Students and parents see their instructors as heroes instead of criticizing generous benefits. Senators say Congress will be in session on New Year's Eve trying to avert a budget crisis. Police say an Afghan policewoman killed the adviser at police headquarters in Kabul. Superstorm Sandy, "fiscal cliff" uncertainty, the school shooting and a delayed economic recovery hurt consumer confidence. The AP's Hamza Hendawi says the Islamist leadership will move for legislation to create a more religious state. The U.S.-Canada command began taking calls about Santa Claus' whereabouts back in the 1950s, when a Colorado newspaper inadvertently printed its number. Police say Idaho Republican Michael Crapo had a blood alcohol content of .110 when he was pulled over in Alexandria, Va. Bethenny Frankel, the TV personality who founded the Skinnygirl line cocktail and shapewear line, is separating from husband Jason Hoppy after two years. Peter Jackson's prelude to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy took in $36.7 million in its second weekend. Cruise's "Jack Reacher" debuted a distant second with $15.6 million.