NEW YORK (AP) ‘ Scientists have made ordinary human skin cells take on the chameleon-like powers of embryonic stem cells, a startling breakthrough that might someday deliver the medical payoffs of embryo cloning without the controversy. Laboratory teams on two continents report success in a pair of landmark papers that have been released. It’s a…

WASHINGTON (AP) ‘ Too little milk, sunshine and exercise: it’s an anti-bone trifecta. And for some kids, shockingly, it’s leading to rickets, the soft-bone scourge of the 19th century. But cases of full-blown rickets are just the red flag: Bone specialists say possibly millions of seemingly healthy children aren’t building as much strong bone as…

BARRE, Vt. (AP) ‘ A homeless man thought he was doing some good by standing at a supermarket for 10 hours a day to get shoppers to donate money into a red Salvation Army kettle. The shelter where Paul Tucker lives doesn’t see it that way. The Good Samaritan Haven ordered him out by Saturday,…

BY JAMES CLARK Warren County sure knows how to roll out the welcome mat when it comes to tourists. Two regular Rock Island State Park campers received a taste of not-so-friendly hospitality this week when they were fined $220 and ordered to perform 15 hours of public service work at the state park for cutting…

BY CHARLES W. JOHNSON A recent situation where two visitors to Rock Island State Park were fined $220 and sentenced to 15 hours of community service for cutting a tree at their campsite has generated controversy in some circles concerning the severity of the punishment. Both of the individuals involved have been frequent visitors to…

BY TERESA M. WALKER NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ On paper, it looks like an incredibly successful day. The Tennessee Titans got inside the Houston 20 nine times and scored each time. The only problem? Seven of those were field goals as Rob Bironas kicked an NFL-record eight field goals in all. ‘If we don’t turn the…

BY DALE STUBBLEFIELD Fifth- and sixth-grade girls basketball action at Centertown Tuesday night saw the Lady Warriors down the Lady Bulldogs of Eastside 36-29 as Alexis Melton led Centertown with 18 points. Melton was unstoppable in the opening period as she hit for all eight of the Lady Warriors’ points. Eastside put five points on…

BY DALE STUBBLEFIELD A scoreless first quarter by Centertown helped the Eastside Bulldogs to a 34-14 win Tuesday night in fifth- and sixth-grade action at Centertown. The Bulldogs’ Will Basham opened the game with a 3-pointer. Centertown had trouble holding onto the ball, which helped the Bulldogs to a 8-0 advantage by the end of…

BY DALE STUBBLEFIELD After Tuesday’s round in the Gold and Silver bowling league, Foster and Foster Realty is in first place with 34 points. Beacon Federal is in second with 33.5, Jones Twins Beauty Salon and Security Federal are tied for third place with 32.5 points each. Dr Pepper and Holder Realty have 27.5 points…

BY Gene Lyons If there were a Golden Rule of Washington politics, it would have to be phrased differently from the Biblical injunction. The prevailing ethos of our nation’s capital appears to be: “Do unto others before they get a chance to do unto you.” Most Americans say they’re sickened by excess partisanship, but it’s…