Stocks fall...Feinstein wants torture ban...Potential jurors see Tsarnaev

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NEW YORK (AP) — Another plunge in the price of oil has driven stocks sharply lower. Energy companies led the decline as crude dipped below $50 a barrel. Other stocks also fell as traders worried that the drop could indicate a weaker global economy and possibly lead to a dangerous, wider drop in other prices in the economy. The Dow lost 331 points. The S&P 500 fell 37, and the Nasdaq fell 56.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As she gives up her seat as chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, Dianne Feinstein is calling for a legal ban on torture -- along with other steps -- to make sure that the U.S. government never again mistreats detainees. The California Democrat presided over a five-year investigation that led to last month's partial release of a report that harshly criticized the CIA. But polls show that a majority of Americans believe the harsh CIA interrogations were justified in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

BOSTON (AP) — Some of the prospective jurors in the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) have had their first look at him. About 200 of the people being screened as possible jurors were in court today -- and some seemed riveted by Tsarnaev. The judge told them that the jury will have to decide not only whether he is guilty or innocent -- but what the punishment will be if he's convicted. That would either be life in prison or execution. (a0897)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is wading into a controversy over the revelations that the third-ranking House Republican spoke to a white supremacist group 12 years ago. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the Republicans' choice of their House leaders "says a lot about who they are." Republican Congressman Steve Scalise (skuh-LEES') has tried to distance himself from the supremacist group, saying he opposes its views.

WASHINGTON (AP) — People entering the United States from the West African country of Mali will no longer have to be monitored for possible symptoms of Ebola. Officials say the requirement is being lifted because two 21-day incubation cycles have passed since the last Ebola patient in that country had contact with someone who wasn't wearing personal protective equipment. Travel restrictions remain in place for people coming from three other West African countries.