Energy costs cut two ways in Colo.

President Bush won Colorado in 2000 and 2004, but Democrats hope to swing the state this year. Candidates will have to meet voter concerns about energy and the environment.

Life for man who caused train deaths
A judge has sentenced a man convicted of causing a deadly commuter rail crash to 11 consecutive life sentences, denouncing him as a remorseless killer.

Prospects grim for lost baby whale

An abandoned humpback whale calf that has been trying to suckle from boats in the waters off north Sydney has rebuffed fresh attempts by wildlife workers to return it to the open ocean.

Rogue monkey eludes Tokyo police

A rogue monkey holed up at a Tokyo train station for more than two hours on Wednesday before giving dozens of net-wielding police officers the slip among crowds of excited children and passersby.

School spankings: Minorities get more
A quarter of a million schoolchildren were paddled in 2007 — and black children, American Indians and kids with disabilities got a disproportionate share, according to a study.

Russians dig in deep within Georgia

Russian forces on Wednesday built a sentry post just 30 miles from the Georgian capital, appearing to dig in to positions deep inside Georgia despite pledges to pull back.

Is it really just ‘the economy, stupid'?

The battle for electoral votes will be fought in high unemployment states such as Michigan, but also in places with relatively low unemployment such as Virginia.

Pilot sues to get off terror watch list
A commercial airline pilot and convert to Islam who says his name is on the U.S. government's secret terrorist watch list has filed a federal lawsuit against the Homeland Security Department.

Ex-Dem Lieberman to speak at RNC

A Republican official tells The Associated Press that Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman will be speaking at the Republican National Convention.