WASHINGTON – Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to three federal charges Tuesday, suggesting he will cooperate in a Washington probe that could implicate several congressional officials in a cash-for-influence scandal. Abramoff pleaded guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court to honest services fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion relating to …

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey is on track to become the third state to suspend executions while it studies the cost and fairness of the death penalty. After receiving a crucial vote of support from the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the proposal will head Monday to the full Assembly, …

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A Kurdish chemistry teacher testifying at Saddam Hussein‘s genocide trial Monday tearfully described seeing more than 40 people dead from an alleged chemical attack in 1988, including his mother and two daughters. “My wife was lying on her back, holding my two daughters — Shovan, 6 months, …

KABUL, Afghanistan – Washington will send more troops to Afghanistan “if it’s necessary,” U.S. Senator John McCain said Saturday using measured words, as he urged increased training for Afghan security forces and the movement of European troops to the country’s insurgency-plagued south. McCain made a strong call on Thursday in …

ARLINGTON, Va. – A slab of wet concrete collapsed on the 24th floor of a high-rise construction site Friday, injuring 17 people, seven of them seriously, authorities said. Rescuers had to shore up the fallen concrete to free two trapped construction workers. The last one was pulled out two hours …

WASHINGTON – After hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, 10 people in Plano, Texas, got free apartment housing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and still got $46,000 to cover expenses. Over 7,000 people claimed damages for both storms on the same property and received $20 million from the federal government. …

HOUSTON – Authorities were trying to figure out Tuesday how dozens of pieces of luggage belonging to air travelers ended up in a trash bin behind a Houston pet store. FBI special agent Rolando Munoz said 68 pieces of luggage from various international flights were discovered. He said the luggage …

INDIANAPOLIS – More than 250 people have reported becoming sick after eating at an Indianapolis Olive Garden restaurant, a county health official said on Friday, a day after an outbreak of E.coli at Taco Bell restaurants was declared over. The Indianapolis Olive Garden customers reported symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, …

LAS VEGAS – This is a boomtown, but it is also scattered with signs of bust — namely, homeless people. And the city is taking a hard line against them. With mixed success in the courts and on the streets, Las Vegas has tried sweeping away their encampments, closing a …

ALBANY, N.Y. – Wayne Wilson is cheered when the computerized voice tells him his blood pressure and heart rate are holding steady. The 82-year-old stays on top of his health with weekly checkups at an electronic kiosk in the lobby of the Beverwyck assisted-living home. On this day, he finds …