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Logar Province, a flashpoint just south of Kabul, shows the challenges facing U.S. forces as they try to prepare Afghan troops to take over security. In some areas, Afghan troops lead operations. In others, insurgents still pose a serious threat, and the U.S. troops still have the lead role.

With the election settled, Washington and Wall Street are focused on whether Congress and a re-elected president can avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff." Renee Montagne talks to David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, about the automatic budget cuts and tax hikes that would happen if an agreement can't be reached by early in the new year.

Officials in Washington are still trying to make sense of the sudden resignation last week of CIA Director David Petraeus. More details are emerging about the extramarital affair that brought Petraeus down. It came to light following an FBI investigation, which was not focused originally on the CIA director but soon led to him.

The city of Long Beach, on Long Island's Nassau County was one of the hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy, with entire neighborhoods ravaged by floods and wind. It seemed unlikely that the high school's football team would get to finish its season. But the Long Beach Marines saw action over the weekend.

Commentator David Zeitz was a "sapper" in Afghanistan. He detected and disassembled mines. He tells the story of a colleague who was seriously injured just feet away from him on a minefield.

While FBI agents reportedly uncovered the CIA director's extramarital affair during the summer, no one outside the Justice Department was told until he resigned on Friday. Investigators did not think the affair had compromised national security, news outlets report.

At least two people were killed Saturday when a blast rocked a neighborhood. More than 30 homes were damaged or destroyed. About 200 people are now homeless. Authorities do not think a bomb or meth lab explosion was responsible, but have not pinpointed the cause.

Also: As "fiscal cliff" looms, scenarios multiply; New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo will reportedly seek $30 billion in disaster aid; the BBC's head of news steps down; Italy is pounded by heavy rains.

Paula Broadwell wrote a biography of Petraeus. She is also a major in the Army Reserve who focuses on counterterrorism issues and has access to some secret information. Broadwell and Petraeus have reportedly told investigators he did not give her any classified information.

After a mortar round fired from Syria struck near an Israeli army post, Israeli troops fired back with tank shells. The Israeli military says its forces hit the source of the mortar round.