The days of made-to-order ice cream are far from over in San Francisco. A small shop that operates out of an old shipping container uses liquid nitrogen to freeze ingredients together in about a minute for an ultra-fresh, ultra-smooth treat.

It may take runners a long time to erase the memory of bombs exploding right at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, one of the most celebrated races in the world. But many runners say continuing to run offers a small, symbolic way of putting such violence behind them.

During a time of paralysis in Washington, states are taking the lead on a whole host of issues, from guns and gay marriage to education and tax policy. Of course, not everyone applauds the laws they pass. The Daily Show's Jon Stewart recently called states the "meth laboratories of democracy."

Politicians who were caught up in sex scandals have often achieved second careers in media and lobbying. Now, some want to return to elective office.

In its chess team's first year, Webster University has won a national championship. When the school hired coach Susan Polgar from defending champions Texas Tech last year, her players came along with her. Webster officials say the chess title raises the school's profile.

Two white supremacist prison gangs have fallen under suspicion in recent high-profile slayings in Colorado and Texas. Experts say prison gangs of all races and ethnicities have evolved in recent years to include more activity outside the walls.

A federal judge's ruling means the California city will become the largest ever to enter into bankruptcy. But the bankruptcy judge did not decide on the question of whether Stockton has to rethink its pension obligations.

Amanda Knox may face a retrial for murder in Italy, but it would very likely be conducted without her. The legal mechanisms that allow for in absentia trials are common practice in courts around the world.

Detractors say extending recognition to same-sex couples will weaken a bedrock institution meant to protect women and children. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments regarding gay marriage next week.

Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. It's been a little more than a year since the last U.S. troops left, yet the conflict seems nearly forgotten — a striking contrast with the decades it took the nation to get over Vietnam.

Is it the message or its delivery? That's one of the questions being debated as Republicans — like all parties out of power — plot their comeback. Some think they need to take a new tack on issues; others believe that the GOP's core conservative principles are still political winners.

Americans expect a lot from the president — any president. Modern presidents are believed to control the economy, when the reality is that they have fewer tools even to control Congress or public opinion.

From The View to the Oscars, Barack and Michelle Obama's regular appearances on talk shows and at sports events raise the question of whether even a president can become overexposed.

No rational person would try to cut nearly all government spending by a fixed amount, regardless of the individual merit of any given program. That's kind of the point.

If President Obama and Congress can't make a deal this month, the economy could fall into recession while tax bills go up for nearly every American. On the other hand, it would do a lot to erase the nation's deficit.

For years, the military has been held in high regard — to the point where some argue it became less accountable to civilian authorities. The affair involving retired Gen. David Petraeus could lead to the military's being viewed as more flawed and held more accountable.

Obama has become only the third U.S. president to win re-election by a narrower margin than his first victory. Having won a second term, Obama will seek to set the nation's agenda on issues ranging from taxes to immigration, but he may continue to struggle in selling his ideas to Congress.

What if Hurricane Sandy had waited a week to strike the East Coast? There's no contingency plan in place for rescheduling an election if a storm or terrorist attack wiped out power in multiple states while voting was taking place. Says one expert: "We'll ignore it until it happens, and when it happens, we'll figure it out."

The fearsome storm has shut down early voting in multiple states and disrupted the presidential candidates' campaign schedules. Sandy may wreak havoc as it claws up the East Coast, but voting experts say its impact may fizzle come Election Day.

Amid all the talk of the economy and the Middle East, topics such as climate change, gay rights, campaign finance and the Supreme Court were completely ignored during the three presidential debates.