WASHINGTON – Amtrak’s operating subsidies would be cut but the railroad would receive more money for improvements to tracks and equipment, under a bipartisan proposal to be considered by a Senate committee Thursday. The bill calls for reducing Amtrak’s operating subsidy by 40 percent, leaving the railroad $3.3 billion in …
Read More »Many Top Players Out of Poker Championship
LAS VEGAS – Lady Luck showed no mercy on former World Series of Poker champs and a few contenders who thought they had a chance at the $7.5 million grand prize. In fact, just getting a seat at the final table that begins Friday will take a staggering amount of …
Read More »Judge Orders L.A. to Pay B.I.G. Family
LOS ANGELES – A federal judge has ordered the city and police department to pay slain rap star Notorious B.I.G.’s (search) family “fees and costs incurred as a result of defendants’ misconduct” in the family’s wrongful death lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper declared a mistrial in the case, rejecting …
Read More »Financial Markets Showing Resilience
LONDON – Financial markets may never get used to bombings and other attacks in major cities, but with Madrid and other experiences behind them they have developed a certain resilience. There was a flight to safety after bombs exploded across London’s crowded transport system on Thursday — killing more than …
Read More »Nepal Rebels Release 18 Hostages
KATMANDU, Nepal – Maoist rebels have freed at least 18 policemen and soldiers who were taken hostage during fierce fighting in eastern Nepal (search) last month, the Red Cross said Monday. The 12 police and six soldiers were handed over to the Red Cross at Sindhuli, about 100 miles southeast …
Read More »Bomber Kills Three in Israeli Mall Blast
NETANYA, Israel – A teenage Palestinian bomber killed three Israelis and wounded at least 30 others in front of a crowded shopping mall in this seaside city, the first such attack in nearly five months and a blow to a truce that has revived peace hopes. The mangled body of …
Read More »Texans Prepare to Face Hurricane Emily
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – South Texas residents boarded up windows, put sandbags in flood-prone areas and moved their RVs from the edge of a beachside park that could be swamped by Hurricane Emily (search). “You’re luck can’t be that good all of the time and we’ve been lucky,” Cameron …
Read More »U.S. Airstrike Kills Afghan Civilians
KABUL, Afghanistan – An American airstrike in Afghanistan’s rugged eastern mountains killed 17 civilians, including women and children, an Afghan official said Monday. The U.S. military confirmed civilian deaths but said the numbers were unclear. An initial airstrike destroyed a house, and as villagers gathered to look at the damage, …
Read More »Fossett Aims to Set Record for Longest Flight
TOPEKA, Kan. – Aviation’s adventuresome duo of Steve Fossett (search) and Sir Richard Branson announced plans Thursday for another world record attempt in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, this time for longest flight. In March, Fossett became the first person to fly nonstop and without refueling around the globe, taking off …
Read More »Woman Killed in L.A. Gang Crossfire
LOS ANGELES – A 63-year-old woman was fatally shot while waiting for a bus, probably killed by a stray bullet from a nearby gang-related shooting, police said. The woman, who was shot Tuesday afternoon, was identified by police Wednesday as Lois Gean Cole (search). No arrests have been made, police …
Read More »