Obama says Iraq trip could refine his policy (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:11:12 GMT
AP - Democrat Barack Obama struggled Thursday to explain how his upcoming trip to Iraq might refine, but not basically alter, his promise to quickly remove U.S. combat troops from the war.

Colombia rescue hinged on rebel disarray, payback (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:02:11 GMT
AP - The plan was nothing if not audacious: A turncoat persuades rebels to bring together their most prized hostages and march them 90 miles through Colombia's wilderness. A month later, disguised commandos primed with acting lessons land in a helicopter and trick the rebels into handing them over.

McCain: Staff shake-up part of 'natural evolution' (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:10:26 GMT
AP - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Thursday that a shake-up in the leadership of his campaign was part of a "natural evolution" as the organization becomes more national in scope.

Report: Passport snooping likely rampant (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:16:33 GMT
AP - An internal State Department investigative report suggests that employees may have been snooping on the passport records of celebrities far more than previously disclosed. It urges new steps to secure the files.

Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:15:50 GMT
AP - The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile south, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October, Marine Col. David Lapan confirmed Thursday.

Despite fire, some in Big Sur refuse to evacuate (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:28:43 GMT
AP - An explosive wildfire ravaged the hillsides above this scenic coastal community Thursday, leaving the popular tourist region mostly deserted ahead of the holiday weekend.

Haywire brain chemical linked to sudden baby death (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:09:43 GMT
AP - Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies — sudden infant death syndrome.

Rachael Ray employee claims anorexia bias (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:17:55 GMT
AP - A former accountant for Rachael Ray's TV cooking show has filed a $1 million lawsuit saying he was forced out of his job because he has an eating disorder.

Former hot-dog-chomping champ hungry for new title (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:21:43 GMT
AP - He's gone from hot-dog top dog to underdog. Renowned competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi is aiming to chomp his way back to the top of the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating competition on Coney Island after a disappointing three-dog loss last year shattered his six-year winning streak.

Selig: Drug program threatened by prosecutors (AP)
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:18:50 GMT
AP - Baseball's drug-testing program was threatened when federal prosecutors seized player records and samples four years ago, baseball commissioner Bud Selig and union head Donald Fehr said in letters to Congress released Thursday.