CLINTON, Md. (AP) — Hot dogs. Bison Wellington. Baby back ribs. President Barack Obama is roaming all over the culinary map this week. The president made a lunchtime detour to a barbeque and ribs joint Thursday on his way back to the White House after a speech about energy policy. The president came away from […]

Skydiving daredevil Felix Baumgartner is more than halfway toward his goal of setting a world record for the highest jump. A spokeswoman says Baumgartner took a practice jump Thursday from more than 13 miles high over New Mexico. He’s aiming for nearly 23 miles this summer. He lifted off from Roswell, N.M., aboard a helium […]

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s health ministry says an additional 7,000 women were fitted with potentially faulty French-made breast implants, raising the total in the U.K. to about 47,000. The ministry said Thursday that the new cases follow confirmation by French authorities that implants manufactured before 2001 by the nowdefunct French company Poly Implant Prothese, or […]

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Arson investigators in Las Vegas are probing a fire that critically injured a man on the unoccupied 22nd floor of the downtown Golden Nugget hotel. Las Vegas fire spokesman Tim Szymanski says firefighters found the unconscious man in a guest room in the hotel’s Rush Tower after fire sprinklers doused flames […]

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Convicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich entered a federal prison in Colorado on Thursday to begin a 14-year sentence for corruption, the latest chapter in the downfall of a charismatic politician that seemed more like a bizarre reality TV show than a legal battle. The 55-year-old Democrat pulled up in a […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Longtime U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, a feisty Democrat known as much for scolding bankers and regulators as he was for his personal quirks like living in a houseboat in Washington, D.C., has decided to retire even though he likely faced an easy re-election. Ackerman, who has represented diverse communities in Queens […]

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium has started a day of national mourning for the 28 people who died in a school bus crash in Switzerland, with solemn music filling the airwaves and official buildings lined with flags at half staff. As a chilly morning fog lifted, the nation of 11 million began preparing for a minute […]

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Turkish military helicopter crashed into a house near the Afghan capital today, killing 12 Turkish soldiers on board and two young girls on the ground, Turkish and Afghan officials said. The helicopter, a Sikorsky, was on a mission for U.S.-led NATO forces when it went down near Kabul, the Turkish […]

FRANKLIN, N. C. ( AP) — Authorities say five people died after a small private plane crashed while trying to land at an airport in western North Carolina. Macon County Airport manager Neil Hoppe said the county medical examiner indicated five people died in Thursday’s crash. The identities of the victims haven’t been released. A […]

LEWISVILLE, Texas (AP) — The comedian Gallagher is hospitalized in stable condition after suffering a heart attack at a North Dallas bar before going on stage for a show. Gallagher’s promotional manager, Christine Scherrer, says the 65-year-old is sedated and “slowly recovering” after collapsing Wednesday night. Marc Cummins, the manager of Coach Joe’s Hat Tricks […]