Alabama Boy Doing Well; AP News Minute

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — After six days of captivity in an underground bunker with a man described by his neighbors as menacing, a 5-year-old boy is recovering in a nearby Alabama hospital while residents of Midland City speak of prayers being answered. Police say the boy appears to be fine. The suspect, Jimmy Lee Dykes, was killed when police stormed the bunker.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A new study from the Texas A&M finds the cost of traffic congestion to Americans was up $1 billion in 2011 over 2010 for a total of $121 billion. For commercial truck drivers alone, wasted time and diesel fuel amounted to $27 billion. The study finds the worst commute is the nation's capital, followed by Los Angeles, San Francisco-Oakland, New York-Newark, Boston, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle.

TOKYO (AP) — Investigators in Japan found problems in a lithium-ion battery from a Boeing 787 similar to issues on another 787 that had a fire in Boston. The 787s have been grounded while the problem is studied. Investigators say they found signs of a "thermal runaway," a chemical reaction in which rising temperature generates even more heat.

LONDON (AP) — More data today echoes other findings suggesting the worst may soon be over for the eurozone economy. Markit, a financial information group, said its purchasing managers' index for the 17 countries using the euro currency rose to a ten-month high of 48.6 in January from 47.2 in December. A mark of 50 indicates actual expansion.

TIMBUKTU, Mali (AP) — Secular rebels from Mali's Tuareg (TWAH'-rehg) people say they have arrested two Islamist extremists, including the man blamed for enforcing stoning deaths and amputations in Timbuktu. The rebels said the two men have been interrogated and information shared with French troops who are leading a military intervention in Mali.