By Bill Zechman The next time you wrap your hand around a gasoline pump nozzle and watch the dollar-ticker race faster than Big Brown, console yourself with this thought: the top princes of Saudi Arabia’s royal family are each paid some $100 million a year, just the tip of the pyramid of American payments for…

By Cokie & Steve Roberts “What really connects us is the pain,” said Rami Elhanan. A 58-year-old Israeli, Elhanan lost his 14-year-old daughter to a suicide bomber in the center of Jerusalem. An Israeli soldier killed the father of Mazen Faraj, a 32-year-old Palestinian, in Bethlehem. Elhanan and Faraj are members of Parents Circle-Families Forum,…

By Gene Lyons If Hillary Clinton had no other reason to keep running for the Democratic presidential nomination, it would be to demonstrate that Tim Russert, Keith Olbermann, Maureen Dowd, and David Broder don’t decide American elections. Last week, Barack Obama, the supposedly inevitable Democratic nominee, lost the West Virginia primary by 41 points. Democrats…

The following bills were passed during the second session of the 105th General Assembly. They have been signed or are awaiting Gov. Phil Bredesen’s signature: BUDGET. $27 billion state budget that cuts spending next year by nearly half a billion dollars. LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS. Changing rule eligibility for lottery scholarships, including measure that loosens requirements for…

LOS ANGELES (AP) ‘ For an ‘American Idol’ season so flat and lifeless, the end sure rocked: Ex-bartender David Cook virtually body-slammed teen prodigy David Archuleta in a surprising landslide Wednesday night, capping an energized finale filled with big stars and polished performances. All that, and the imperious Simon Cowell was reduced to apologizing to…

With over 80 years of history and fun, Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park is celebrating the Good Old Days on Sunday, May 25 and Monday, May 26. With an all day ride pass priced at the vintage price of only $13 per person, the whole family can enjoy the quality fun and entertainment that Lake Winnepesaukah…

Court officials preparing for O.J. Simpson’s armed robbery trial say lengthy questionnaires will be given to a jury pool that could number 400 or more. A Nevada judge told prosecutors and lawyers for the former football star and two co-defendants Thursday that she plans to summon prospective jurors and have them start filling out forms…

Alcohol was a factor in the death of a 25-year-old man who fell down a stairwell at Turner Field during the game between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. Justin Hayes of Cumming, Ga., suffered head injuries Wednesday night and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. He fell about 150 feet from the club…

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ‘ For some drivers, winning the Indianapolis 500 would make their career. Tony Kanaan isn’t looking for any such validation. Good thing, too. The good-natured Brazilian has done everything except win the biggest event in American open-wheel racing. Kanaan’s sixth-place start in Sunday’s 92nd edition of the Indy 500 will be his worst…

(AP) ‘ A Texas gym owner said he was asked by FBI agents in late March if he gave performance-enhancing drugs to Roger Clemens. Kelly Blair, the owner of 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness outside Houston, told The New York Times he met with two FBI agents at his home as part of a perjury investigation…