Blaming the regime of President Bashar Assad for "ruthless suppression of what were initially peaceful and legitimate protests by unarmed civilians," the U.N. Human Rights Office today released a report that estimates at least 59,648 people had been killed in Syria through November in the protests and fighting there since March 2011.

INDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge says Indiana has been "deliberately indifferent" to the plight of mentally ill inmates in its state prisons, who amount to nearly a quarter of the system's population.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt ruled that the Indiana Department of Correction doesn't provide adequate treatment for mentally ill prisoners in violation of their constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  — Artifacts recently unearthed during the filming of a new National Geographic Channel show appear to pinpoint the location of a turning point in the yearslong feud between the Hatfield and McCoy clans.

We're sorry to start the first work day of 2013 on a negative note, but here goes:

Though the House voted 257-167 late Tuesday to OK legislation that kept the federal government from going over the so-called fiscal cliff — and stopped income taxes from rising for about 99 percent of Americans — lawmakers didn't reach agreement on other very divisive issues.

Being a little overweight may tip the odds in favor of living a long life, according to a new analysis. Researchers say there may be some benefit to having a little extra body fat.

This isn't the first time researchers have raised questions about the link between body weight and how long someone will live. While there's no debate that being severely obese will raise the risk of all kinds of illnesses and even cut some lives short, it's less clear what happens to people who are less overweight.

The budget compromise bill that is meant to allow the U.S. government to avoid higher tax rates and austere budget cuts has tax rates as its central issue, with discussions about more spending cuts, and the federal debt limit, put off until the coming weeks.

Voting begins this month for the top players, teams and moments from the history of the NCAA basketball tournament.

It’s part of the March Madness 75th anniversary celebration.

The NCAA has compiled a list of 75 players, 25 teams and 35 tournament moments for fans to consider. Voters will trim the list to 15 players, one team and one moment.

Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth says reauthorizing the expired No Child Left Behind Act should be a priority of the incoming Congress.

But the law as it stands now would likely undergo significant reforms that follow what some states like Kentucky have already begun implementing.

Yarmuth was recently appointed to the  House Education and Workforce Committee, a position he held during his first years in office.