TOP Stories
Romney puts Gingrich on defensive in Florida debate (Reuters)
Reuters - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took the fight to chief rival Newt Gingrich on Thursday in his most aggressive debate performance yet, five days ahead of Florida's primary vote.
Syria violence kills 37, U.N. Security Council to meet (Reuters)
Reuters - Security forces killed 37 people in Syria on Friday, activists and residents said, as people in Homs mourned 14 members of a family they said were slain by militiamen in one of the worst sectarian attacks in a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
‘Barefoot Bandit’ sentenced to 6 1/2 years (AP)
AP - A federal judge on Friday sentenced "Barefoot Bandit" Colton Harris-Moore to 6 1/2 years in prison for his infamous two-year, international crime spree of break-ins, and boat and plane thefts that ended in 2010.
Romney’s forceful body language scores in debate (AP)
AP - The hands came out of the pockets. The gaze was intense. Mitt Romney leaned confidently into the lectern.
Business
Iran hits back at EU with own oil embargo threat (Reuters)
Reuters - Fighting sanctions with sanctions in a test of strength with the West over its nuclear ambitions, Iran warned on Friday it may halt oil exports to Europe next week in a move calculated to hurt ailing European economies.
Justice unit to probe mortgage-backed securities (AP)
AP - Federal and state law enforcement officials announced Friday they have launched a fraud-fighting unit, starting with 55 prosecutors and investigators, to root out wrongdoing in the market for residential mortgage-backed securities.
Obama administration bolsters homeowner lifeline (Reuters)
Reuters - The Obama administration on Friday expanded its main foreclosure prevention program and pushed to open it up to loans backed by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a move that could meet resistance from their regulator.
Ford Motor Co.’s 2011 profits at a glance (AP)
AP - Ford Motor Co.'s 2011 profits at a glanceEntertainment
TV show choreographer gets 10 years for rape (AP)
AP - A salsa dance instructor who worked on the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" has been sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years in prison for raping one woman and assaulting another.Country star Merle Haggard home from hospital (Reuters)
Reuters - Country music singer Merle Haggard was resting at home in Northern California on Friday after a long stint in a Georgia hospital, his publicist Tresa Redburn said.After 45 years, Paul Plishka says goodbye to Met (AP)
AP - Paul Plishka thought back to Sept. 21, 1967, when he made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Monk in Ponchielli's "La Gioconda" alongside Renata Tebaldi, Sherrill Milnes and Rosalind Elias.
Actress’ claim to be gay by choice riles activists (AP)
AP - Cynthia Nixon learned the hard way this week that when it comes to gay civil rights, the personal is always political. Very political.
Sports
Browns hire Brad Childress as OC (AP)
AP - Pat Shurmur brought in a close friend to help him fix Cleveland's broken offense.AP source: Tiebreaker game would decide divisions (AP)
AP - A person familiar with the talks says baseball players and owners have reached an understanding that ties for division titles will be broken on the field under the new playoff format.Justin Wilson back in a car after back injury (AP)
AP - Justin Wilson is back in a race car for the first time since breaking his back in an IndyCar accident in August.Djokovic wins marathon match to set up Nadal final (AP)
AP - If anyone knows how Novak Djokovic feels after sweating and scrapping for almost five hours in the Australian Open semifinals, it's his next opponent — Rafael Nadal.