It's that time again. Time for Americans to pause and watch as a groundhog supposedly tells us whether winter's going to continue. He saw his shadow, so Phil says it will.

After a wild ride from Hawaii to the streets of Los Angeles, a Laysan albatross was freed Wednesday. The bird, with a white body, black wings and a curved yellow beak, was spotted in Los Angeles on the back of a pickup truck.

Can the emotional tone of CEO voices during earnings calls tell investors about what's really happening inside a company? New research suggests there may be valuable information for investors in the tone of the CEO's voice.

American Airlines is looking to cut 13,00 jobs as part of a restructuring. The company — which is in bankruptcy — also wants to reduce salaries by 20 percent and end its pension plan.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says the U.S. hopes to end its combat mission in Afghanistan in late 2013. However, U.S. troops would still remain in the country through the end of 2014. Panetta is meeting this week with NATO defense ministers, and the Afghanistan mission is a key item on the agenda.

There's a battle going on between U.S. Catholic bishops and the Obama administration over its recent directive requiring religious institutions to offer coverage for contraception in their health care plans. Some have announced they will not comply with the mandate. Others are calling on parishioners to "defend the faith" and speak out against what they call an intrusion against religious liberty.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation has cut off funding to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Many women's health advocates are upset by the decision. The group said the decision was made as part of a broad effort to use donations more efficiently.

More than two dozens states this year are considering new laws to require voters to show ID at the polls, despite the controversy around similar bills enacted last year. Efforts are under way to impose the requirements before the 2012 elections, although opponents are waging legal challenges and looking toward the U.S. Justice Department to bar implementation.