Columbus plans to spend $11.5 million over the next three to four years to demolish 900 houses that city inspectors have deemed dangerous and uninhabitable. The city has never spent so much to tear down vacant and abandoned houses, but the problem has become such a threat to the viability of neighborhoods that the city has to act, Mayor Michael B. Coleman told The Dispatch yesterday.

Euro zone economy to shrink in 2012, EU stagnates (Reuters)

Reuters - The euro zone's economy is heading into its second recession in just three years, while the wider EU will stagnate, the EU's executive said on Thursday, warning that the area has yet to break its vicious cycle of debt.

Manchester City Team Report

MAN CITY Coach: Roberto Mancini (since 20/12/2009) Last Result: 1-0 win at Aston Villa, February 12 Record: 19-3-3 Streak: Won 2 Next Match: at home to Blackburn, February 25 Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said he had "no problem" with Carlos Tevez and the striker could be considered for selection in "two or three weeks".

Former U.Va. lacrosse player faces 26 years (AP)

AP - In a trial that revealed the lives of elite athletes at a top-notch school, a former University of Virginia lacrosse player faces 26 years in prison for the beating death of his former girlfriend amid a swirl of betrayal, distrust, anger and a culture of drinking.

San Diego jurors told corpses were soaked in acid (AP)

AP - Two members of a breakaway Mexican drug gang dissolved their victims' corpses in vats of acid in a gruesome display of Mexican cartel tactics played out on U.S. soil, a prosecutor told jurors.

8-year-old critical after Wash. school shooting (AP)

AP - Police say a gun brought to a Washington state elementary school in a third grader's backpack discharged, apparently by accident, critically wounding an 8-year-old classmate.

Final report on W.Va. mine blast comes amid charge (AP)

AP - West Virginia mine safety officials were to release the final report on a 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners Thursday just as federal prosecutors turn up the heat on managers they say contributed to the tragedy.

Judge says Wash. can't make pharmacies sell Plan B (AP)

AP - In a ruling that appears headed toward appeal, a federal judge has ruled that Washington state cannot force pharmacies to sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives.

Lesbian federal worker wins health benefits case (AP)

AP - The government cannot deny health benefits to the wife of a lesbian court employee by relying on the 1996 law that bars government recognition of same-sex unions, a federal judge has ruled.

Ahead of the Bell: Unemployment benefits (AP)

AP - The number of people seeking unemployment aid has fallen to near a four-year low, an encouraging sign for the job market. A little bump in applications last week is unlikely to change that view.

Mass shooting at spa shocks Ga. Korean community (AP)

AP - A man gunned down along with his wife and other family members at an Atlanta area spa he co-owned was a prominent member of Atlanta's community of roughly 100,000 Korean-Americans, according to friends left confused and concerned about what happened.

BP, Anadarko liable for U.S. spill damages (Reuters)

Reuters - BP Plc and Anadarko Petroleum Corp are liable for civil damages under federal pollution laws over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a U.S. judge ruled, exposing them to billions of dollars in potential fines.

High season for tornadoes ahead, eyes on Southeast (AP)

AP - With the month of March looming, tornado chasers are already watching the Southeast as a nasty storm brews with the potential to spin off a batch of tornadoes.

Newark mayor seeks probe of NYPD Muslim spying (AP)

AP - The mayor of New Jersey's largest city called for state authorities Wednesday to investigate a widespread spying operation conducted in Newark's Muslim neighborhoods by the New York Police Department that he characterized as "deeply offensive."

2 charged in death of Ala girl forced to run (AP)

AP - Roger Simpson said he looked down the road and saw a little girl running outside her home but didn't give it another thought. Police, however, said the man witnessed a murder in progress.

Obama to address gas prices, pitch energy policy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is confronting Americans' anxiety over rising gasoline prices by drawing attention to his energy policies and taking credit for rising oil and gas production, a greater mix of energy sources and decreased consumption.

To close tax loopholes, Obama would open new ones (AP)

AP - Cutting corporate tax rates and deleting loopholes is just what most economists prescribe for the tangled U.S. tax code.

How the poll was conducted (AP)

AP - The Associated Press-GfK Poll on President Obama and the economy was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications from Feb. 16-20. It is based on landline and cellphone telephone interviews with a nationally representative random sample of 1,000 adults. Interviews were conducted with 700 respondents on landline telephones and 300 on cellular phones.

Poll: Obama benefiting from improving economy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

Poll: Obama benefiting from improving economy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

More U.S. kids living in high-poverty areas: study (Reuters)

Reuters - Years of economic setbacks have taken their toll on the nation's youngest residents, with another 1.6 million children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to one study that shows nearly 8 million children residing in poor areas in 2010.

More U.S. kids living in high-poverty areas: study (Reuters)

Reuters - Years of economic setbacks have taken their toll on the nation's youngest residents, with another 1.6 million children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to one study that shows nearly 8 million children residing in poor areas in 2010.

Analysis: Can U.S. economy withstand gasoline price curse? (Reuters)

Reuters - Could history repeat itself? That is a question uppermost in the minds of many Americans as they warily watch gasoline prices at the pump rise week after week.

Ex-lacrosse player at UVA convicted of murdering (Reuters)

Reuters - A jury on Wednesday found former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V guilty of second-degree murder in the 2010 death of his ex-girlfriend, and recommended he serve 25 years in prison.

Is It Time to Start Worrying About Inflation Again? (Time.com)

Time.com - The greatest threat to any long-term investor is inflation. It not only erodes the value of stocks and bonds, but also depresses economic growth and misleads policymakers

A Champion in Purgatory: Muhammad Ali Returns to Vegas (Time.com)

Time.com - As part of an extended celebration of his 70th birthday, the ailing legend appears at a massive fundraiser to benefit brain research

Mancini ends Tevez feud as City march on in Europa

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, has drawn a line under his long-running dispute with Carlos Tevez and insisted the Argentina striker is now available for selection.

Virginia Gov. shifts on abortion bill; revised measure (Reuters)

Reuters - Virginia's Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell on Wednesday abruptly shifted his stance on a hotly-contested bill requiring women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound, asking lawmakers to revise the legislation just before a scheduled vote.

Teenage girl dies after inhaling helium at party (AP)

AP - Last weekend, 14-year-old Ashley Long told her parents she was going to a slumber party. But instead of spending the night watching videos and eating popcorn two blocks away, she piled into a car with a bunch of her friends and rode to a condo in Medford, Ore., where police say the big sister of one of her friends was throwing a party with booze and marijuana.

Authorities tracing phone of mountain man's family (AP)

AP - Troy James Knapp is a wanted man, a mountain recluse authorities say is responsible for more than two dozen cabin burglaries in the remote southern Utah wilderness. He's considered armed and dangerous, a ticking time bomb.

Kansas City priest accused of molesting 4 brothers

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - Catholic leaders in Kansas City covered up years of sexual abuse of several young children by a priest who led a Christian organization for youth, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by four brothers who say they were victimized as children. The lawsuit, one of more than two dozen pending in Kansas City alleging abuse by area priests, was filed in Jackson County ...

California Republicans back Democrat governor on pensions (Reuters)

Reuters - Republican lawmakers in California on Wednesday fully embraced Governor Jerry Brown's plan for overhauling public pensions and pressed his fellow Democrats, who control the state legislature, to back it as well.

Burned before, Fed officials cautious on rebound (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. central bank officials have good reason to be skeptical about the strength of the economy: excessive optimism has caught them flat-footed before.

Home resales at 1-1/2 year-high, supply falls (Reuters)

Reuters - Home resales rose to a 1-1/2-year high in January, pushing the supply of properties on the market to the lowest level in almost seven years in a hopeful sign for the housing sector.

Dollar rises to 7-month high against Japanese yen (AP)

AP - The dollar rose to a seven-month high against the Japanese yen, a week after the Bank of Japan announced a surprise increase of its economic stimulus program.

City overpower holders Porto in Europa League

The presence of former manager Andre Villas-Boas at Eastlands failed to inspire holders Porto as Manchester City eased into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 4-0 second leg win on Wednesday.

Man City beats defending EL champion Porto 4-0

Manchester City eased past defending Europa League champion FC Porto on Wednesday, beating the Portuguese side 4-0 to wrap up a 6-1 aggregate win. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring after just 19 seconds to stretch City's 2-1 first-leg advantage but the English Premier League leader then had to wait until the 76th minute for its second goal.

'Occupy' to hold national conference in Philly (AP)

AP - A group of protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement plans to elect 876 "delegates" from around the country and hold a national "general assembly" in Philadelphia over the Fourth of July as part of ongoing protests over corporate excess and economic inequality.

Summary Box: Bank of England split on stimulus (AP)

AP - STIMULATING DISCUSSION: Minutes of their last meeting showed Bank of England rate-setters were divided about injecting another 50 billion pounds ($79 billion) into the economy. Two members argued for a bigger stimulus.

Private jet shipments slip, but improvement seen (Reuters)

Reuters - Worldwide shipments of business jets and other private aircraft fell again last year, but billings rose modestly in a sign of improvement in a tough economy.