If confirmed by the full Senate in December, Janet Yellen would become the first woman to lead the central bank. She's currently the Fed's vice chairman. Analysts do not expect major policy shifts after the departure of current Chairman Ben Bernanke.

The change makes it much harder for Republicans to filibuster many of President Obama's nominees.

President Hamid Karzai has called together this "grand assembly" of Afghan elders and community leaders to help decide the future role of the U.S. military in the war-ravaged country.

The Central Indiana Transit Study Committee voted 12-1 in favor of a concept to enhance the system.

Afghan and U.S. officials have agreed on a draft security pact, but Afghan elders are debating whether to approve it. President Obama has told Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the U.S. would only conduct raids on homes under "extraordinary circumstances."

Indianapolis will contribute almost $18 million for the development of the old Market Square Arena site. The funding still needs City County Council approval, but already received backing of the Economic and Metropolitan Development Commissions this week.

The Metropolitan Development Commission voted 7-1 in favor of rezoning for a $4.7 million project. Plans are to build student housing, a brewery, an event center, and urban farming at the site of the former Central State Hospital.

Indiana will get just over $354,000 as part of a multi-state settlement agreement with Google, Inc. over allegations the tech giant violated consumer privacy.

A congressional directive requires U.S. detention centers to fill 34,000 beds per night. Supporters say it ensures that the nation's immigration laws are being enforced. But critics say housing a fixed number of immigrants at any given time is inhumane, inefficient and too expensive.

The blasts happened in a part of the city that is also home to offices of a Shiite party that is allied with Hezbollah. Forces battling Syrian President Bashar Assad have carried their fight to his supporters in Lebanon. There are reports that a brigade with ties to al-Qaida claimed responsibility.