NY lawmakers: House GOP scraps vote on Sandy aid
Written by LARRY MARGASAK,Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — New York-area lawmakers in both parties erupted in anger after learning the House Republican leadership decided to allow the current term of Congress to end without holding a vote on aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy.
Stampede after fireworks kills 61 in Ivory Coast
Written by INZA BAKAYOKO,Associated Press
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — A crowd stampeded after leaving a New Year's fireworks show early Tuesday in Ivory Coast's main city, killing 61 people — many of them children and teenagers — and injuring more than 200, rescue workers said.
Cliff avoided: Congress staves off tax hikes
Written by ALAN FRAM,Associated Press DAVID ESPO,Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Past its own New Year's deadline, a weary Congress sent President Barack Obama legislation to avoid a national "fiscal cliff" of middle class tax increases and spending cuts late Tuesday night in the culmination of a struggle that strained America's divided government to the limit.
Despite deal, taxes to rise for most Americans
Written by STEPHEN OHLEMACHER,Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — While the tax package that Congress passed New Year's Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.
Medical device makers: Jan. 1 tax could cost jobs
Written by BOB SALSBERG,Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Medical device makers in Massachusetts and elsewhere are warning of potential job losses and other consequences as the industry's hopes of avoiding a 2.3 percent excise tax fade amid the stalled fiscal cliff negotiations.
Happy New Year
Written by AP
Pa. railroad calendar delivered 63 years late
Written by AP
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper has just received a calendar to help ring in the new year — except the year is 1950.
Bill to avert fiscal cliff heads to House
Written by ANDREW TAYLOR,Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to negate a fiscal cliff of across-the-board tax increases and sweeping spending cuts to the Pentagon and other government agencies is headed to the GOP-dominated House after bipartisan, middle-of-the-night approval in the Senate capped a New Year's Eve drama unlike any other in the annals of Congress.