PHILADELPHIA -- Archaeologists have uncovered what they say they believe are the remains of Irish immigrants in a mass grave some 20 miles west of Philadelphia. The team based at Immaculata University discovered the grave with 90 human bones while researching the mysterious deaths of 57 Irish men who arrived in Pennsylvania to work on the railroad in 1832 and died eight weeks later, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday. A secret file on the missing men piqued ... [full story]

CHICAGO -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Wednesday criticized his successor, warned of a tax hike and aired some inside-politics analysis as radio talk show host. Blagojevich, who was impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives and removed from office by the state Senate in January, spent two hours taking phone calls and interviewing guests as fill-in host of the "Don Wade & Roma Morning Show" on WLS-AM. He repeatedly took his successor, Gov. Pat ... [full story]

MIAMI -- Miami authorities are investigating a gas leak that sickened 12 inmates at the Turner Guilford Knight Corrections Center early Wednesday. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says all 12 inmates were in stable condition when they were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, The Miami Herald reports. It was the second gas leak in two days at the corrections facility. Tuesday, five inmates and seven jail workers were taken to Palmetto Hospital after a diesel fuel leak in the facility's ... [full story]

PITTSBURGH -- Attorneys for a fifth-grade Pennsylvania boy accused of fatally shooting his father's pregnant fiancee say they will seek to move the case to juvenile court. Lawrence County District Judge David Rishel has ordered 11-year-old Jordan Brown to stand trial as an adult on two counts of homicide following testimony by state troopers and witnesses, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday. Brown is accused in the New Galilee slayings of Kenzie Marie Houk, 26, and her unborn ... [full story]

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Court documents reveal a recommendation that former Orange County, California sheriff Mike Corona be sentenced to more than six years in prison. Corona is awaiting sentencing on charges of witness tampering for attempting to convince a former assistant sheriff to lie to a grand jury that was investigating his office. Corona was convicted in January and acquitted on other corruption-related charges. The Los Angeles Times said Wednesday that the sentencing recommendation was made by ... [full story]

SEATTLE -- U.S. and Canadian authorities say they've arrested nine people so far in a joint drug smuggling investigation dubbed "Operation Blade Runner." The probe began last month with the seizure of two helicopters and millions of dollars worth of marijuana and cocaine, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday. Helicopters seized by U.S. authorities were carrying about 600 pounds of "B.C. Bud" marijuana and nearly 170 pounds of cocaine. Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized an additional 150 pounds ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- Pakistan and the United States are engaging in a hectic round of negotiations as Washington prepares to unveil a new strategy for the country, sources say. As the Obama administration and Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, put the finishing touches on a redefinition of bilateral relations between Washington and Islamabad, close consultations between national leaders were said to be under way, the English-language Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported Wednesday. The newspaper ... [full story]

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Employees of a Fort Worth, Texas, tow truck company chased down two men who had allegedly robbed their business, holding one until help arrived, police said. Fort Worth Police Lt. Paul Henderson said Ollie Ray Whitworth, 43, and his 18-year-old son, Ollie Ray Whitworth Jr., jumped into a tow truck and pursued two men who had fled on foot allegedly after taking the cash drawer from their business, Abandoned Vehicle Enforcement, Sunday ... [full story]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Common Cause Florida says funding cuts will cause it to virtually shut down at the end of March. Officials of the nonprofit watchdog group say its only two paid employees have been laid off as part of a larger downsizing of about 20 Common Cause positions across the country, The Miami Herald reported. The group, which emphasizes governmental ethics and accountability, has operated in Florida since 1974, fighting for such causes as the restoration ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- A gaffe on a gift U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave her Russian counterpart was made by Clinton's political team not State translators, aides said. The gift Clinton presented to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was a large red button in a yellow case, with the words "Reset" and "Peregruzka" written on it, Politico reported Tuesday. When asked whether her staff got the right word, Lavrov replied, "You got it wrong." The word roughly ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- U.S. State Department reporters say they think access to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and top aides is more restrictive than before. One government official said the State Department and the White House have been discussing reducing the amount of information State releases about the secretary's words and meetings, bucking a tradition of a freer flow of information than other federal government agencies, Politico reported Tuesday. One reporter posted on a blog his dissatisfaction ... [full story]

PASADENA, Calif. -- A moderate earthquake was reported Tuesday in the Southern California desert where seismologists say a swarm of small tremors is raising concerns. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale shook the remote Salton Sea area, about 145 miles east of San Diego, Tuesday morning. While the Imperial County desert is sparsely populated, scientists have been watching closely due to the possibility the quake swarm could be aggravating the ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- The White House Tuesday announced it would provide $700 million to strengthen border security against Mexican drug cartels. The administration said it would increase security funding and border patrol deployments. Funds will help Mexico buy five helicopters for its army and air force, and new surveillance aircraft for its navy. It will double the number of border security teams and will place increased numbers of federal agents and other resources at the border. ... [full story]