Republicans from Iowa, New Hampshire defend coveted early places in presidential contests

SAN DIEGO — Republicans from Iowa and New Hampshire defended their coveted early spots in presidential nominating contests Friday, as national party leaders consider recommending a new pathway to the White House for the 2012 election.

Family believed baby cut from womb was theirs, mourn mother who never held her

WORCESTER, Mass. — Little things nagged at Cindy Dion while her son’s girlfriend, Julie Corey, was pregnant: One month Corey said she was four months’ pregnant — the next it was eight. Her due date pushed back drastically as it neared. And Corey suddenly refused to let Dion’s son, Alex, accompany her to the doctor

Relatives in Mass. believed baby cut from womb belonged to woman now accused of kidnapping

WORCESTER, Mass. — Relatives of a man whose girlfriend is accused of kidnapping a baby girl who’d been cut from her mother’s womb thought they had a new member of the family. They even held a cookout to celebrate the birth.

Boyfriend of suspect in baby cut from womb case believed he was father, thought she gave birth

WORCESTER, Mass. — The boyfriend of the Massachusetts woman accused of kidnapping a baby girl who had been cut from her slain mother’s womb said he was convinced he was the infant’s father, and was stunned when police moved in on the couple.

DA say woman found with baby cut from womb had convinced family, friends she was pregnant

CONCORD, N.H. — Several people are seeking custody of a baby girl who was cut from her slain mother’s womb, a prosecutor said, as the woman suspected of kidnapping the infant remains jailed.

Uncle of murdered Mass. pregnant woman says he is grateful baby girl is alive

CONCORD, N.H. — The uncle of a murdered Massachusetts woman says he is grateful that the woman accused of cutting a fetus from his pregnant niece kept the baby girl alive.

Mass. woman accused of cutting baby from mother’s womb arraigned in NH; held on $2M bail

CONCORD, N.H. — A Massachusetts woman accused of cutting the fetus out of her pregnant friend and then telling others she’d just had a baby girl was ordered held on $2 million bail Thursday, a day after she was found with the live infant at a homeless shelter.

Baby girl is found after being cut from slain Mass. mother’s womb; woman is arrested

CONCORD, N.H. — A baby girl cut from her mother’s womb in Massachusetts was in good condition at a New Hampshire hospital on Thursday, officials said, and a woman arrested at a homeless shelter with the infant was to appear in court.

Patchwork budgeting: With red ink flowing, states cook up gimmicks to avoid more cuts, taxes

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Here’s one creative way that state lawmakers helped balance Washington’s troubled budget: They assumed public employees will stay on the job longer — and die sooner than expected once they finally retire.

Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty builds brand nationally while dismissing talk of GOP presidential bid

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is a man on the move. Next stop, the Republican National Committee meeting in California. Future stop? Maybe the White House.

Longtime NH sports writer accused of running prostitution ring, advertising services online

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A veteran newspaper sports reporter has been accused of running a prostitution ring in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and possibly into Canada.

Too much government? Activists strike out for the woods and a route back to America’s roots

LANCASTER, N.H. — He fled the “People’s Republic of Massachusetts” to escape tyranny. Now he strides the campground in a plaid kilt and mirror shades, an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle across his torso, an immense Scottish sword sheathed between his shoulders.

Mass. teen fined $25,000 by New Hampshire for cost of 3-day mountain rescue vows to fight

CONCORD, N.H. — A Massachusetts teenager says he will fight the $25,000 fine by New Hampshire for the cost of his mountain rescue.

NH law keeps murder case liars on the hook; lifts statute of limitations to keep pressure on

CONCORD, N.H. — Renny Cushing is convinced a former New Hampshire state trooper got away with murder. So the state representative from Hampton sponsored a law that will have people looking over their shoulders for the rest of their lives if they’ve lied about a murder or helped cover one up.

Mass. teen fined $25,000 by New Hampshire for cost of 3-day mountain rescue with helicopter

CONCORD, N.H. — A Massachusetts teenager who spent three nights alone on Mount Washington in April after he sprained an ankle and veered off marked trails has been fined more than $25,000 for the cost of his rescue.

NH fines Mass. Eagle Scout for cost of rescue from Mt. Washington

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire plans to fine a Massachusetts teenager for the cost of rescuing him from Mount Washington in April.

NH man swipes debit card for smokes, charged 23 quadrillion dollars (plus $15 overdraft fee)

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A New Hampshire man says he swiped his debit card at a gas station to buy a pack of cigarettes and was charged over 23 quadrillion dollars.

State-by-state list of cites and areas to receive stimulus money to combat homelessness

State-by-state look at cities, counties and communities where stimulus money will be distributed to combat homelessness and the dollars for each location, according to the Housing and Urban Development Department:

NH tax evaders convicted of plotting to kill feds in months-long standoff at fort-like home

CONCORD, N.H. — Tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown were convicted Thursday on all counts of plotting to kill federal agents during a nine-month standoff at their fort-like home in rural New Hampshire.

NH tax evaders guilty on all counts of plotting to kill feds in months-long standoff

CONCORD, N.H. — Tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown were convicted Thursday of amassing weapons, explosives and booby traps and plotting to kill federal agents during a nine-month standoff in 2007 at their fort-like home in rural New Hampshire.

Jury gets case against NH tax evaders accused of trying to harm agents during standoff

CONCORD, N.H. — Convicted tax evader Ed Brown just “wanted to live” when he stockpiled guns and explosives at his home during a 2007 standoff, his defense lawyer said Wednesday during closing arguments in Brown’s weapons and conspiracy trial.

Defense rests in weapons, conspiracy trial of NH tax evaders; closing arguments on tap

CONCORD, N.H. — Testimony has ended in New Hampshire in the trial of tax evaders accused of booby-trapping their property to harm federal agents during a 2007 standoff.

New Hampshire tax evader denies booby-trapping property to harm federal agents

CONCORD, N.H. — A convicted tax evader has denied at his trial that he booby-trapped his New Hampshire property to kill federal agents.

GOP scandals, Palin’s resignation leave conservatives reeling in Iowa, New Hampshire

DES MOINES, Iowa — Social conservatives in Iowa and New Hampshire already were reeling from scandals surrounding two Republicans thought to be considering White House runs when Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shocked the party by announcing her resignation.

Japan approves new inspection rules for Western US cherries, speeding exports

YAKIMA, Wash. — Cherry growers in three West Coast states will be able to ship sweet cherries to Japan more cheaply because of a change in the country’s pest control requirements for imports of the fruit.

Plenty of states going to great depths to monitor groundwater supplies

KINGSTON, N.H. — About a quarter mile into dense woods, geologists watch as a drilling rig twists a shaft deep into the granite bedrock of southeastern New Hampshire. They are searching for water — not to drink — but to watch.

Beyond exterminating, New Hampshire city rallies around refugees to get rid of bedbugs

MANCHESTER, N.H. — After all the officials took turns explaining a plan to end a bedbug infestation in an apartment building where mostly refugees live, Michel Ndayavugwi simply pointed to the young boy dozing in a chair in the back of the room.

Video of weapons-filled home shown at NH trial of convicted tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown

CONCORD, N.H. — Jurors in the trial of a tax-evading New Hampshire couple viewed video Wednesday of a vast arsenal that prosecutors say they stockpiled inside their turreted mountaintop home, including an improvised bomb on a kitchen shelf, next to the cookie jar.

Prosecutor says convicted NH tax evaders are radicals as weapons and conspiracy trial begins

CONCORD, N.H. — A retired exterminator and his dentist wife held hands and talked in court Tuesday as a prosecutor called them dangerous anti-government radicals and their lawyers said it was reasonable for them to fear for their lives.

Supreme Court won’t decide whether law making doctor’s prescription pad private constitutional

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won’t stop the state of New Hampshire from making doctors’ prescription-writing habits confidential over the objection of companies who analyze and sell that information.