SAN MARTIN TEXMELUCAN, Mexico - A massive oil pipeline explosion lay waste to parts of a central Mexican city Sunday, incinerating people, cars, houses and trees as gushing crude turned streets into flaming rivers. At least 28 people were killed, 13 of them children, in a disaster authorities blamed on oil thieves.

SAN MARTIN TEXMELUCAN, Mexico - A massive oil pipeline explosion lay waste to parts of a central Mexican city Sunday, incinerating people, cars, houses and trees as gushing crude turned streets into flaming rivers. At least 28 people were killed, 13 of them children, in a disaster authorities blamed on oil thieves.

Robberies during the period were down 10.7%, rapes were down 6.2% and burglaries dropped 1.4%, the report says. STORY HIGHLIGHTS * The FBI releases its report on 2010 crime statistics in the United States * The numbers include a 7.1% decrease in homicide * The South saw the largest drop in violent crime at 7.8% Washington (CNN) -- Violent crime in the United States dropped markedly in the first half of 2010, according to FBI statistics released Monday.

LONDON - Snow and frigid temperatures caused disruption across northern Europe for a third day Monday, stranding travelers, snarling traffic and shutting schools. Authorities said the bad weather is likely to run through Christmas.

CLEVELAND - Kimberly Smith holds up the piece of paper that is the only thing keeping her from bankruptcy: an application for extended unemployment benefits. She's not happy that she needs it. And she's upset that it was nearly taken away.

MINGTON -- Hunterdon County is offering a $10,000 bonus to long-serving, highly paid county employees if they agree to resign next year, officials said today.

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National:Rambling gunman dead after opening fire at Florida school meeting
Local: Thieves steal half-ton clothing donation bins across N.J. towns | NJ.com
entertainment: Apple to Open Its Mac App Store in January
Sports/Entertainment: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants - Recap - December 19, 2010 - ESPN

KINGWOOD TWP. -- State Police have ended an investigation into an alleged abuction attempt yesterday.

RARITAN TWP. - A Raritan Township man who went to police headquarters to report that his medicine was missing ended up charged with driving while under the influence of a prescription drug, police said today.

More Americans than ever are showing a willingness to walk away from their underwater homes, according to a recent survey. Chris Kelly is a perfect example of someone who never thought she would send the bank "jingle mail." But she did.

London (CNN) -- Both runways at London's Heathrow Airport are open, an airport spokeswoman said Monday, but many people stranded there may not get their Christmas wish of being home for the holidays.

International- U.S. Embassy: Beijing air quality is 'crazy bad'
National- North Carolina teen may have fallen from plane in Massachusetts
Local- On "Jeopardy" TV show: Raritan Twp. man who works at Hunterdon Central
Health- A winter birthday may affect your biological clock
Sports- Auburn quarterback Cam Newton wins Heisman Trophy

Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo will be represented Friday at the ceremony bestowing the honor by an empty chair, the second time such a symbol has been used in the event, the director of the Nobel Institute said Thursday.

With tens of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables still to be disclosed by WikiLeaks, the Obama administration has warned federal government employees, and even some future diplomats, that they must refrain from downloading or even linking to any.

An encrypted cache of uncensored documents that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has circulated across the Internet may ensure that a huge array of secrets will be revealed even if the website is shut down or Assange is arrested.

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran delivered a resolute message Sunday on the eve of talks with six world powers: We're mining our own uranium now, so there is no stopping our nuclear ambitions.

LAMBERTVILLE - It wasn't the clanking of chains in the reportedly-haunted former Lambertville High School that attracted attention, it was the clanging of pipes because six people had apparently converged on the closed building to tear out copper pipes and wires, police reported today.

On Thursday, Dec. 16, that answer would be "three." That's because Tim Klein of Raritan Township, an information systems support specialist at his alma mater, Hunterdon Central High School, appears on "Jeopardy.

RARITAN TWP. - "Spirited" student fans at Hunterdon Central High School face suspension, detention, counseling, testing, a month-long ban on participation in activities, lost parking privileges and a trip to the doctor's office.