Once again lawmakers are up against a deadline. This time, it looks like they won't strike some sort of deal. That means about $85 billion worth of spending cuts will start to spread across many federal agencies.

Perhaps the crooks feared being grilled or stuck under some hot lights. Whatever, they've returned the 7-foot-tall spicy sprinter who entertains fans during Milwaukee Brewers games.

The former NBA star known as "The Worm" visited the Stalinist state to be part of an HBO series exploring cultures around the world.

Friday's deadline looms and "oh, it's gonna happen," says one Republican congressman. We continue to scour news outlets for stories that help make sense of the sequester.

Also: Medicare paid billions for poor nursing home care; Boeing proposes fix for 787 Dreamliner's lithium-ion batteries.

"President Assad is out of time and must be out of power," the new secretary of state says. The assistance is for basic goods and services in areas under rebel control.

The first pope in about 600 years to voluntarily step down is headed to a life out of the public's eye. Now, the church's cardinals turn to the task of selecting a successor.

With words of high praise from Republicans and Democrats, the nation's leaders on Wednesday dedicated a statue of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. It now stands in the U.S. Capitol "where many fought to prevent a day like this," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said.

"March madness" is around the corner. So is the selection of a new pope. Religion News Service is bringing the two together.

Australian billionaire Clive Palmer announced last year that he would build a replica of the famous passenger ship. Now the new ship's designer has released images of what the ship is due to look like. Would you want to sail on it?

A huge crowd gathered Wednesday for Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience before his resignation takes effect on Thursday. In his remarks, the pope indirectly acknowledged that his nearly 8 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church have not always been easy.

Digitally altering photos seems to be a practice that bridges deep religious and political divides. A Hasidic newspaper cut Hillary Clinton out of one iconic image. Now an Iranian news agency has seen fit to virtually add some material to the American first lady's Oscars night dress.

Still digging out from one major winter storm, parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri are in the path of another.

As Friday's deadline approaches, we're pointing to stories that should help everyone get ready. Today's choices: "Sequester, never heard of it;" "when will the cuts be felt;" and "is Obama telling the truth?"

The death toll is reported to be near 20. What caused the fire and crash has yet to be determined. Balloon rides over the ancient city of Luxor and nearby historic sites are popular among tourists. Those killed are said to have been from Japan, Britain, Belgium and France.

Talks start Tuesday in Kazakhstan. The U.S. and its allies want Iran to give up any ambitions for nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The satirical news outlet agrees it went too far when it posted a tweet that referred to the young actress with a highly offensive four-letter word.

Trayvon Martin was killed last February. His death reignited the national debate about race relations. The Florida teenager's mother hopes his killer will be brought to justice, but also hopes his death will inspire changes in "stand your ground" laws.

The church's cardinals can start the process of choosing a new pope right after Benedict's resignation takes effect later this week — rather than wait the 15 days that rules had required. One cardinal, Keith O'Brien of Britain, has stepped down after being accused of inappropriate behavior.

Lincoln is among nine movies competing for "best picture." The others: Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty.