WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders were forced to drop a proposal to open oil drilling in an Alaskan wilderness area to pick up needed votes to pass a deficit-reduction package. But while Republicans compromised their drilling measure in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to appease party moderates on Thursday, no …

SAN DIEGO – Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham resigned from Congress Monday after pleading guilty in a San Diego federal court to accepting bribes and violating tax laws in the sale of his home two years ago to a defense contractor. Cunningham entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of …

JERUSALEM – Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz hopes to reopen the Gaza Strip’s (search) main gateway to the outside world within two weeks, Israeli security officials said Sunday, a move that would be crucial to reviving Gaza’s impoverished economy. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized …

WASHINGTON – When Americans tuck into Thanksgiving dinner this week, health-conscious eaters won’t be the only ones monitoring how much they eat. The government will be watching as well. Each year, the Census Bureau tabulates dozens of obscure facts related to 20 holidays and other observances, generating statistics on everything …

NEW YORK – High-end jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co Inc. (TIF) on Wednesday reported higher quarterly profit, but sales lacked sparkle, especially in Japan, and shares fell as much as 4 percent. Analysts said sales growth at stores open more than a year, a key measure of retail health, was …

Watch “The Big Story” weekdays at 5 p.m. ET President Bush nominates Samuel Alito (search) to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Who is Judge Alito? And what do we know about him? Republicans are delighted with Bush’s choice, while Democrats are blasting Alito as “too …

BILLINGS, Mont. – Federal wildlife managers killed nine wolves in just over a month for allegedly attacking or killing livestock in southwest Montana. The wolves were killed between Labor Day (search) and the middle of October on orders of state wildlife officials. Some of the wolves were blamed for seriously …

BOLQINA, Egypt – The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood captured at least 25 more seats in Egypt’s parliament in a runoff vote Saturday, despite what appeared to be a determined government effort to block its supporters and slow the Islamic-based organization’s building momentum. Police fired tear gas at several polling places and …

WASHINGTON – Rep. Bob Ney‘s re-election campaign was fined $2,000 Thursday for failing to properly record two payments last November totaling more than $83,000. Federal Election Commission documents show the Ohio Republican’s campaign failed for six months to report two wire transfers to the Pittsburgh political consulting firm Brabender Cox, …

LITITZ, Pa. – An 18-year-old man accused of kidnapping his girlfriend and killing her parents was videotaped discussing plans to conduct an armed raid on another family’s home and kill people inside, according to court documents released Friday. David Ludwig‘s attorneys, meanwhile, said that videotape from surveillance cameras will show …