The numbers are disturbing. There are more than half a million children in the foster care system in the United States, and African-Americans make up nearly 40 percent of that number. U.S. Census data shows Black children in foster care, especially older ones, are less likely than White children to be adopted.

The first truly controversial act of the new Texas Legislature came last week with the passage of SB 14, a new voter identification bill that would require any voter to present a state-issued photo ID - typically a driver's license - in order to vote. Proponents of the bill argue that such legislation is needed in order to protect the integrity of elections. Opponents, including some traditional civil rights organizations, fear that any such law will have a disproportionate impact on minorities, the elderly and disabled.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- A fight is brewing in Mississippi over a proposal to issue specialty license plates honoring Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- A natural gas explosion rocked a downtown neighborhood overnight, leveling two houses and spawning fires that burned for hours through an entire row of neighboring homes

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama wants nearly all Americans to have access to speedy wireless services.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of people applying for unemployment benefits plunged last week to the lowest level in nearly three years, continuing a downward trend that suggests hiring could pick up this year.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A second powerful blizzard in a week roared through parts of the nation's midsection on Wednesday, bringing biting winds and dumping more than a foot of snow on areas still digging out from last week's major storm.

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota shares jumped 4.6 percent to a nine-month high in Wednesday morning trading in Tokyo, following a U.S. government report that ruled out electronic flaws in runaway Toyota vehicles.
The Japanese automaker welcomed the findings as confirming the reliability of its products.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- California hasn't executed anyone in more than five years and its death row population has risen, recently reaching 720 inmates - the largest in the country.

The founder of a Muslim-oriented TV station in western New York has been convicted of beheading his wife after jurors rejected his claim that he was the victim of spousal abuse.