China has been steadily increasing its foreign investments outside of bonds in recent years. Between 2005 and 2010, it made more than $224 billion in overseas investments and also entered into engineering and construction contracts of more than $94 billion, according to data compiled by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. The group tracks China's foreign nonbond investments and contracts worth more than $100 million.

Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma's congressional delegation, announced Tuesday that he intends to retire at the end of his term.

The announcement by the 37-year old conservative Democrat should make it easier for Republicans to turn the Oklahoma delegation entirely red.

A listicle without commentary. Completely subjective.

1. Kenny "Pancho" Hagood
2. Michael "Dodo" Marmarosa
3. "Mr. Five by Five," Jimmy Rushing
4. "Fat Girl," aka Theodore "Fats" Navarro
5. David "Fathead" Newman
6. Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
7. Jimmy "Spanky" DeBrest
8. Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton
9. James "Bubber" Miley
10. "Big Eye" Louis Nelson Delisle
11. Paul "Vice Pres" Quinichette
12. "Jelly Roll Morton"

Photos of what's happening above the volcano range in southern Chile reflect Mother Nature at her showiest.

The ratings gurus at U.S.News and World Report have put some of the nation's most popular diets through the wringer and crowned as champion a diet originally developed to help people lower their blood pressure.

Look closely, and you can see a rear view of Endeavor's wings and engines as the space shuttle sits on top of the International Space Station. This image was taken May 23 by an astronaut on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft as it headed back to Earth. It's a rare perspective — one of the first-ever photos of the station shuttle complex captured from a distance.

"All previous views have come from cameras on the station's exterior, or from cameras used by the crew from windows inside the station," says NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries.

What is it that they say? If life gives you a cicada invasion, make ice cream. OK that's not what anyone says, but Columbia, Mo. is in the midst of cicada mating season. It means that once every 13 years, cicadas leave their homes underground as nymphs, they molt and emerge as adults. Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream decided that while they were out there, they might as well make a cicada flavored batch.

Here's how the Columbia Missourian describes the process:

Requests for emergency food baskets in Fayette County  have fallen slightly over the past year.  God's Pantry director Marian Guinn says the per month requests have gone, on average, from about 1660 to 1600.   Still, the number of people seeking help from the region’s best known food bank has nearly doubled since 2007.  So, a plea is going out for volunteers to establish new food drives.

It’s getting down to decision time as Lexington leaders write a new budget.  Some spending decisions could come as soon as Thursday. Members were told today (Tuesday) that city revenues are higher than predicted.  However, Council member Doug Martin worries about projections for the new fiscal year which begins in July.