1. POPE BENEDICT XVI TO STEP DOWN

The 85-year-old pontiff, the first to resign in nearly 600 years, says his advanced age and diminishing strength have made it too difficult to carry on.

2. SNOWED-IN NORTHEAST TRIES TO GET BACK TO WORK

Public transit returned after more than 3 feet of snow fell in some places and New York reopened a major highway where hundreds of cars were stranded.

3. MANHUNT FOR EX-LA COP MOVES TO SUBURBS

Police surround the Irvine home of a believed target of Christopher Dorner, and evacuated a San Fernando Valley store after a reported sighting.

4. HORSEMEAT SCANDAL SPREADS THROUGHOUT EUROPE

France says Romanian butchers and Dutch and Cypriot traders were involved in the supply chain that put horsemeat disguised as beef in frozen food. EUROPE-HORSEMEAT

5. GATES BACKS OVERSIGHT OF DRONE PROGRAM

The former defense secretary supports proposals for a special court to review Obama's deadly strikes against Americans linked to al-Qaida.

6. TWISTER DAMAGES MISS. CAMPUS

The governor was to tour hard-hit Hattiesburg today where windows were blown out and roofs ripped off at his alma mater, University of Southern Mississippi. Continued...