10 Best Family Towns

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

(NEWSER) - The South is gaining population and power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday. If House seats were distributed based on the estimates, which are believed to be a strong predictor of the 2010 census results, Texas would be the big winner, gaining three seats, with Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington each adding one. More»

To have a real celestial experience, get away from urban hotspots

(NEWSER) - There's no better season than summer for sleeping outdoors under the stars. Get your fill of the Big Dipper at USA Today's ideal star-gazing spots:

1. Assateague Island National Seashore, Md./Va.
2. Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah
3. Big Bend National Park, Texas

New gene makes bacteria resistant to virtually all antibiotics

(NEWSER) - People in three states have fallen prey to a new breed of superbugs, bacteria carrying a gene that makes them impervious to virtually any antibiotic. All three patients had recently received medical treatment in India, where the gene was first discovered, and has become widespread, the AP reports. “It’s a great concern,” said one infectious disease specialist. “It’s just a matter of time” until the gene, which was carried by three different bacteria in the US cases, spreads more broadly. More»

911 callers don't risk arrest themselves

(NEWSER) - Good Samaritan laws are designed to make sure people who OD on drugs get help. The idea is to shield callers to 911 who report someone in trouble from getting arrested themselves, Newsweek reports in a look at the push for the laws. So far, Washington state and New Mexico have the legislation in place, and California, New York, and Massachusetts are considering it. More»

Travel strangled, with accidents killing at least 12

(AP) - A powerful storm packing heavy snow, sleet, and rain lumbered across the nation's midsection today, glazing roads and disrupting air travel but promising a white Christmas for some. The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Texas. It cautioned that travel would be extremely dangerous in those areas through the weekend; slippery roads have already been blamed for at least 12 deaths. More»