AIG bonus backlash...Wall Street rallies again...Pill not so smart

Washington (AP) Members of Congress are moving ahead with proposals for nullifying the $165 million in bonuses paid to employees of financially troubled insurance giant AIG. The payments have sparked national outrage at a time when taxpayers have put up more than $170-billion to keep AIG afloat. One plan would slap a 100-percent tax on the bonuses.

NEW YORK (AP) Wall Street may be back in rally mode. The Dow climbed 179 points today for its fifth gain in six sessions.

Investors were encouraged by surprisingly strong figures on housing construction.

SALTILLO, Mexico (AP) Seven American tourists are among 11 people killed in northern Mexico when their bus was hit by an out-of-control truck. Victims of yesterday's crash include a Texas teacher who would have celebrated her 33rd wedding anniversary tomorrow. Mexican authorities say the trucker was drunk.

CHICHESTER, N.H. (AP) Town selectmen will hold a board meeting in Chichester, N.H., tonight as angry townspeople protest the arrival of a convicted child killer released from prison.

Sixty-year-old Raymond Guay is staying temporarily with a minister and his family. One protester, fearing he's still a menace, has threatened to burn the pastor's house down.

CHICAGO (AP) Taking the so-called "smart drug" could turn out to be a dumb thing to do. Research being published in the Journal of the American Medical Association tomorrow says the prescription anti-sleep drug, Provigil, could be addictive. Some people, including college students, think it makes them smarter and more energetic.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 03-17-09 1646CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list