ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland — An expedition surveying the wreck of the Titanic is showing off some crisp images of the world’s most famous shipwreck, but officials said Sunday they are headed back to shore. Officials from Expedition Titanic said in a statement they are now headed back to Newfoundland because high seas and winds brought on by hurricane Danielle are preventing researchers from carrying out their work.
Beck says US has `wandered in darkness’ too long
WASHINGTON — From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck told the tens of thousands of activists he drew from around the nation Saturday that the U.S. has too long “wandered in darkness.”
Elk River suspends football team over hazing claim
MINNEAPOLIS — The Elk River High School varsity football program has been suspended while the school district investigates an allegation of hazing and police pursue their own criminal probe, police said.
2 days of food stretched more than 2 weeks in mine
COPIAPO, Chile — Just 35 inches (90 centimeters) around the waist — that’s how skinny Chile’s 33 trapped miners have been told they need to be to squeeze through the escape tunnel, the health minister said Wednesday.
Rallies over mosque near ground zero get heated
NEW YORK — The proposed mosque near ground zero drew hundreds of fever-pitch demonstrators Sunday, with opponents carrying signs associating Islam with blood, supporters shouting, “Say no to racist fear!” and American flags waving on both sides.
Israel, Palestinians to resume peace talks Sept. 2
WASHINGTON — Israel and the Palestinians will resume long-stalled direct peace talks in Washington early next month with the aim of reaching a settlement in a year’s time, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday.
ATV deaths on the rise across Minn.; toll hits 16
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Officials are concerned about a recent rise in all-terrain vehicle deaths in Minnesota.
Sixteen people have died in ATV accidents across Minnesota this year. That compares with 14 for all of 2009. A record 24 occurred in 2004.
AP IMPACT: Border Patrol sees spike in suicides
FORT HANCOCK, Texas — After a bad day on the job as a Border Patrol agent, Eddie DeLaCruz went home and began discussing with his wife how to celebrate her upcoming birthday. Then he casually pressed his government-issued handgun under his chin and pulled the trigger.
Tommy John surgery has come a long way
MINNEAPOLIS — On a pitcher-perfect June night in the Twin Cities, Francisco Liriano and Tim Hudson dueled for eight dazzling innings, making every hit look like pure accident and every run scored feel like a minor miracle.
Jobs picture dims as unemployment claims rise
WASHINGTON — The economy is looking bleaker as new applications for jobless benefits rose last week to the highest level in almost six months.
It’s a sign that hiring remains weak and employers may be going back to cutting their staffs. Analysts say the increase suggests companies won’t be adding enough workers in August to lower the 9.5 percent unemployement rate.
Minn. inmate works on portraits of county sheriffs
OWATONNA, Minn. — Jess Bohlman is not going back to jail. After about 17 years and six return trips due to substance abuse problems, Bohlman knows that once he gets out, he won’t be returning. Not this time.
Cold night crept by after crash killed Stevens
DILLINGHAM, Alaska — Former Sen. Ted Stevens lay dead in the mangled fuselage of the plane. A 13-year-old boy escaped death but his father died a few feet away. Medical workers spent the miserable night tending to survivors’ broken bones amid a huge slick of fuel that coated a muddy mountainside.
Minn. teen makes a business out of mowing patterns
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — If the Minnesota Twins need some love this summer, all the team has to do is see Jim Noyes’ backyard.
Noyes hires Schultz Lawn Care to mow his St. Augusta lawn. The company’s owner and operator, Nick Schultz, worked 12 hours to cut a 75-by-75-foot Twins logo into the lawn.
Saudi reaches deal on BlackBerry, avoiding ban
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia and the makers of the BlackBerry have reached a preliminary deal on granting access to users’ data that will avert a ban on the phone’s messenger service in the kingdom, Saudi officials said Saturday.
Freedom for Minn. man convicted in Toyota crash
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota man who spent more than 2½ years in prison for a fatal Toyota crash walked free Thursday, after a judge ordered a new trial and a prosecutor said she wouldn’t prolong the case reopened in the wake of the carmaker’s widely publicized sudden acceleration problems.