HOMOSASSA, Fla. – A registered sex offender entered Jessica Lunsford’s (search) house through an unlocked door, snatched the 9-year-old girl from her bed and later sexually assaulted her, the Citrus County sheriff said Sunday. Medical examiners confirmed the sexual assault, sheriff Jeff Dawsy said. But because the suspect was in …

NEW YORK – The newly overhauled version of the Standardized Achievement Test (search) debuting on Saturday has seriously ratcheted up the level of anxiety for teens and parents already stressed about the mysterious process of college admissions, according to testing experts. “It’s like walking into a sport without any equipment,” …

WASHINGTON – Sen. John McCain (search) pressed a cable company’s case for pricing changes with regulators at the same time a tax-exempt group that he has worked with since its founding solicited $200,000 in contributions from the company. Help from McCain, who argues for ridding politics of big money, included …

NEW YORK – The fiancee of a Montana man charged with plotting to kidnap David Letterman’s son said her husband-to-be is being falsely accused by a childhood friend he had a falling out with. Kelly A. Frank (search) was arrested Monday after the estranged friend told authorities that Frank had …

WASHINGTON – The House (search), debating an $81.4 billion war spending bill on Tuesday, prohibited money in the legislation from being used for a new U.S. embassy in Baghdad, a move that went against the administration’s wishes. President Bush (search) had asked that $658 million in his request for wars …

WASHINGTON – A former U.N. official who was fired after blowing the whistle on his superiors and accusing them of “flagrant mishandling” of the Oil-for-Food (search) program will be the star witness at a House International Relations Committee subcommittee hearing on Thursday. Rehan Mullick (search) served as a research officer …

MARRERO, La. – Eleven family members died in their suburban apartment after a mattress caught fire and got stuck in a door as they tried to drag it out, authorities said. The fire was started by candles the family had been using because they moved in just hours earlier and …

ANDOVER, N.J. – Wildlife officials set a trap, baited with bacon and molasses, in hopes of catching a bear Friday that killed a pony and dragged its carcass away. “No other animal would have the strength to do that kind of harm,” said Elaine Makatura, a spokeswoman for the Department …

WASHINGTON – A number of problems with Patriot missile (search) defenses and related systems contributed to three friendly fire deaths during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, according to a new Pentagon report, which nonetheless says the Patriot was a “substantial success” during the fighting. Patriots appear to have shot down …

RAMALLAH, West Bank – A senior Palestinian negotiator on Friday criticized Israel’s planned prisoner release as insufficient to meet Palestinian expectations ahead of a crucial summit. A day earlier Israel approved the release of 900 of an estimated 7,000 Palestinian prisoners, a gesture meant to build goodwill at Tuesday’s meeting …