Japanese nuclear plants' operator scrambles to avert meltdowns  —  Japanese authorities said Sunday that efforts to restart the cooling system at one of the nuclear reactors damaged by Friday's earthquake had failed, even as officials struggled to bring several other damaged reactors under control.

Up to 100,000 protest Wisconsin law curbing unions  —  * Wisconsin battle has ignited national struggle  —  Up to 100,000 people protested at the Wisconsin state Capitol on Saturday against a new law curbing the union rights of public workers that is seen as one of the biggest challenges in decades facing U.S. organized labor.

Sen. Durbin predicts GOP stop-gap to pass, averting shutdown  —  Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, predicted a House GOP proposal to cut spending by $6 billion over three weeks would pass the upper chamber.  —  “I think it will pass …

OBAMA, DANIELS SCORE LAUGHS AT GRIDIRON DINNER  —  Obama, seen here in a 2010 photo, delivered remarks at the Gridiron Dinner on Saturday.  It was his first time attending the dinner as president.  Photo by Reuters  —  President Obama used his first appearance at the annual Gridiron Club Dinner …

Kristol Wants ‘More Than A No-Fly Zone’ In Libya, Says U.S. Should Attack Qaddafi's War Ships And Tanks  —  While the U.S. and NATO allies work with the international community to get consensus on and authorization for a no-fly zone in Libya to prevent Muammar Qaddafi's forces from killing …

Lost city of Atlantis, swamped by tsunami, may be found  —  (Reuters) - A U.S.-led research team may have finally located the lost city of Atlantis, the legendary metropolis believed swamped by a tsunami thousands of years ago in mud flats in southern Spain.

TOP STORIES - CIVIL SERVICE BOARD ANNOUNCES POLICE RECRUIT SCORES  —  DAYTON — The Dayton Police Department is lowering its testing standards for recruits.  —  It's a move required by the U.S. Department of Justice after it says not enough African-Americans passed the exam.

Japanese volcano erupts  —  A volcano in southwestern Japan erupted Sunday after nearly two weeks of relative silence, sending ash and rocks up to four kilometres (two and a half miles) into the air, a local official says.  —  It was not immediately clear if the eruption was a direct result …

Veering From Peaceful Models, Libya's Youth Revolt Turns Toward Chaos  —  RAS LANUF, Libya — It is a bromide of dictators like Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi that they stand as the only bulwark against forces of chaos and religious militancy.  The tragedy of Libya's uprising …

Former manager: Palin added to ‘short list’ for gender balance  —  Aides to John McCain initially added Sarah Palin to his “short list” of potential running mates because McCain wanted a woman on the list, according to his campaign manager.  —  McCain entered the vice presidential selection process …