By TERENCE HUNT / AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Even before the bombings in Madrid, White House officials were worrying that terrorists might strike the United States before the November elections. Now, with the Socialists’ surprise election victory in Spain, analysts believe the ballot box rebuke of one of President Bush’s closest allies…

By JEANNINE AVERSA / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The last, crucial piece of the economic recovery puzzle — a turnaround in the sluggish job market — is still missing, reason enough for the Federal Reserve to keep short-term interest rates near rock-bottom levels through much or all of this year. A report this…

By ERIN VAN BRONKHORST / Associated Press Writer SEATTLE (AP) — Step right up to the pharmacy counter, answer 23 questions and walk out with birth control pills. That’s all it takes for women enrolled in a study that is believed to be the first effort in the nation to offer hormonal contraceptives at drugstores…

By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS / Associated Press Writer NEW YORK (AP) — An education panel has approved a plan for New York City’s public school children that would end automatic promotion to the fourth grade, holding back as many as 15,000 third-graders who fail standardized English and mathematics tests. The plan approved by an 8-5 vote…

By LAURAN NEERGAARD / AP Medical Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Food makers are jockeying for grocery shelf space in the low-carb craze, touting everything from salad dressing to ice cream to low-carbohydrate Easter chocolate. Here’s the catch: How companies count carbohydrates varies widely. While some significantly cut carbohydrates, others promoted as reduced-carb actually cut only…

By JOHN ANTCZAK / Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scientists on Monday announced the discovery of a frozen, shiny red world some 8 billion miles from Earth that is the most distant known object in the solar system. They are calling it a “planetoid,” saying it does not meet the definition of a…

By KEN KUSMER / Associated Press Writer MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Robert Enochs was starting to turn his life around last fall. He had moved out of his car and in with his girlfriend, and they had gotten engaged. He soon landed a job driving a tow truck. Then the local paper ran photographs of…

By JONATHAN D. SALANT / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — As cities lay off police officers and firefighters to balance their budgets, the Homeland Security Department on Monday announced a new effort to get federal money to local governments. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said a task force comprised of governors and municipal officials…

By JENNIFER C. YATES / Associated Press Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — As part of a multiyear plan to boost enrollment, Duquesne University bought a $22 million apartment building this year and converted it into housing for 750 students. The purchase means more space for the Roman Catholic university — and the loss of another taxable…

By BRAD FOSS / AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite near record-high gasoline prices, U.S. motorists continue to increase consumption and, with supplies tight, that is helping to keep fuel costs propped up. The Energy Department reported Monday that nationwide retail gasoline prices averaged $1.72 per gallon last week. Meanwhile, the price of oil…