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In 1411, the count of Namur banned the use of stilts in the Belgian city. Over the past 600 years, the elevated footwear has been used for everything from putting up drywall to fishing and even jousting.

There was a political scramble in Maine after Tuesday's surprise retirement announcement from Olympia Snowe, one of the state's two Republican senators.

The Supreme Court will take up the issue of racial preferences in college admissions next fall, and some fear the decision will leave universities with fewer options for increasing diversity on campus. Others say affirmative action is a crutch that is long past due for replacement.

France was among nine European countries that saw their sovereign debt ratings cut Friday. The move could boost borrowing costs in Paris and undermine a plan to contain the European debt crisis. But the loss of France's AAA rating is also likely to play a role in President Nicolas Sarkozy's re-election bid.

Much has been made of the unusual volatility of the GOP race this year, with candidates taking turns in the front-runner spot in Iowa. But with more outside money and a reliance on social media, the run-up to this election season's Iowa caucuses has been different in other ways as well.

Big banks announced around 60,000 job cuts in 2011. With businesses and consumers still focused on reducing debt, there isn't the same need for financial services as there was before, says one banking analyst. The outlook in the years ahead is for a smaller, more stable and less profitable industry.

In 2011, Chrysler recovered from bankruptcy by redefining itself as a better, more luxurious car company and paying off nearly $8 billion in bailout loans. To top it all off, Chrysler sales are up 25 percent this year, about twice the industry average.

The secretary of state isn't putting a timetable on when he will be allowed to leave China, but says progress is being made on the high-profile case.

Hans-Jurgen Kuhl started painting at 10, and in his 20s experimented with clothing design. Later in life he discovered his greatest art form — counterfeiting money. In a piece for Wired, contributing editor David Wolman tells the story of Kuhl, who viewed his work fabricating $100 bills as art.

American swimmer Ryan Lochte won the gold medal in the men's 400-meter individual medley Saturday, beating Michael Phelps and the rest of a talented field at the London 2012 Olympics.