Clamping down on prescription painkiller abuse

(CBS News) The Food and Drug Administration has called the abuse of prescription painkillers a "major public health challenge." On Friday, the FDA wrapped up a hearing on the drugs including oxycodone, Vicodin and Percocet. These painkillers do their job well -- but come with a big risk. "My liver started shutting down," said 28-year-old Kimberly, who asked that we not use her last name. "My kidneys...

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'Stay Home': Northeast Shuts Down as Blizzard Hits

A blizzard of possibly historic proportions is set to strike the Northeast, starting today and could bring more than two feet of snow and strong winds that could shut down densely populated cities such as Boston and New York City.A storm from the west will join forces with one from the south to form a nor'easter that will sit and spin just off the East Coast, affecting more...

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Facts? Shmacts. It's only a movie

STORY HIGHLIGHTSGene Seymour: "Lincoln" error on emancipation vote shines light on how films tell historyHe says Oscar chances for "Argo," "Zero Dark Thirty" may be hurt after facts questionedHe says films have long gotten history wrong but are useful in showing society's perceptionsSeymour: It's art, not history, sometimes a vision, something we wish had been or could be Editor's note: Gene Seymour...

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Microsoft wins latest round in Motorola patent case

SAN FRANCISCO: A federal judge on Thursday tossed out more than a dozen patent infringement claims filed against Microsoft by Google-owned Motorola Mobility.US District Court Judge James Robart, in Microsoft's home state of Washington, sided with the software colossus, dismissing 13 claims of infringement on a trio of Motorola patents involving digital video encoding and decoding, according...

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'This is a necessary evil,' suspected cop killer writes

STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: LAPD board found Dorner was facing a bad reviewChris Dorner filed a complaint against his training officer in 2007The LAPD cleared the officer and recommended that Dorner be dismissed "The attacks will stop when the department states the truth about my innocence," he wrote(CNN) -- What authorities are calling Chris Dorner's campaign of guerrilla warfare against his former comrades...

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Despite adoption ban, N.J. couple brings home Russian tot

(CBS News) FREEHOLD, N.J. -- It's been about a month since Russian President Vladimir Putin banned Americans from adopting Russian children. It was widely seen as a retaliation for a new U.S. law targeting Russians who have violated human rights. At the time, 1,000 American families were in the middle of the adoption process. CBS News first met Robert and Kim Summers a month ago. They were just...

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Alleged Cop-Killer Has Calif. Region on Edge

The truck owned and driven by suspected cop killer Christopher Dorner during his alleged rampage through the Los Angeles area was found deserted and in flames on the side of Bear Mountain, Calif., this afternoon.Heavily armed SWAT team members descended onto Bear Mountain from a helicopter manned with snipers today to investigate the fire. The San Bernadino Sheriff's Department...

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Bring drones out of the shadows

STORY HIGHLIGHTSJohn Brennan's confirmation hearing is a chance to ask about drone program, author saysSarah Holewinski: Brennan is one of a few officials who knows full story on dronesShe says senators need to ask about damage drone program does to civilians, U.S. reputationHolewinski: CIA should hand over drone program to Defense DepartmentEditor's note: Sarah Holewinski is executive director of...

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Qantas chief backs troubled Dreamliner

SYDNEY: Qantas chief Alan Joyce has thrown his support behind Boeing and its troubled 787 Dreamliner, reinforcing his commitment to introducing the planes to the Australian flag-carrier's fleet.The next generation plane suffered a series of glitches last month, prompting a global alert from the US Federal Aviation Administration that led to the worldwide grounding of all 50 operational...

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Shooter planned to smear victims with Chick-fil-A's

Floyd Lee Corkins was arrested at the shooting scene.STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: The president of the FRC accuses the Southern Poverty Law Center of "inciting violence"Floyd Corkins, pleads guilty, says he wanted to intimidate those who oppose gay rights He faces up to 70 years in prison when sentenced April 29Building manager wrestled with Corkins and disarmed him after being shot in August incident Washington...

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