Serial Killer Has South Carolina Residents on Edge Terrified residents canceled Fourth of July plans and holed up in their homes Friday as investigators hunted a serial killer believed to have shot four people to death. Mitch Weiss, AP NEWS - 7 minutes ago
Protesters Block Paris Airport Over Yemen Crash Protesters linked arms across an entrance at Paris' main airport on Friday to keep passengers off a Yemeni flight to Comoros — a route that saw a deadly crash this week, after years of complaints about dangerous conditions on the flight path to the Indian Ocean island nation. Cecile Brisson and Helene Goupil, AP NEWS - 7 minutes ago
Colorado Company Offers Banana Coffins Casket makers catering to natural burials have offered biodegradable coffins made of such materials as recycled newspapers or cardboard. Ecoffins USA, based in Montrose, Colo., is selling caskets made of banana sheaves. Catherine Tsai, AP NEWS - 11 minutes ago
Madonna to Pay Tribute to Jackson in Concert Madonna is paying tribute to Michael Jackson in the same arena where he was to stage his great comeback. Mumbi Moody, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Palin Resigning as Alaska Governor Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday she is resigning from office at the end of the month, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race. Staff, AP NEWS - 19 minutes ago
Top Diplomat Visits Honduras to Deliver Ultimatum The Americas' top international diplomat flew to Honduras on Friday to give the coup-backed government a firm ultimatum: Restore the president within 24 hours or face crippling sanctions. Will Weissert and Marcos Aleman, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
Syria Mends US, Arab Ties as Ally Iran in Turmoil Syria’s leader sent a July 4 message full of praise to President Barack Obama on Friday and invited him to visit Syria — the latest signs Damascus is hedging its bets in Mideast politics, warming up to its rival the United States at a time when its longtime ally Iran is in turmoil. Sam F. Ghattas, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
2 Children Killed in Blaze at London High-Rise Two children, including a 3-week-old baby, were killed and some 30 people had to be rescued when fire ripped through a high-rise apartment building in London on Friday, emergency services said. Staff, AP NEWS - 30 minutes ago
4 Decades Later, Freedom Rider Returns to Miss. Corey Carter could hear snippets of music in his head — a calm and subtle melody that hadn’t found its shape. The 19-year-old college student simply needed a hero to visualize before he could finish his composition for wind ensemble. Emily Wagster Pettus, AP NEWS - 31 minutes ago
Brazil Prison Guards Nab Pigeon With Cell Phone Prison guards foiled a new attempt to smuggle a cell phone into a Brazilian prison by carrier pigeon — this one wearing a tiny backpack — and said Friday that the practice is becoming almost commonplace. Stan Lehman, AP NEWS - 32 minutes ago
Powerful Sedative Found in Michael Jackson’s Home The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson’s home, a law enforcement official said Friday as the city planned for a massive crowd at the singer’s memorial service. Michael R. Blood, AP FEATURES - 34 minutes ago
Cummins Reopening Ind. Plant, While Another Closes Cummins Inc. is recalling 400 laid-off workers as it resumes production at a Columbus factory, while nearly 300 people lost their jobs as an auto parts company idled a plant in nearby Shelbyville. Staff, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
Much-Needed Tax Refunds Delayed From Ga. to Calif. Colin Daymude was out of work last year after his business failed and eagerly filed his taxes in mid-January, figuring he’d get his refund sooner. He was wrong. Greg Bluestein, AP NEWS - 49 minutes ago
Iranian Cleric: British Embassy Staff to Be Tried EDITOR’S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media. Lee Keath, AP NEWS - 50 minutes ago
MOUNTAIN OF DEBT: Rising Debt May Be Next Crisis The Founding Fathers left one legacy not celebrated on Independence Day but which affects us all. It’s the national debt. Tom Raum, AP NEWS - 51 minutes ago
African Leaders Denounce International Court After bitter wrangling, Africa’s leaders agreed Friday to denounce the International Criminal Court and refuse to extradite Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for crimes against humanity in Darfur. Alfred De Montesquiou, AP NEWS - 51 minutes ago
Canada Finance Minister Says Unemployment to Rise Canada’s finance minister said Friday that the country’s economic recovery will likely be modest and job losses will mount into 2010 even after growth has begun. Charmaine Noronha, AP NEWS - 57 minutes ago
SC Residents Mixed Over Fate of Cheating Gov After a week that offered the world a glimpse into the conflicted mind of philandering South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, his constituents differed Friday on whether he should leave office. Jim Davenport, AP NEWS - 58 minutes ago
Top Diplomat Visits Honduras to Deliver Ultimatum The Americas' top international diplomat has arrived in Honduras to give the coup-backed government a firm ultimatum: Restore the president within 24 hours or face crippling sanctions. Staff, AP NEWS - 70 minutes ago
LA Police Plan for Huge Crowd at Jackson Memorial Los Angeles city officials are preparing for massive crowds downtown during Tuesday’s public memorial for Michael Jackson at Staples Center. Robert Jablon, AP NEWS - 70 minutes ago
Job Seekers Seek Solace With Fellow Faithful Her fellow job seekers offer knowing groans as Diane Castro recalls the day she was laid off: The fear of being summoned to the front office. The phones in nearby cubicles going off like grenades. Finally, a ring at her desk. Jay Lindsay, AP NEWS - 78 minutes ago
Airline BA to Cut Capacity, Delay New Planes British Airways PLC announced Friday it will ground aircraft, slash seat numbers and postpone taking delivery of a dozen new Airbus A380 superjumbos as it faces a recession-driven decline in passengers. Staff, AP NEWS - 79 minutes ago
US Marines Push Deeper Into Southern Afghan Towns NAWA, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines pushed deeper into Taliban areas of southern Afghanistan on Friday, seeking to cut insurgent supply lines and win over local elders on the second day of the biggest U.S. military operation here since the American-led invasion of 2001. Jason Straziuso and Chris Brummitt, AP NEWS - 81 minutes ago
Texas Brewer, Once Near Defeat, Shines Again By all accounts, Shiner beer shouldn’t have made it this long. The Spoetzl Brewery ferments its brew in a one-stoplight town that’s not on the way to anywhere, and much larger regional brewers long ago succumbed to consolidation and the muscle of national brewers. Michelle Roberts, AP NEWS - 83 minutes ago
Federer, Roddick to Meet in 3rd Wimbledon Final Five-time champion Roger Federer reached his seventh straight Wimbledon final Friday and will face Andy Roddick for a chance at a record 15th Grand Slam title. Stephen Wilson, AP NEWS - 89 minutes ago
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