WASHINGTON Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Just like students nationwide, children in major U.S. cities are getting better in math but struggling to improve in reading, a new federal snapshot shows. On the test considered to be the standard of academic…

ATLANTA Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A deadly bacterial illness commonly seen in people on antibiotics appears to be growing more common — even in patients not taking such drugs, federal health officials warned Thursday. The bacteria are Clostridium difficile, also…

WASHINGTON Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A New York court’s $21 million award last month to a young Wall Street trader paralyzed in an accident involving a Budget Rent-a-Car vehicle may be one of the last of its kind. Inserted among…

BAGHDAD, Iraq Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Nightline’s Terry Moran gathered a dozen Iraqis for a town hall-style meeting Thursday at a makeshift studio in Baghdad, where they spoke of their hopes, fears and aspirations. Yet there was none of the…

LOS ANGELES Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The head of the Republican National Committee accused Democrats of trying to exploit the Iraq war for political gain at home — the latest attempt to turn mounting criticism away from President Bush. “Democrats…

CARLSBAD, Calif. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Heading into a tough election year, Republican governors attending their annual meeting voiced strong support Thursday for President Bush’s stand on the Iraq war and played down his lapsed popularity. The meeting comes at…

LOS ANGELES Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Approached to be part of a “Knots Landing” reunion, Michele Lee recoiled at the anticipated horror of another where-are-they-now show. “I hate reunions,” she said, laughing heartily. “Even though the audience wants to see…

WASHINGTON Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Amid growing pressure to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, President Bush is refusing to set a timetable but indicating that by 2006, Iraqi forces will be sufficiently trained to let American troops shift to…

BERRYVILLE, Ark. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Nancy McShane used to spend $600 to $700 a month at Wal-Mart on everything from groceries to oil changes. Then in March she abruptly switched to other discount stores, upset over what her turkey-farming…

JACKSBORO, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Three weeks after the deadly shooting, a Campbell County school administrator says he felt compelled to try to stop the 14-year-old boy accused of opening fire in the principal’s office. “I know if someone…