MESA, Arizona (Reuters) - Rivals piled criticism on U.S. presidential candidate Rick Santorum at a testy debate on Wednesday, attempting to blunt his surprise surge at a pivotal period in the Republican race.

Kobe Bryant's connection with Pau Gasol stretches all the way to Pluto. It started before they were even teammates, in May 2007, when the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs to Phoenix. Bryant responded with his notorious multi-platform tirade, begging the Lakers to trade him anywhere, even the farthest non-planet from the sun.

Everett Bollin of Landover and his wife, Pamela, have been married 38 years. They are thanking their lucky stars that he is alive.

Frank Gordon had just sat down to a breakfast of sausage and eggs at 8 a.m. Wednesday when two employees of Lewis Tree Service and two Charleston police officers knocked on his door. Gordon, 73, who has lived in his house for 25 years, knew right away what was going down.

Farmers in Pettis and surrounding counties are now eligible for financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency for losses sustained during a series of storms last August.