This summer really was hotter than others

The intense heat this summer wasn't a mirage for the tens of millions of people in the eastern and southern USA. Every state east of the Mississippi River recorded one of its 10 warmest summers since records began, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

More young couples try long-distance relationships

Rachel Goldstein and Ben Kuryk try not to let 1,055 miles come between them.

Automakers still making a date with the powerful V-8 engine

Just when its future looked to be in doubt, automakers are putting some new life in the old V-8.

Reggie Bush on Heisman Trophy: 'At this point it's kind of out of my hands'

Deadly remnants of Hermine drench Texas, Okla.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine caused widespread flooding in northern Texas and began buffeting southern Oklahoma on Wednesday, killing at least two people and submerging low-lying pockets of Arlington under several feet of water.

Shortages of trucks and truck drivers stall product deliveries

Shortages of trucks and drivers are delaying some deliveries of products and raw materials across the USA and raising freight costs.

Community hospitals scramble to survive, stay independent

When Claire Contos needed colon-cancer surgery recently, she could have gone to a top teaching hospital in Boston, 13 miles north of here. Instead, she chose the Quincy Medical Center.

Automakers still making a date with the powerful V-8 engine

Just when its future looked to be in doubt, automakers are putting some new life in the old V-8.

Coffee prices on the rise as futures hit 13-year high

Coffee prices hit a 13-year high Wednesday, extending a rally that has sent prices up about 43% in the past three months.

Toughness the hallmark that Brett Favre brings back to Vikes

This is not your grandfather's NFL that is unless your grandfather happens to be 40-year-old Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. He became a grandfather in April.

Reggie Bush on Heisman Trophy: 'At this point it's kind of out of my hands'

Georgia WR A.J. Green will miss three more games after selling jersey

Who's headed for Dallas? Ten questions for new NFL season

With the NFL's 2010 season kicking off, USA TODAY considers 10 story lines and their accompanying 2010 pressure points that could determine who captures the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 6 at Cowboys Stadium:

Look, up on the stage: It's Usher

"I'm not calling myself a superhero," Usher says. "But you can call me one."

'America's Got Talent' narrows down to final four acts

Piers Morgan to replace Larry King on CNN

Piers Morgan, the veteran British journalist best known to America for his role as the acerbic judge on NBC summer hit America's Got Talent, will replace CNN's longtime evening talk host Larry King on Jan. 4.

Barbara Walters and 'The View' get back to work

The unflappable Barbara Walters, 80, hasn't let heart surgery set her back one bit.

Eye-Fi memory card uploads photos as you take them

Three years ago, a new kind of memory card went on sale promising to reduce the hassle of transferring photos and video from a camera to your PC or the Web.

Google Instant searches before you finish typing

Search giant Google (GOOG) on Wednesday introduced instant search results that promise to save users time.

Spanish Concavenator dinosaur a 'hunchback hunter'

Spain's top-predator dinosaur, some 130 million years ago, sported quilled-elbows, an alligator belly and a hunchback, an international team reports Wednesday.

Legal question: Can HP keep Hurd from going to Oracle?

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) sued former CEO Mark Hurd on Tuesday to prevent him from joining rival Oracle (ORCL). The legal dispute could have broad implications for the fortunes of both companies.

10 great ziplines across the USA

As leaves begin to change color, it's the perfect time to glide through treetops on a zipline. Part thrill ride, part eco-adventure, ziplines have taken off in the past decade, says Michael R. Smith, creator of ZiplineNirvana.com, a social media website for zipline lovers. Tours generally run from $80 to $180 for a three-hour experience. Smith says a good tour provides a sense of place, exploration and entertainment. He shares some of his favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Bumper stickers take aim at Jersey Shore visitors

First it was Bennies, then Shoobies. Now there's another derogatory nickname for summer tourists who visit the Jersey shore: FOOTs.

Embassy Suites Hotels courts fans who travel for their passion

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