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WASHINGTON – Efforts on Capitol Hill to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases have brought together some unlikely bedfellows in the wake of the Virginia Tech campus shootings earlier this month. Wayne LaPierre, president of the National Rifle Association, said his group is working closely with Democrats on new …

“Is God a concept for you, or a living reality?” Not long ago, I heard this question posed by Dr. Tim Keller, during a sermon at the Redeemer Presbyterian Church, here in New York City. Now, that probing question is present whenever I cover religion stories. Dr. Keller’s point is …

Johnny Depp | Britney’s Sales Drop | Stars Gather Downtown | Questions Arise Over Jackson-Affiliated Rabbi Johnny Depp Sings: First Look at ‘Sweeney Todd’ Wednesday night, we learned from director Tim Burton that Johnny Depp modeled his “Willy Wonka” hairstyle on Vogue editor Anna Wintour. “He was trying to scare …

Jacko Lived With N.J. Family for Three Months | Jessica Alba Needs a Break | Stevie Wonder’s ‘Magical’ All-Star Rave-Up | Mailer’s Farewell; Say Goodnight, Ronnie Jacko Lived With New Jersey Family for Three Months Michael Jackson, homeless and drifting — and still in default on a $23 million loan …

I remember my late, great Irish Aunt Molly, who used to tell me, “Neil, you’re worth your weight in gold, and that’s quite a bit of it.” Her subtle-as-a-sledgehammer point was that I was a big guy, but she always stressed, “a good guy too.” Unfortunately good guy doesn’t cut …

The death of Anna Nicole Smith Thursday has fueled wild speculation, with theories on what killed the 39-year old tabloid celebrity ranging from drug overdose, to her remarkable weight loss, to homicide. But with Smith dying roughly five months after giving birth to her daughter, Danielynn Hope Marshall Stern, the …

The Houston Chronicle is a committed left newspaper. Its editorial page — liberal down the line. Yesterday that paper said this about U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq: “The Bush administration still refuses to allow coverage of returning flag- draped coffins. Certainly no family should have media coverage forced upon them, …

‘Nanny’ Authors: It’s OK to See Film | ‘CBS Morning’ to Change Producers? | Surprise News for Beatles Fans; ‘Dallas’ Disaster ‘Nanny’ Authors: It’s OK to See Film Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Straus, authors of the book “The Nanny Diaries,” say it’s OK to see the film based on their …

Dakota Rape Movie: No Buyers | ‘Dreamgirls’ Is No. 1 Anyway | Sundance Parties On Dakota Rape Movie: No Buyers “Hounddog,” the simply awful movie in which 12-year-old Dakota Fanning’s character is raped, has no buyers. “No one wants it after the terrible reviews,” one distributor told me, just as …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Tough Talk You may remember our item recently about Wisconsin freshman Democratic Congressman Steve Kagen‘s story of his trip to the White House. Kagen told peace activists that he thanked the president and vice president for campaigning against him — told Karl …