to dinner

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.— A spat over forgetting to wish his wife a happy birthday landed a South Florida man in jail on domestic violence charges.

Chinese-born American acquitted of espionage

Chicago — A federal judge convicted a Chinese-born American Wednesday of stealing trade secrets but acquitted her of more serious charges of corporate espionage at a trial in Chicago that highlighted fears about China pilfering U.S. company secrets.

More photos found in Calif. teacher abuse case

Unplanned 9/11 analysis links noise, whale stress

Court: California gay marriage ban is unconstitutional

Komen exec Karen Handel quits after Planned Parenthood funding flap

CDC: Bread beats out chips as biggest salt source

Pennsylvania vending machine dispenses ‘morning-after’ pill

Passenger jet makes safe, emergency landing in Belfast

Police: Kids suffered hatchet wounds; missing mom case called murder

France, Italy, others recall ambassadors to Syria

New U.S. sanctions on Iran aim to head off Israel

LBJ's personal Lincoln Continental up for auction

U.S. closes embassy in Syria after sanctions fail at U.N.

U.S. targets Iran’s finances

Briefs: Senate OKs switch to GPS for air traffic control

Faculty to be removed at LA school following sex abuse charges