Former spymaster Gates now looking more likely to accept longer stint as defense secretary What Robert Gates once called "inconceivable to me"—his remaining as defense secretary beyond Inauguration Day—is looking a bit more conceivable to the rest of Washington.

Louisiana man says cell phone in his chest pocket saved him from .45-caliber bullet A man says his cell phone saved his life. A stray .45-caliber bullet hit R.J. Richard's chest while he was mowing the lawn—hitting so hard he thought it was a stone kicked out by his tractor.

Investigation says Ohio agency director improperly checked records on Joe the Plumber An agency director improperly used state computers to find personal information on "Joe the Plumber," a government watchdog said in a report released Thursday.