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Celtics get help from outside 'Big Three' in beating Sixers

Boston forward Brandon Bass had an up and down season until Monday night, when he scored 27 points as the Celtics downed Philadelphia to take a three games-to-two lead in the best of seven NBA playoff series.
Mountain lion shot in downtown Santa Monica (+video)

A mountain lion prowling in the courtyard of a Santa Monica office building was fatally shot Tuesday. The National Park Service is monitoring 22 mountain lions in the nearby Santa Monica Mountains.
Two harrowing US military rescues offer haunting portrait of Afghan war

Rescue pilots in Afghanistan describe flying five to 10 combat missions a day, on constant alert. Describing one mission, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor last week, Col. Christopher Barnett says: 'It was like the Alamo.'
Thunder runs past Lakers in Game 5, advance to Western Conference final

Despite 42 points from Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City got big performances from both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant Monday night to reach the conference finals for the second year in a row.
Decoder Wire
Cory Booker comments: How badly have they hurt President Obama? (+video)

Mayor Cory Booker was so far off-message about the Obama campaign that he couldn’t even see the Democratic Party message. With campaign surrogates like that, who needs election opponents?
SpaceX launch: private industry inspires new generation of rocketeers (+video)

SpaceX launch a reminder that NASA isn't the only game in town anymore. Aspiring engineers, rocket designers, space geeks look to 'New Space' companies to boldly go where only governments used to go.
Deadly Joplin tornado remembered, one year later (+video)

Residents of Joplin, Missouri awoke Tuesday morning with memories still fresh in their minds of the deadly twister that struck their city one year ago.
Briefing
Five things Ron Paul wants from the Republican National Convention

It looks as if Ron Paul is going to be an active participant in the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Here’s our take on the five things Paul hopes to gain from staying within his party’s tent in 2012.
Briefing
Five things Ron Paul wants from the Republican National Convention

It looks as if Ron Paul is going to be an active participant in the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Here’s our take on the five things Paul hopes to gain from staying within his party’s tent in 2012.
Hate crime redefined? Judge sees no hate in Rutgers webcam spy case

Dharun Ravi was sentenced to 30 days jail for using a webcam to spy on a gay college roommate. He could have received 10 years. But the judge said "I do not believe he hated Tyler Clementi."
Colin Powell is not endorsing Obama or Romney, yet

Colin Powell, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George Bush, endorsed Barack Obama four years ago. But Powell says he's "keeping his powder dry" on a presidential endorsement.
Eight shot in Oklahoma City after NBA playoff series win

A total of eight people were shot Monday night in Oklahoma City following that city's NBA team completing a playoff series victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
With SpaceX launch, more than cargo is riding on space station mission (+video)

The Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon capsule are the bread and butter of SpaceX, which hopes for more contracts with NASA and others to ferry things – and people – to and from space.
Ohio removes pit bulls from 'vicious' dogs list

Ohio state law labeled specific breeds, such as pit bulls, as 'vicious.' Now the law defines a dangerous dog based on behavior not breed.
Joplin seniors graduate after year of tragedy and triumph

A year ago, the deadliest tornado in six decades leveled Joplin, Missouri; President Obama commemorated that anniversary with a speech to the high school graduates who persevered.
30 days for Dharun Ravi in Rutgers suicide case

The former student was convicted for his role in harassing Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after Ravi used a webcam to spy on him.
No verdict yet in Edwards trial

Jurors will begin a third day of deliberation on Tuesday as they decide whether or not John Edwards committed campaign finance violations by funneling money to his mistress.
SpaceX will try private launch again on Tuesday

The rocket—the first private mission to the International Space Station—scrubbed its planned launch on Saturday.
One year later, Joplin is on the mend

On the anniversary of a tornado that claimed 161 lives, the people of Joplin have made big strides towards rebuilding - but there is work left to be done.
Catholic groups take fight against Obama birth-control rules to court

Some 43 Catholic groups including Notre Dame are attempting to block rules in the new health-care law that require health insurance to provide access to birth-control services.