CALIFORNIA

Anti-Wall Street protesters remained in a camp of about 20 tents in the Northern California college town of Berkeley on Thursday, a day after authorities threatened to stop overnight camping.

Grammy-winning singer Etta James, who has been deemed terminally ill with leukemia, has been hospitalized in California and placed on a breathing machine, her long-time manager and friend said on Friday.

Lawyers for actor Mel Gibson and his estranged wife Robyn submitted a proposed divorce settlement to a judge on Friday, moving the pair closer to finalizing their split after 31 years of marriage.

Refineries in the Northeast are closing their doors, and as a result, more than half of the area's petroleum refining capacity will be reduced. The reduction is likely to be problematic for ultra-low sulfur diesel, gasoline, heating oil and jet fuel supplies.

The holiday season brings good news to 1.4 million low-wage workers in eight states. On the first day of January, these workers will see their income getting a modest boost as a result of state laws that require the minimum wage to keep up with inflation.

Kansas has had multiple UFO sightings. The latest sighting last week in Crowley County, Kansas, though, concerned a 30-foot wide, saucer-shaped 'UFO' that turned out to be a military drone named the X-47B being hauled on a flatbed truck to Maryland.

Via Motors spokesman David West offers a bold comparison for his company's latest line of electric vehicles: the iPhone.

The year began with a shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that left six people dead and 14, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, injured, and it ended with the last troops coming home from Iraq. It began with Congress deadlocked over spending and taxes and ended with Congress, well, deadlocked over spending and taxes.

Wall Street extended a year-end rally on Friday as the S&P 500 rose for a fourth day and turned positive for the year after a recent run of better-than-expected economic data.

Stocks edged higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 on track for a fourth straight day of gains as a batch of economic data pointed to an economy that continued to grow at a modest pace.

At Last singer Etta James was rushed to a California hospital on Thursday because her health has possibly worsened, according to reports.

Melanie Amaro 19 year old vocalist won the X-Factor as expected by the viewers. The singer from Sunrise, Fla. had received rave reviews throughout her performance in the show.

The economy is gaining momentum and should push through next year with only a few bruises despite an almost certain European recession and slower global growth.

Rambus Inc said it has signed a patent licensing deal with Broadcom Inc , resolving all previous claims related to its technology.

As the end of 2011 approaches, the housing market is another year removed from the subprime mortgage meltdown. But the legacy of the crash remains, as homeowners, lenders, regulators and brokers alike continue to deal with falling home prices, a glut of unprocessed foreclosures and an uncertain economy.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted a Turkish national on terrorism-support charges for allegedly wiring money to Pakistan to help fund attacks against American military personnel.

When actors decide to direct, it's often a dicey proposition. Some are naturals (Clint Eastwood) but others turn out films that are unwatchable, self-indulgent hokum (anyone else sit through Nicholas Cage's Sonny in 2002?).

Could Melanie Amaro be the next X-Factor winner? Head judge Simon Cowell seems to think so.

Hospitals in California that served a greater proportion of black patients were more likely to shutter their emergency departments in the past decade than hospitals with fewer black patients, according to a new study.

After six months of notable decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court ended 2011 setting the stage for a blockbuster session in 2012.

The Rocky IV actress is in pain but OK.