Search results for

The new guidelines for treating childhood ear infections are intended to reduce unnecessary antibiotics use. They say doctors should look at the eardrum to make sure a child really has an ear infection, instead of relying on symptoms. And if the child doesn't have severe symptoms, see if the ear gets better on its own.

Oakland, Calif., is issuing municipal ID cards to anyone who can prove residency. It doubles as a debit card. Supporters say it will help residents who are poor, without a bank or undocumented. Immigration control advocates say the city is abetting illegal immigration.

The latest survey of economic forecasters by the National Association of Business Economics predicts a 2 percent growth this year. That's down from last year's 2.2 percent. The current budget battle in Congress is partly blamed for slowing the economy.

If you download copyrighted material illegally, you might get a warning from your Internet service provider starting as soon as Monday. That's according to blogs covering file-sharing communities like Bit Torrent, where users share and download movies and music for free. The crackdown is led by big copyright holders like the Motion Picture Association of America.

Also: Toni Morrison's digital signing; our picks for the best books out this week; and William S. Burroughs in a Nike ad.

The church's cardinals can start the process of choosing a new pope right after Benedict's resignation takes effect later this week — rather than wait the 15 days that rules had required. One cardinal, Keith O'Brien of Britain, has stepped down after being accused of inappropriate behavior.

Also: Trial to start on BP's responsibility for Gulf oil spill; South Korea's first female president takes office; Cuban leader Raul Castro says he'll retire in 2018; Argo wins Oscar for best picture.

The political stakes are high for both Congress and the president, while some GOP governors are turning up the heat on House Speaker John Boehner.

The movies Argo and Life of Pi and actors Daniel Day-Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence were among the winners at Sunday's Academy Awards. But no one movie swept the show.

The Swedish furniture giant has become the latest retailer swept up in Europe's widening horse meat scandal. The affected meatballs have been pulled from stores in more than a dozen countries.