CONCORD, N.H – Two years ago, New Hampshire refused to accept heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the pro-Castro U.S. critic who once called President Bush “the devil.” But with fuel prices rising, well, free oil is free oil. With the state’s blessing, New Hampshire residents will be receiving …

TIJUANA, Mexico – It looks like any Southern California traffic jam — except you can buy a cappuccino and a 4-foot statue of Jesus from your car while watching dogs sniff vehicles for drugs. This is the U.S.-Mexico border’s most congested crossing, where local residents say already epic lines into …

COMPTON, Calif. – Two taggers spray painted a 6-year-old boy’s face and body after he spotted them scrawling gang signs on a wall, officials said Wednesday. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. James Hellmold said the boy suffered burns to his eyes in the June 25 attack and was sprayed over …

SEATTLE – Starbucks Corp. said Tuesday it will close 600 company-operated stores in the next year, up dramatically from its previous plan for 100 closures, a sign the coffee shop operator is still feeling the pain from the faltering U.S. economy. Starbucks said in a statement that 70 percent of …

ORANGEBURG, N.Y. – A New York state report says a maintenance man who earned $100,000 last year working at a psychiatric center has been living for free in a paint shed on his job and even had his mail delivered there. A report issued Monday by the inspector general’s office …

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – An 8-year-old girl who nearly lost her fingers in a tug-of-war accident is back home, resting and hoping for a speedy recovery. Alyssa Martin went through several surgeries and grafts to reattach four fingers on her left hand. She was hurt when her hand became tangled …

This is a rush transcript from “Hannity & Colmes,” January 3, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: while other candidates duke it out right here in Iowa, former New York City mayor Giuliani has his focus on New Hampshire, …

HARTFORD, Conn. – A baby-sitter was charged with the murder of a toddler who police said was fatally injured when she swung him around in a sleeping bag for fun and his head smacked a door frame. Police re-arrested 25-year-old Yalines Torres late Wednesday, a day after she was released …

LOS ANGELES – A federal appeals court ruled Friday that NASA should be blocked from conducting background checks on low-risk employees at its Jet Propulsion Laboratory, saying the practice threatens workers’ constitutional rights. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the 28 scientists and engineers who refused to submit …

MELBOURNE, Australia – When Maria Sharapova walked on court for the Australian Open final, she kept thinking about the sage advice of another champion. “Champions take chances, and pressure is a privilege,” Billy Jean King had written in a text message that Sharapova saw when she woke up. “I took …