Garth Brooks Donates Personal Stuff to Museum

"Garth Brooks has cleaned out his closet, giving some of what he found to the Smithsonian in the nation's capital, reports The Washington Post's Reliable Source column – which suggests he may have been encouraged by his wife, Trisha Yearwood, to get the stuff out of their house. How else to explain his largesse: a reconstructed smashed guitar from a 1991 TV appearance, a Western-style concert outfit (including black elephant-skin boots), handwritten lyrics on a yellow legal pad and some plaques for sales milestones, including one adorned by a gold-painted audio cassette tape. 'To say that I'm flattered would not be enough,' the semi-retired singer, 45, said of his inclusion in the American archive. 'I always thought that when this happened you'd feel like Elvis, and I don't.' He added, 'All I can think of while they're taking me around here is, 'What the hell am I doing in here?"

Agency Still Investigating Spears Case - Britney Spears, Kevin Federline : People.com

"Hundreds of pages of court documents were released Tuesday in the Britney Spears-Kevin Federline custody battle – and in them was the revelation that the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services is still looking into 'multiple child abuse and neglect referrals.' 'The Sensitive Case Unit ... is currently investigating multiple child abuse and neglect referrals concerning the above-referenced parents and their family,' a legal filing reads. 'The referrals are for general neglect and substantial risk.' Spears's lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. On Oct. 3, Tony Barretto, the singer's former bodyguard, had requested that the DCFS open an investigation into Spears, citing drug use and other questionable parenting by Spears. The document, dated Oct. 25, is a request by the DCFS asking for access to sealed documents in the former couple's ongoing custody battle, to aid their investigation. The court granted the request on Nov. 26. 'Based on its investigation to date, it should be noted that DCFS has concerns of its own regarding the safety and welfare of the children if the children are left in the mother's care,' the filing continues. 'However, although DCFS has interviewed the parents and several witnesses regarding the allegations in the referrals,"

Suicide Car Bomber Attacks Afghan Army Bus in Kabul, 13 Killed

"A suicide bomber slammed into a bus in Kabul, killing at least 13 people Wednesday - the second such attack in the Afghan capital in as many days. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing, which occurred just as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrapped up a two-day visit to the country to assess military efforts against rising militant attacks. Afghan officials say among those killed in today's attack were six soldiers and seven civilians, four of them children. Militant attacks on buses carrying military and government personnel have become increasingly common this year. The Taliban also claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack on Tuesday, which caused no deaths but wounded 22 Afghans. Secretary Gates met Tuesday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his army chief Bismullah Khan. Both men told Gates that the Afghan military needs more trainers and equipment to fight the Taliban. Gates said he would try to expedite the requests. He also expressed concern about increasing violence in Afghanistan, pointing out that the trend is - in part - connected to more aggressive efforts on the part of the United States and NATO to go after Taliban militants."

US Defense Secretary in Iraq to Discuss Security Gains

"U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Iraq on an unannounced visit to assess the progress in security that has been achieved with a surge of U.S. forces in the country. Gates flew into northern Iraqi city of Mosul for talks with U.S. commanders Wednesday, after ending a visit to Afghanistan. U.S. defense department spokesman Geoff Morrell said Secretary Gates wants to see for himself the progress made since his last visit to the country nearly three months ago. The spokesman said Gates will also meet with senior Iraqi leaders, including Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, to get their view of the situation and to see what more they can do to build on the progress made so far. In violence, Iraqi police say at least eight people were killed in three separate car bombings in the cities of Mosul, Baquba and Kirkuk. Separately, the U.S. military said two American soldiers were killed Tuesday in an insurgent attack that involved a roadside bomb blast and small arms fire. Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad. Tuesday, the Iraqi Cabinet agreed to ask the United Nations to extend authorization for U.S.-led forces in the country through the end of next year. The current one-year mandate for U.S. forces expires at the end of this month (December 2007). At"