The five most popular stories on CNN.com in the past 24 hours, according to NewsPulse:

In mixup, kid served alcohol at Applebee's, police say: A 15-month-old boy (pictured) was hospitalized after a behind-the-bar mix-up at a Michigan Applebee's restaurant that left the toddler sipping alcohol instead of apple juice.

Say goodbye to 1-year Verizon contracts: Verizon customers interested in signing a one-year contract (as opposed to the standard two) should lock in their selections now.

In some ways, we're still fighting Civil War: Americans still argue over many issues that led to the Civil War 150 years ago, scholars say

Katie Couric and Matt Lauer to reunite on 'Today': Katie Couric and Matt Lauer will be together again on the "Today" show – at least for one day.

Liam Neeson cut from 'The Hangover Part II': After replacing Mel Gibson in "The Hangover Part II," Liam Neeson has been ousted from the upcoming comedy, too.

The five most popular stories on CNN.com in the past 24 hours, according to NewsPulse:

Fresh quake in Japan rouses fear, kills 2: A powerful quake struck Japan on Thursday, killing two and triggering a tsunami warning for one prefecture and advisories in others, officials said.

White House huddle fails to yield budget deal: A fourth White House meeting in 48 hours between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders failed to reach agreement Thursday night on a spending plan for the rest of the current fiscal year, increasing chances for a partial government shutdown to begin just over 24 hours later.

Maryland man glued to Wal-Mart toilet seat: Police in Maryland are on the hunt for the perpetrator of what appears to be an April Fools' Day prank that left a man glued to a toilet at a Wal-Mart store.

Female infidelity: It's different from the guys: Sexuality counselor Ian Kerner explores the ways he says cheating is different for women than it is for men.

Hero officer kept Brazil school shooting from being worse: Thursday's massacre of 11 students at a Brazilian school could have been worse, were it not for the heroic actions of a military policeman, according to a statement from the Rio de Janeiro state governor's office.

The five most popular stories on CNN.com in the past 24 hours, according to NewsPulse:

CNN sports legend readies kin for his death: Former CNN sports anchor Nick Charles (pictured) looks into the camera, as he's done thousands of times before. Except he's not calling a boxing match for sports fans around the world. He's taping something much tougher: a message from beyond the grave, for his little girl.

Ashley Judd reveals family pain in memoir: In a raw new memoir, "All That Is Bitter & Sweet," Ashley Judd is baring all when it comes to being raised as the daughter of country music's Naomi Judd.

Gadhafi asks Obama to end NATO bombing: As rebel and pro-government forces in Libya maneuvered on the battlefield Wednesday, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi urged U.S. President Barack Obama to end the NATO bombing of his war-torn country.

Fishermen: Utility's actions in Japan's nuclear crisis 'unforgivable': Japanese fishermen have taken the offensive in their fight against the owner of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi power plant, angrily calling the utility's actions insulting, incompetent and "unforgivable" over the course of the weeks-long nuclear crisis.

Obama: Progress made at night meeting, but no budget deal yet: A late evening meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the leaders of the House and Senate failed reach agreement Wednesday on a spending plan to avert a government shutdown, but all the participants said progress was made and talks would continue.

The five most popular stories on CNN.com in the past 24 hours, according to NewsPulse:

Crash victims' dad: Leave remains underwater: A leader of a group for families of those lost in the crash of an Air France jet said Tuesday that despite the discovery of their remains on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, he wants the bodies of his loved ones left where they are.

Search to resume for missing woman: The remains of three women found on a remote stretch of beach in Long Island, New York, do not include those of Shannan Gilbert, whose search led to the investigation of a possible serial killer.

iPhone 5 release date: big buzz, few facts: The internet has swirled with speculation in recent weeks about a release date for Apple's iPhone 5, and even whether the company will update its iconic smartphone at all this year. Now, the most tenuous of news reports has ramped the talk up again.

Utility: Radioactive water leak from reactor stopped: The leak of highly radioactive water into the Pacific from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has stopped, Tokyo Electric Power Company said early Wednesday.

Democrats, Republicans fail to reach budget deal: Top White House and congressional negotiators failed to reach agreement Tuesday on a spending plan for the rest of the current fiscal year, bringing the federal government closer to a shutdown at the end of the week.

The five most popular stories on CNN.com in the past 24 hours, according to NewsPulse:

Bodies found 2 years after French air crash: Nearly two years after an Air France plane mysteriously fell out of the sky, killing 228 people, the bulk of the wreckage (some of it is pictured here) has been found with bodies still aboard, French officials said Monday.

Duke lacrosse accuser arrested: A woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape five years ago was arrested Sunday, suspected of stabbing her boyfriend, police said.

Japan dumps thousands of tons of radioactive water into sea: Japan began dumping thousands of tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, an emergency move officials said was needed to curtail a worse leak from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Is Katie Couric leaving 'CBS Evening News'?: There's plenty of speculation that Katie Couric is departing "CBS Evening News" to focus on another gig, but the network tells CNN it's still in talks with the 54-year-old journalist.

Sheen finds #winning formula in Chicago: Charlie Sheen's show in Chicago didn't look anything like the Detroit event where he was mercilessly booed.

The five most popular stories on CNN.com in the past 24 hours, according to NewsPulse:

Two states report radiation in milk: There is no health risk from consuming milk with extremely low levels of radiation, like those found in Washington state and California, experts said Thursday, echoing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Found documents shed light on MLK killer: Recently discovered photos and letters are giving an inside look at the man convicted of assassinating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Missing cobra found alive in Bronx Zoo: An Egyptian cobra that drew thousands of Twitter fans has been found alive after it went missing for days from a New York City zoo.

Prince William won't wear a wedding band: Prince William is going to eschew the modern-day tradition of men wearing wedding bands.

'Albany Seven' claim $319M jackpot: Seven New Yorkers claimed a $319 million jackpot in the multistate Mega Millions lottery Thursday.