USA

Homeland Security officials said they're prepared to send in the military if mounting drug-related violence in Mexico should spill over into the US. More than 5,000 people have been killed the past year as Mexican drug cartels have fought each other and the government for control of lucrative drug and human-smuggling routes across the US-Mexican border.

President Bush turned down a plea from Israel last year to bomb Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, according to a weekend report by The New York Times. Bush opted to pursue unspecified covert efforts, former and current US officials told the Times.

President-elect Obama plans to honor Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona, his election rival, at an inaugural-eve dinner Jan. 19. It is one of three dinners arranged to salute Americans who put their country ahead of their political party. Demo-cratic Vice President-elect Joseph Biden and Colin Powell, a former secretary of State under the current president, are the other honorees.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer was put up for sale Friday by the Hearst Corp., which said if a buyer isn't found within 60 days, the 88-year-old newspaper will likely close or go to publishing online only.

The 10th and final Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier was commissioned the USS George H.W. Bush Saturday in Norfolk, Va. The 41st president, a decorated World War II Navy pilot, was there to accept the honors. The 4.5-acre ship cost $6.2 billion to build.

Morgan Stanley and Citigroup could announce the merger of their brokerage operations as early as Monday, according to media reports.

Don Meyer of Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., became the winningest men's college basketball coach in history Saturday, surpassing Bob Knight with his 903rd career victory. Since losing part of a leg as the result of a car crash four months ago, Meyer has coached in a wheelchair. After the historymaking 82-62 win, he shook hands with members of the visiting University of Mary team .