IMF's Blanchard sees "very large" Greek haircut (Reuters)

Reuters - The IMF's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, said on Monday it looks like the 'haircut' on Greek private debt will be "very large" as negotiations between bondholders and the government drag on to cut Greece's debt burden.

Granddad: Boys played happily before fatal visit (AP)

AP - The maternal grandparents of Josh Powell's two sons say the boys were playing happily Sunday and didn't want to visit their father.

Gold falls as Greek debt crisis back in spotlight (AP)

AP - Gold prices fell Monday as the Greek debt crisis returned to the spotlight, renewing concerns about the impact that Europe's financial troubles could have on the global economy.

The Second City to Receive NAB Spirit of Broadcasting Award

The National Association of Broadcasters announced today The Second City will receive the Spirit of Broadcasting Award during the 2012 NAB Show. The Second City's Co-Chairman

Report: Large charitable donations on the rise (AP)

AP - Money donated by the nation's most chartable people is starting to catch up with pre-recession giving, thanks in part to some very large bequests from a few donors.

Report: Large charitable donations on the rise (AP)

AP - Money donated by the nation's most chartable people is starting to catch up with pre-recession giving, thanks in part to some very large bequests from a few donors.

$16 house? Dallas area man evicted after squatting (AP)

AP - After paying $16 to file a one-page claim to an empty, $340,000 home in an upscale Dallas suburb, Kenneth Robinson moved in furniture, hung a "No Trespassing" sign in the front window and invited television cameras inside for a tour.

Tax reform in this election year: It's not likely (AP)

AP - Tax reform sounds like a good idea to lots of people, but where to start? Eliminate the popular deduction for home mortgages? End the write-off for charitable contributions? How about expanding the Social Security payroll tax?

Mo. teen describes killing as amazing, enjoyable (AP)

AP - A Missouri teenager who admitted stabbing, strangling and slitting the throat of a young neighbor girl wrote in her journal on the night of the killing that it was an "ahmazing" and "pretty enjoyable" experience — then headed off to church with a laugh.

US levies tougher sanctions on Iran's Central Bank (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama levied tough new sanctions on Iran's Central Bank Monday amid increased tensions over Tehran's nuclear program and the specter of an Israeli attack on the Islamic republic.

Pennsylvania city's receiver warns on revenue need

(Reuters) - The state-appointed receiver for Pennsylvania's capital of Harrisburg warned that the city will likely face ongoing budget problems even if it sells its incinerator and parking garages. Receiver David Unkovic, in his 194-page proposal, said he has not yet determined the value of Harrisburg's parking garages, incinerator and other assets. ...

A push for family input to detect dementia earlier (AP)

AP - Alexis McKenzie's mother had mild dementia, but things sounded OK when she phoned home: Dad was with her, finishing his wife's sentences as they talked about puttering through the day and a drive to the store.

Mushroom pickers lost hope, considered eating dog (AP)

AP - Dan Conne says he and his wife and son thought they were going to die after getting lost while picking mushrooms and spending nearly a week in the rugged forest of southwest Oregon.

2 new charges for suspect in Ca. homeless killings (AP)

AP - A former Marine already accused of killing four homeless men was charged Monday with two new counts of murder in the stabbing deaths of his high school friend's mother and older brother.

City of Keller settles 11-year dispute

City will pay developer for the property drainage issue that began in 2001.

Former intern reveals 18-month affair with JFK (Reuters)

Reuters - A former White House intern is speaking out about an 18-month affair she had with President John F. Kennedy while he was in office, revealing intimate details in a new book to be published on Wednesday.

90 DC workers face firing for unemployment fraud (AP)

AP - About 90 District of Columbia workers have been suspended and may be fired after officials determined they received unemployment checks while holding city jobs.

Report: Casinos generated $125B spending in 2010 (AP)

AP - A new report shows U.S. casinos and the industries that depend on them made a $125 billion economic splash in 2010 — the equivalent of 1 percent of the total U.S. gross domestic product.

No way China can sustain its growth: Biden (Reuters)

Reuters - Vice President Joe Biden warned on Monday that there is no way that China will be able to sustain its current level of economic growth because of what he called its "God-awful" one-child policy.

Judge likely to extend commitment of accused Tucson gunman (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge was expected on Monday to order Jared Loughner, the man charged with last year's deadly Arizona shooting rampage, to remain confined to a prison hospital where doctors are trying restore his mental fitness for trial.

US to issue sanctions waiver for Myanmar (AP)

AP - The U.S. is easing one of its many sanctions against Myanmar as a reward for political reforms after five decades of direct military rule.

Major Mali city on high alert for Tuareg attacks

The city of Kidal in the far north of Mali is on high alert after Tuareg rebels said Monday they have taken up strategic positions around the locality, setting the stage for the first aggression against a major city.

US oil prices fall below $97 (AP)

AP - The price of U.S. oil is falling as supplies continue to rise.

Fed should raise rates in 2013, Bullard says (Reuters)

Reuters - The Federal Reserve should start raising interest rates next year, a top Fed official said on Monday, arguing that many years of near-zero rates will do little to return economic output to pre-recession levels and risks causing "disaster."

CITY INSIDER / Parking meter rates, fines among highest in nation

San Francisco shares the top spot for the steepest parking meter fines in the United States and has the third-highest hourly parking rates for metered spaces. That was the finding of a new survey by the San Francisco...

With economy improving, Obama would beat Romney: poll (Reuters)

Reuters - bolstered by a stronger economic outlook and recent job growth - would win in a match-up against the two leading Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, a poll on Monday showed.

FACT CHECK: Obama, GOP spin recent energy stats (AP)

AP - You wouldn't know it from the Republicans, but these are boom times for American energy.

Bigger US role against companies' cyberthreats? (AP)

AP - A developing Senate plan that would bolster the government's ability to regulate the computer security of companies that run critical industries is drawing strong opposition from businesses that say it goes too far and security experts who believe it should have even more teeth.

Goldman's Blankfein campaigns for gay marriage (Reuters)

Reuters - Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, one of Wall Street's most powerful figures, has become the first major business leader to join a national media campaign in support of same-sex marriage.

Marine sergeant accused of hazing goes to trial (AP)

AP - A second Marine is going to trial for allegedly hazing a fellow Marine who later fatally shot himself in Afghanistan.

Analysis: Euro zone strugglers lack innovative knack (Reuters)

Reuters - To get an idea of the economic mountain euro zone strugglers Greece and Portugal have to climb, consider this: per million inhabitants, they each filed fewer than eight applications with the European Patent Office in 2010.

US closes embassy in Syria (AP)

AP - The Obama administration has closed the U.S. Embassy in Damascus and pulled all American diplomats out of Syria.

German industrial orders buoyed by global demand (AP)

AP - The German government says strong demand from outside the eurozone helped the country's industrial orders rise a stronger-than-expected 1.7 percent in December.

China growth could halve if Europe crisis worsens: IMF (Reuters)

Reuters - China's annual economic growth could be cut nearly in half this year if Europe's debt crisis tips the world economy into a recession, putting pressure on Beijing to unveil "significant" fiscal stimulus, the International Monetary Fund said.

"Intentional" explosion kills husband, two sons of missing woman (Reuters)

Reuters - An "intentional" house explosion on Sunday near Tacoma, Washington killed the husband and two sons of a Utah woman missing since December 2009, fire department officials said.

Europe's debt rose to 82 percent of output at end-Q3 (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Union's total government debt rose slightly to 82.2 percent of economic output in the third quarter of 2011, the EU's statistics agency said on Monday, lower than the United States but still a burden that could take decades to pay down.

Analysis: Iran economy could limp along under sanctions (Reuters)

Reuters - Tightening international sanctions against Iran look set to shrink its economy, push up inflation and further erode its currency, but they may fail to deliver a knock-out blow that forces Tehran to compromise on its nuclear ambitions.

Slab City: Living Off the Grid in California's Badlands (Time.com)

Time.com - Deep in the badlands of California is a squatters' camp that many are increasingly calling home -- and a paradise of sorts

Inside Facebook's IPO: How the Social Web Will Reshape the Economy (Time.com)

Time.com - Facebook's IPO -- the largest in Internet history -- is a once-in-a-generation milestone in the evolution of the web

IMF warns Europe downturn could cut China growth (AP)

AP - A sharp downturn in Europe could cut China's economic growth rate nearly in half, the International Monetary Fund said Monday, adding to warnings about a possible severe global slowdown this year.