Shares of Alpha Natural Resources dropped sharply Wednesday after the coal producer warned that the slowing economy could trim as much as $95 million from its expected 2008 profit.

Christmastime and the new year send television into overdrive with specials and holiday-themed episodes. What stands out? Here's a look at noteworthy programs and a countdown to the most special of all specials.

CINCINNATI — It spread like a cold virus through a day care center.

Dozens of ancient artifacts stolen by a former U.S. Army officer were returned Wednesday to the Egyptian government.

In the first stage of the multi-year Merida Initiative, the U.S. is providing $400 million to Mexico and $65 million to Central America to fight drug gangs. The U.S. State Department says the money will pay for:

Extendicare, the large health-care chain that owns the Richmond nursing home where the staff was videotaped abusing and neglecting an 84-year-old Alzheimer's patient, has big plans to profit from the aging of the Baby Boomers.

A man using a candy cane lawn ornament fended off a knife-wielding neighbor who had been attacking holiday guests at a Sacramento home. Police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong saID the man used the two-foot-tall plastic ornament to subdue the attacker until officers arrived.

In his first news conference since President-elect Barack Obama asked him to stay on, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that he and Obama agree on the U.S. course in Iraq, but he couldn't commit to Obama's pledge of a 16-month withdrawal. Instead, Gates said the pace of the drawdown would be one of several discussions in which he'll participate during the new administration.