Man's childhood comic collection fetches $3.5M (AP)

AP - The bulk of a man's childhood comic book collection that included many of the most prized issues ever published sold at auction Wednesday for about $3.5 million.

Teenage girl dies after inhaling helium at party (AP)

AP - Last weekend, 14-year-old Ashley Long told her parents she was going to a slumber party. But instead of spending the night watching videos and eating popcorn two blocks away, she piled into a car with a bunch of her friends and rode to a condo in Medford, Ore., where police say the big sister of one of her friends was throwing a party with booze and marijuana.

Suspect in Capitol bomb sting waives court hearing (AP)

AP - A Virginia man charged with plotting a suicide bombing inside the U.S. Capitol as part of an FBI sting will remain in jail while he awaits trial after he waived his right to a detention hearing Wednesday.

Ex-mine official charged in fatal West Virginia blast (Reuters)

Reuters - The former superintendent of the West Virginia coal mine where 29 workers died in a 2010 explosion was charged on Wednesday with felony conspiracy for tipping off employees to safety inspections and concealing dangerous violations, authorities said.

Congressional offices receive mailed threats (AP)

AP - Some congressional offices outside Washington and media organizations have received threatening letters containing a suspicious powdery substance that was tested and proved to be harmless, the FBI and the Senate's top law enforcement officer said Wednesday.

Judge says Wash. can't make pharmacies sell Plan B (AP)

AP - Washington state cannot force pharmacies to sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, saying the state's true goal was to suppress religious objections by druggists — not to promote timely access to the medicines for people who need them.

Obama seeks corporate tax rate cut, loophole limit (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama rolled out a corporate tax overhaul plan Wednesday that lowers rates but also eliminates loopholes and subsidies cherished by the business world. A long-shot for action in an election year, the plan nevertheless stamps Obama's imprint on one of the most high-profile issues of the presidential campaign.

Newark mayor: NYPD Muslim files 'deeply offensive' (AP)

AP - The mayor and police director of New Jersey's largest city said Wednesday the New York Police Department misled their city and never told them it was conducting a widespread spying operation on Newark's Muslim neighborhoods. Had they known, they said, they never would have allowed it.

Poll: Obama benefitting from improving economy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

Report: Crime at US public schools on the decline (AP)

AP - Violent crime at the nation's schools is declining, and students and schools are reporting less bullying and gang activity.

Texas man gets life in prison in torture case (AP)

AP - A Texas man who tortured his former neighbor while holding her captive nearly two weeks has been sentenced to life in prison.

Some money from mortgage settlement to be diverted (AP)

AP - The ink wasn't even dry on a settlement with the nation's top mortgage lenders when Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon laid claim to a chunk of the money to avert a huge budget cut for public colleges and universities.

DC police official in celeb escort flap to sue (AP)

AP - A former District of Columbia police commander whose division provided a police escort to actor Charlie Sheen has given notice that he intends to file a whistleblower lawsuit against the city.

High court torn over law banning lies about medals (AP)

AP - Free speech cases before the Supreme Court often lead justices to consider far-fetched scenarios, and Wednesday's argument over a law making it a crime to lie about having received top military honors was no exception.

Judge strikes down law mandating sale of contraception (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Washington state cannot require pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives if to do so violates their religious beliefs.

Virginia lawmakers OK revised requirement for abortions (Reuters)

Reuters - Virginia lawmakers on Wednesday passed a revised ultrasound requirement for women seeking abortions after Republican Governor Bob McDonnell shifted his stance on the measure.

Burned before, Fed officials cautious on rebound (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. central bank officials have good reason to be skeptical about the strength of the economy: excessive optimism has caught them flat-footed before.

Is It Time to Start Worrying About Inflation Again? (Time.com)

Time.com - The greatest threat to any long-term investor is inflation. It not only erodes the value of stocks and bonds, but also depresses economic growth and misleads policymakers

A Champion in Purgatory: Muhammad Ali Returns to Vegas (Time.com)

Time.com - As part of an extended celebration of his 70th birthday, the ailing legend appears at a massive fundraiser to benefit brain research

Police: Ga. victims related in Korean spa shooting (AP)

AP - The gunman who fatally shot two of his sisters and their husbands inside a Korean spa in an Atlanta suburb had been asked to leave and came back hours later, authorities said on Wednesday.

Home resales at 1-1/2 year-high, supply falls (Reuters)

Reuters - Home resales rose to a 1-1/2-year high in January, pushing the supply of properties on the market to the lowest level in almost seven years in a hopeful sign for the housing sector.

W.Va. mine boss charged with fraud in deadly blast (AP)

AP - Federal prosecutors investigating the West Virginia coal mine explosion that killed 29 men are working their way up the corporate ladder with criminal charges.

Kansas City priest accused of molesting 4 brothers

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - Catholic leaders in Kansas City covered up years of sexual abuse of several young children by a priest who led a Christian organization for youth, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by four brothers who say they were victimized as children. The lawsuit, one of more than two dozen pending in Kansas City alleging abuse by area priests, was filed in Jackson County ...

Dollar rises to 7-month high against Japanese yen (AP)

AP - The dollar rose to a seven-month high against the Japanese yen, a week after the Bank of Japan announced a surprise increase of its economic stimulus program.

U.S. judge orders Moroccan held for Capitol plot (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered a Moroccan man to be held on charges that he planned a suicide bombing attack against Congress, believing he was working with al Qaeda militants when in fact his contacts were undercover agents.

City overpower holders Porto in Europa League

The presence of former manager Andre Villas-Boas at Eastlands failed to inspire holders Porto as Manchester City eased into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 4-0 second leg win on Wednesday.

City storm on in Europa

Manchester City produced a strong finish to power into the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League at the expense of ten-man holders Porto, winning out 4-0 on the night and 6-1 overall.

Man City beats defending EL champion Porto 4-0

Manchester City eased past defending Europa League champion FC Porto on Wednesday, beating the Portuguese side 4-0 to wrap up a 6-1 aggregate win. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring after just 19 seconds to stretch City's 2-1 first-leg advantage but the English Premier League leader then had to wait until the 76th minute for its second goal.

'Occupy' to hold national conference in Philly (AP)

AP - A group of protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement plans to elect 876 "delegates" from around the country and hold a national "general assembly" in Philadelphia over the Fourth of July as part of ongoing protests over corporate excess and economic inequality.

Summary Box: Bank of England split on stimulus (AP)

AP - STIMULATING DISCUSSION: Minutes of their last meeting showed Bank of England rate-setters were divided about injecting another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the economy. Two members argued for a bigger stimulus.

Private jet shipments slip, but improvement seen (Reuters)

Reuters - Worldwide shipments of business jets and other private aircraft fell again last year, but billings rose modestly in a sign of improvement in a tough economy.

Euro zone teetering on brink of recession (Reuters)

Reuters - The euro zone economy is in danger of tipping into recession, with the services sector shrinking this month along with manufacturing, tempering a wave of optimism after a new bailout deal for Greece struck this week.

U.S. mortgage applications sagged last week: MBA (Reuters)

Reuters - Applications for U.S. home mortgages tumbled last week as demand for loan refinancing sagged, an industry group said on Wednesday.

European budget cuts and debt burdens, at a glance (AP)

AP - European budget cuts and debt burdens, at a glance

In Europe, spending cuts fail to ease debt burdens (AP)

AP - Europe has endured the pain of layoffs, wage cuts and tax increases designed to bring government debt under control.

Bank of England panel split on size of stimulus (AP)

AP - Bank of England rate-setters were divided this month on the vote to inject another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the British economy, with two members arguing that a bigger stimulus was needed, minutes to their last meeting showed Wednesday.

Tevez apologises to Man City over conduct

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City finally got the apology they had been waiting for on Tuesday when striker Carlos Tevez said he was sorry for his behaviour over recent months, setting up a possible return to action at the Premier League club. The Argentine striker also withdrew his appeal against a gross misconduct charge handed to him after he spent three months in his homeland ...

U.S. consumer agency to examine bank overdraft fees (Reuters)

Reuters - The new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is weighing a crackdown on checking account overdraft fees charged by banks, saying the charges can "inflict serious economic harm" on consumers.

Neb. city's illegal immigration law to be nuisance

A Nebraska city's attempt to fight illegal immigration with a newly court-approved ordinance appears likely to be more of an inconvenience for legal residents than a deterrent to illegal immigrants.

Pace of new credit card accounts picks up in 2011 (AP)

AP - More people opened new credit card accounts last year, as the banking industry began to loosen standards it tightened during the recession.