WASHINGTON (AP) ? That age-old stereotype about dangerous women drivers is shattered in a big new traffic analysis: Male drivers have a 77 percent higher risk of dying in a car accident than women, based on miles driven. And the author of the research says he takes it to heart when he travels ? his…

NEW YORK (AP) ? Four families have sued News Corp. and its MySpace social-networking site after their underage daughters were sexually abused by adults they met on the site, lawyers for the families said Thursday. The law firms, Barry & Loewy LLP of Austin, Texas, and Arnold & Itkin LLP of Houston, said families from…

NEW YORK (AP) ? Oil prices plummeted to nearly $50 a barrel Thursday, setting a new 20-month low, after the government reported larger-than-expected jumps in crude oil and gasoline inventories. A barrel of light, sweet crude for February delivery dropped $1.75 to $50.49 in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices dropped as…

By Kathryn Lopez I’ll be the first conservative to admit it’s a depressing time to be one. November hurt. To add insult to injury, San Fran Nan’s coronation this month made me a bit woozy. Even so, listening to the liberal Iraq non-strategies, I’d be more depressed if I were a Democrat. As President Bush…

By Gene Lyons During the propaganda campaign preceding the invasion of Iraq, it was still possible to delude oneself about the Bush administration’s integrity, competence and respect for democratic institutions. Even a skeptic like me of White House claims about Iraq’s arsenal of WMDs thought it made sense to vote for the president authority to…

By Gene Policinski The nation’s attention rightfully was focused on what President Bush said Jan. 10, speaking about his policy on Iraq. But even as Americans tuned into the president’s speech, there were those ? from Capitol Hill to TV studios to Washington, D.C., sidewalks ? expressing their disagreement. Some TV reports even had it…

By James Clark I?ve become that guy. After poking fun at friends and co-workers for years, I found myself carrying around a box of candy bars yesterday to sell for a school fundraiser. For those of you who have never experienced this joy, let me tell you it?s exactly as much fun as it looks.…

Baby Boy Crystal and Christopher Stoner announce the birth of their son, Alexander Chase Stoner. He was born Dec. 1 at River Park Hospital weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces. He is their first child. He is the grandson of Lisa Mulders of Louisiana, and Glen and Jeanette Stoner. Baby Boy Amanda and Earl Campbell are…

By Charlie Nardozzi It may be cold and bleak outside, but that doesn?t mean you can?t have a garden blooming inside ? even without a greenhouse. One of the most satisfying winter gardening activities is growing an indoor herb garden. You can grow compact varieties of culinary herbs that produce enough leaves to spice up…

Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Annie: Is there any etiquette for whether or not to attend a funeral? I saw a death notice for the father of a high school friend. We were just casual friends back then (the ’60s) and had only seen each other at a few reunions since, but I decided…