Maddoff's stuff...Cleveland search...Fort Hood probes

NEW YORK (AP) About 200 remnants of Bernard Madoff's (MAY'-dawfs) lavish lifestyle are on the auction block in Manhattan today. Items range from a half-used sticky pad to expensive jewelry. Proceeds will be divided among Madoff's victims. He's serving a 150-year sentence in a North Carolina prison.

CLEVELAND (AP) FBI agents have the rakes and shovels out today, digging through the backyard of a Cleveland home where the remains of 11 women have been found. Yesterday, they conducted thermal imaging, X-ray and other tests on the house next door.

Suspected serial killer Anthony Sowell (SOH'-wehl) is in jail on five preliminary charges of aggravated murder.

Washington (AP) President Barack Obama is urging Congress to hold off on any investigation of the Fort Hood massacre. In his weekly address, Obama urges lawmakers to "resist the temptation" of "political theater" and allow investigators to complete their work. Meanwhile, funerals are being held today for six of the 13 people killed.

KABUL (AP) NATO says a search operation conducted by NATO and Afghan forces in western Afghanistan has killed several insurgents, including an armed woman. The alliance is rejecting claims that today's operations caused any civilian casualties. NATO is also reporting the deaths of two U.S. service members and an American civilian contractor in bombings yesterday.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) The latest militant attack in the Pakistani city of Peshawar (puh-SHAH'-wuhr) has killed 10 people, including four children. Authorities say a suicide car bomber struck a police checkpoint. Attacks on security forces, civilians and Western targets have surged since the government launched an offensive against suspected hideouts of the Taliban and al-Qaida last month.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-14-09 1037CST | save this article / add to your favorites list