SAN DIEGO – Voters fed up with San Diego’s financial mess and political corruption came within a whisker of electing surf-shop owner Donna Frye (search) as mayor on a stunning write-in campaign a year ago. Now the Democratic councilwoman is in a runoff for mayor — but the city doesn’t …

Ben Franklin thought the turkey would make a better national bird than the bald eagle, but he would barely recognize the big birds that we feast on today. Up in Sparks, Md., he might find a flock more to his liking. There, farmer David Smith is raising “heritage” turkeys, smaller, …

WASHINGTON – Efforts to train thousands of federal agents to protect commercial flights during heightened terror alerts were quietly abandoned more than a year ago because Congress objected to the cost, government investigators said Tuesday. The Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, reported that the federal air marshal …

WASHINGTON – Three people were stabbed Tuesday in Lafayette Park (search), across from the White House, the Secret Service said. “One individual has been detained with no further information on that individual. But there are three apparent stabbing victims,” said Eric Zahren, a spokesman for the agency. Investigators did not …

ALBANY, Ga. – After years in south Georgia, where they are common road kill and a nuisance to some homeowners, armadillos have spread to the chillier northern half of the state where their digging and burrowing is already generating complaints. Scott Frazier, a Georgia Department of Natural Resources (search) wildlife …

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – A 17-year-old likely will face misdemeanor charges after allegedly losing control of his car while text messaging and hitting a bicyclist. The bicyclist, Jim R. Price of Highlands Ranch, died Friday, two days after the accident. “We do not believe it was an intentional act, but …

NEW YORK – Delta Air Lines Inc. is losing $5 million each day, much of it due to high jet fuel prices, as it tries to stay afloat, the company’s chief financial officer testified in bankruptcy court Thursday. Delta CFO Edward Bastian said the company’s cash flow would break even …

WASHINGTON – The special prosecutor who has been investigating the leak of a CIA operative’s identity is continuing his probe and will present additional evidence to another grand jury, according to court papers filed Friday. Patrick Fitzgerald declined to comment when asked whether his investigation was ramping back up after …

The Federal Communications Commission won’t require Internet phone service providers to cut off customers who don’t have reliable 911 emergency call service. The agency in a notice issued late Monday said providers that have not achieved full 911 compliance by Nov. 28 will not be forced to discontinue such service …

REDMOND, Wash. – Microsoft Corp. said Monday it will offer 18 Xbox 360 games when the new version of its video game console hits store shelves in North America next week. Standard editions of launch titles, including “Kameo: Elements of Power” and “Project Gotham Racing 3,” will sell for $50 …