EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? What has already been an exciting college basketball season now gets the best matchup the rankings can provide: No. 1 Duke plays No. 2 Texas on Saturday at the Meadowlands. Nothing that matters…

NEW YORK Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? From John Cappelletti to Mike Rozier, running backs once walked off with 11 consecutive Heisman Trophies. Recently, though, quarterbacks have been too tough to pass up. The last five Heisman winners have been QBs.…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun will be out one to two weeks with a knee strain and center David Legwand will miss four weeks because of torn cartilage in his knee, the team said Friday.…

CHICAGO Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? When state lawmakers from around the country gathered three years ago, government finances were at their worst point in a half-century. Now, optimism ? at least cautious optimism ? rules. States are reporting overwhelmingly sunny…

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? The technology that helps police solve crimes and lets wrongly convicted inmates prove their innocence should be put to more use helping families bury their dead, according to an Arkansas woman searching for…

WASHINGTON Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? People may have to get used to high gasoline and heating costs since tight energy markets are projected through 2006, industry and government officials said Friday. Howard Gruenspecht, deputy administrator of the Energy Information Administration,…

PHILADELPHIA Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? By gradually adding hybrids to this city’s vehicle fleet, James Muller knows he’s helping to save the environment. What he doesn’t know is whether switching to the more expensive “green” vehicles will save taxpayers money.…

WASHINGTON Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? President Bush’s improved standing with whites, men, Catholics and other core supporters has been a key factor in pushing his job approval rating up to 42 percent. That’s the highest level since summer. Shifting into…

MINNEAPOLIS Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? President Bush pulled out his tough-on-terrorism speech from his last campaign and said on Friday that the United States would wage an unrelenting battle in Iraq to protect Americans at home. “Our short-term objective is…

GATE CITY, Va. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Four middle school students overdosed on Xanax and a number of other students were found in possession of the anti-anxiety drug, police said. A student took 120 of the prescription drug pills from…