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Social Security closes offices as demand soars 06/18/2014 02:58am • STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Social Security Administration has been closing a record number of field offices because of budget constraints even as the demand for services soars, according to a congressional report being released on Wednesday.As a result, seniors seekin Brooklyn a hit as a baby name, except in NY state 06/17/2014 09:21am • MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) -- Maybe it's the ultimate sign that New York City's up-and-coming borough has finally arrived. Brooklyn is now one of the nation's most popular baby names.Over the past two decades, Brooklyn as a name for girls has surged from No. 912 to the top 30 in Pelosi praises state budget, Obama tactics on Iraq 06/17/2014 01:04am • FENIT NIRAPPIL Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on a Monday visit to the state capital called for minimal military involvement in Iraq and praised California for passing a timely budget.The San Francisco Democrat and former House speaker was flanked by G Starbucks clears college degree path for workers 06/17/2014 12:24am • CANDICE CHOI AP Food Industry Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Starbucks is giving its baristas a shot at an online college degree, an unusual benefit in an industry where higher education is often out of reach for workers.The coffee chain is partnering with Arizona State University to make an online undergr Expert: Care, lost wages for fan could total $37M 06/16/2014 10:10pm • LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lawyers for a San Francisco Giants fan gravely disabled after a beating at Dodger Stadium rested their case in a negligence suit Monday after an expert said Bryan Stow's lost wages and medical costs could total more than $37 million over his Study: Teens are drinking less, texting more 06/16/2014 04:36pm • MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- American teens are smoking less, drinking less and fighting less. But they're texting behind the wheel and spending a lot of time on video games and computers, according to the government's latest study of worrisome behavior.Generally speaking, the news Duchy Trachtenberg: Why You Should Vote For Me 06/16/2014 12:10pm • We asked local candidates in contested primary elections to write a sub-750 word essay describing why residents should vote for them on June 24. Next up is Duchy Trachtenberg, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the District 1 County Council race. Below is Trachtenberg’s unedited r Kicking heat: Chinese artist prompts leg-gun meme 06/16/2014 04:06am • BEIJING (AP) -- Days after sparking a new Internet meme with photos of people brandishing their legs as guns, Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei said Monday that his original posting on Instagram was a statement about the overuse of power in fighting terrorism.China is in the midst of an anti-terror Militants post photos of mass killing in Iraq 06/16/2014 03:20am • QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press BAGHDAD (AP) -- The Islamic militants who overran cities and towns in Iraq last week posted graphic photos that appeared to show their gunmen massacring scores of captured Iraqi soldiers, while the prime minister vowed Sunday to "liberate every inch" of captured t Egypt police confiscate rights group's publication 06/16/2014 02:24am • SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press CAIRO (AP) -- Egyptian security forces confiscated copies of a human rights group's newsletter and arrested a print shop worker, saying the publication threatened the government, the head of the group said Sunday.Gamal Eid, of the Arab Network for Human Rights Informat Brooklyn offers urban cool to 2016 convention bid 06/15/2014 11:22am • JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) -- Brooklyn, at long last out of the shadow of Manhattan, has become its own urban brand, emanating youthful energy, gritty cool and liberal politics, a combination backers hope will make it the edgy choice to host the 2016 Democratic convention.Brookly Spain props up soccer amid crushing austerity 06/14/2014 09:34pm • JORGE SAINZ Associated Press VALENCIA, Spain (AP) -- At the height of Spain's crushing economic crisis, the Villarreal soccer club sported an eye-catching logo across its jerseys: Aeroport Castello. The local government paid the club 20 million euros ($27 million) to promote what was to become Spain China frees artist held for Tiananmen anniversary 06/14/2014 03:36am • BEIJING (AP) -- Soldier-turned-artist Chen Guang was released Saturday, more than a month after he was detained ahead of the 25th anniversary of the military crackdown on China's pro-democracy protests, his friend said.Chen was among a dozen or so people detained by the government bent on preventing China arrests rights lawyer who fought labor camps 06/14/2014 02:07am • GILLIAN WONG Associated Press BEIJING (AP) -- Just half a year ago, civil rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang was earning accolades in the Chinese media for his work pushing for the abolition of labor camps. On Friday, Pu made headlines again -- but this time for being arrested by Beijing police on charges th Ga. couple's killing leaves authorities baffled 06/13/2014 04:16pm • KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press EATONTON, Ga. (AP) -- The unsolved beheading of a retiree and the killing of his elderly wife has so rattled their gated, lakeside Georgia community that neighbors are casting about for even outlandish explanations. Was it a mob hit? A drug dealer? A hungry alligator?T