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The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in a case challenging a Voting Rights Act provision that requires some states to receive federal approval for elections rule changes. Shelby County says the system is outdated, but some black officials argue it's still necessary to ensure diverse voices in government.

Several big retailers say the return of the full payroll tax is causing consumers to curtail spending, but so far the evidence is mostly anecdotal. Some analysts argue a variety of factors, and not any specific policy, contributed to slower growth in consumer spending in January.

Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop died Monday. He was 96. As surgeon general, Koop turned an office with little power into a mighty platform to educate Americans about AIDS prevention and the dangers of smoking.

Natalie Stewart, best known as half of the British duo Floetry, discusses that group's breakup and her new solo album.

Also: Some authors are buying spots on bestseller lists; the legacy of Philip Roth; and details of Thomas Pynchon's next novel.

The death toll is reported to be near 20. What caused the fire and crash has yet to be determined. Balloon rides over the ancient city of Luxor and nearby historic sites are popular among tourists. Those killed are said to have been from Japan, Britain, Belgium and France.

Few can say they've reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Even fewer can say they've done it twice. And only one woman can say she's done it twice in one month.

Civilization cannot live on anchovies alone. The ancient Norte Chico people of Peru were long thought to have built a complex society in South America while dining on a diet based on the tiny fish. But archaeologists now say they ate the food that fueled empires throughout the hemisphere — corn.

The House speaker wants senators to act. The top Senate Republican says it's time to work on a compromise. And the Republican National Committee says the cuts would be "negligible compared to Obama's disastrous fiscal record."

A slow-motion train wreck of $1.2 trillion in spending cuts spread out over 10 years would definitely be at odds with the growing urgency of the president's warnings as the March 1 deadline draws near.