SARA BURNETT Associated Press KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — For more than 30 years and under five presidents, Republican Rep. Fred Upton easily won reelection to his southwest Michigan House seat by promoting "common-sense values" and bipartisan accomplishments. Republicans and even many Democrats have appreciated his moderate views and the way he hustled around the district on his days back home, meeting...

NEW YORK (AP) — This year's Black Friday was the biggest ever for online sales, as fewer people hit the stores and shoppers rang up $7.4 billion in transactions from their phones, computers and tablets. That's just behind the $7.9 billion haul of last year's Cyber Monday, which holds the one-day record for online sales, according to Adobe Analytics. Adobe...

IMAD ISSEID Associated Press BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — A tiny wooden relic that some Christians believe to be part of Jesus' manger arrived Saturday in its permanent home in the biblical city of Bethlehem 1,400 years after it was sent to Rome as a gift to the pope. Sheathed in an ornate case, cheerful crowds greeted the relic with much...

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - A  Riverside man who allegedly tried to kill a peace officer on Thanksgiving was arrested and jailed, police said Friday.Police responded to a call of a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the 3600 block of Chestnut Street about 7:45 a.m. Thursday and were told the suspect appeared to be drunk and was throwing things around inside...

A prostitution sting in Southwest Riverside County resulted in the arrests of nine men and two women, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said Thursday.The operation, targeting people soliciting sex in exchange for money in Temecula, was carried out on Tuesday by the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce along with personnel from the Perris sheriff's station , according to sheriff's...

HEMET (CNS) - Sheriff's detectives were investigating the deaths of two people found Friday inside a Hemet motel room who may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to authorities.The bodies of a man and woman were discovered inside a room at the Coach Light Motel in the 1600 block of West Florida Ave. about 1:15 p.m., the Riverside...

JURUPA VALLEY (CNS) - A fire engulfed six vehicles at a salvage yard in Jurupa Valley Friday before being knocked down in about 20 minutes.The fire was reported at 3:09 p.m. in the 3700 block of Pyrite Street, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.Firefighters from six fire engines knocked down the fire at 3:30 p.m.No injuries were immediately...

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - A storm that produced rain and snow on Thanksgiving and the day before, causing flooding on roadways in Riverside County, significantly weakened Friday countywide.The highest precipitation total in the metropolitan areas of the county was a quarter-inch in Temecula, according to totals recorded by the National Weather Service since 1 a.m. In the mountainous areas of...

FULLERTON (AP) — Parents of a 19-year-old woman who died of alcohol poisoning are suing her sorority and California State University, Fullerton, claiming her death was due to hazing. The Orange County Register says the parents of Bea Castro filed the negligence and wrongful death suit this week. The suit says Castro was forced to drink large amounts of alcohol last...

DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO (AP) — The nation's largest utility said Friday that its distribution lines haven't sparked any major wildfires since it began shutting off power to Northern California customers during periods of high fire risk. However, Pacific Gas & Electric is not ruling out the possibility that failed transmission equipment may have started a fire north of San...