Record summer heat scorched East, Southern USA

The intense heat this summer wasn't a mirage for the tens of millions of people in the eastern and southern USA: Every state east of the Mississippi River recorded one of its top 10 warmest summers since records began, according to data released Wednesday by the National Climatic Data Center.

Obama: GOP trying to ride 'fear and anger' to Election Day

Reggie Bush on Heisman Trophy: 'At this point it's kind of out of my hands'

Spanish Concavenator dinosaur a 'hunchback hunter'

Spain's top-predator dinosaur, some 130 million years ago, sported quilled-elbows, an alligator belly and a hunchback, an international team reports Wednesday.

Deadly remnants of Hermine drench Texas, Okla.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine caused widespread flooding in northern Texas and began buffeting southern Oklahoma on Wednesday, killing at least two people and submerging low-lying pockets of Arlington under several feet of water.

Fed survey: Slower economic growth spreads to more regions

The U.S. economy lost strength in late summer as factory production weakened in areas of the East Coast and Midwest..

Coffee prices on the rise as futures hit 13-year high

Coffee prices hit a 13-year high Wednesday, extending a rally that has sent prices up about 43% in the past three months.

Google unveils Instant search

Search giant Google Wednesday introduced instant search results that promise to save users time.

Drop in mortgage refinancing overwhelms rise in loans to buy

Applications for home loans dipped last week as mortgage rates ticked up slightly from the lowest level in decades.

Toughness the hallmark that Brett Favre brings back to Vikes

This is not your grandfather's NFL that is unless your grandfather happens to be 40-year-old Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. He became a grandfather in April.

Reggie Bush on Heisman Trophy: 'At this point it's kind of out of my hands'

Georgia WR A.J. Green will miss three more games after selling jersey

Who's headed for Dallas? Ten questions for new NFL season

With the NFL's 2010 season kicking off, USA TODAY considers 10 story lines and their accompanying 2010 pressure points that could determine who captures the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 6 at Cowboys Stadium:

Look, up on the stage: It's Usher

"I'm not calling myself a superhero," Usher says. "But you can call me one."

Jane Fonda: 'I recently had plastic surgery'

Piers Morgan to replace Larry King on CNN

Piers Morgan, the veteran British journalist best known to America for his role as the acerbic judge on NBC summer hit America's Got Talent, will replace CNN's longtime evening talk host Larry King on Jan. 4.

Barbara Walters and 'The View' get back to work

The unflappable Barbara Walters, 80, hasn't let heart surgery set her back one bit.

New iPod Touch more like iPhone 4; Ping isn't quite there

Steve Jobs noted during last week's unveiling of freshly designed iPods that the iPod Touch has been called "an iPhone without the phone," and an "iPhone without a contract." Now that it's even more like the iPhone 4, it's sure to remain the most popular iPod.

Google unveils Instant search

Search giant Google Wednesday introduced instant search results that promise to save users time.

Spanish Concavenator dinosaur a 'hunchback hunter'

Spain's top-predator dinosaur, some 130 million years ago, sported quilled-elbows, an alligator belly and a hunchback, an international team reports Wednesday.

Legal question: Can HP keep Hurd from going to Oracle?

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) sued former CEO Mark Hurd on Tuesday to prevent him from joining rival Oracle (ORCL). The legal dispute could have broad implications for the fortunes of both companies.

10 great ziplines across the USA

As leaves begin to change color, it's the perfect time to glide through treetops on a zipline. Part thrill ride, part eco-adventure, ziplines have taken off in the past decade, says Michael R. Smith, creator of ZiplineNirvana.com, a social media website for zipline lovers. Tours generally run from $80 to $180 for a three-hour experience. Smith says a good tour provides a sense of place, exploration and entertainment. He shares some of his favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Bumper stickers take aim at Jersey Shore visitors

First it was Bennies, then Shoobies. Now there's another derogatory nickname for summer tourists who visit the Jersey shore: FOOTs.

Embassy Suites Hotels courts fans who travel for their passion

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