WASHINGTON – The death of Al Qaeda in Iraq‘s leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, allowed U.S. counterterrorism officials to breath a sigh of relief when reached in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday. But several still cautioned that, while his death was a significant development, it wouldn’t end the …

President Bush’s pick to head the Small Business Administration can expect a rough ride at his nomination hearing on Wednesday, Washington officials say. Steven Preston, a 45-year-old former vice president at a Chicago-based lawn-care company, will face tough questions about how he plans to provide greater access to capital for …

PARIS – Leading lawmakers have agreed to water down a draft law that could have threatened the future of the iPod in France. The National Assembly had voted in March to force Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) and other companies to make their music players and online stores compatible with rivals, …

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Reese Witherspoon has sued Star magazine, alleging the tabloid ran a false story saying she is pregnant with her third child. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Superior Court claims a story in the magazine’s June 26 issue falsely stated that she didn’t want producers of two …

NEW YORK – Former police commissioner Bernard Kerik, whose Homeland Security nomination sank over ethics questions, is close to a deal that would let him escape criminal charges in a bribery investigation, his attorney said Thursday. Under the tentative agreement with prosecutors, Kerik will appear in court on Friday and …

NEW YORK – With more women wearing flip-flops to the office this summer, U.S. style gurus are warning that the casual shoe once mainly seen on the beach could be damaging to careers — as well as to feet. Lauren Cardinale, 25, who works at West Glen Communications, wears beaded …

NEW YORK – State Comptroller Alan Hevesi publicly apologized Thursday for a “beyond dumb” remark about a fellow Democrat “putting a bullet between the president’s eyes.” Hevesi hastily called a mea culpa press conference hours after putting his foot in his mouth at the Queens College commencement. In the videotaped …

INDIANAPOLIS – A judge appointed death penalty-certified public defenders Tuesday for two men accused in the slayings of seven family members as prosecutors prepared to file formal murder charges in the case. Desmond Turner, 28, whom authorities call the main triggerman in the killings, was expressionless as he was led …

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Gov. Bob Riley easily beat back a GOP primary challenge from Ten Commandments judge Roy Moore on Tuesday, while Democratic former Gov. Don Siegelman trailed in his comeback fight against the state’s first female lieutenant governor. As eight states held primaries, New Jersey Republicans chose Tom …

A new study shows moderate drinking by women aged 65 and older may have benefits for the brain. Don’t skip over that word “may.” The full picture on drinking and thinking is still a bit fuzzy. The study appears in the early online edition of the journal Neuroepidemiology. Researchers included …