In the Italian vernacular, the word “Papabili” — or “Pope-able” — refers to the cardinals and other prelates who are considered legitimate candidates for election as pope in an upcoming conclave. Media reports have mentioned the following cardinals as possible successors to John Paul II (listed in alphabetical order): Cardinal …

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Two hundred gallons of a flammable liquid leaked from a train that derailed near Los Angeles, forcing about 300 people to be evacuated from their homes, authorities said Tuesday. No injuries were reported. Thirteen cars of a 79-car Union Pacific (search) train went off the tracks …

FORT WORTH, Texas – An employee at the printing plant that makes more than half of America’s paper currency stole up to $700,000 over seven years by stuffing his pockets with folded sheets of $20 and $50 bills, a Secret Service agent testified Thursday. Donald Edward Stokes Jr., 39, was …

WASHINGTON – Two state judges previously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee moved forward again on Thursday as Republicans used their 10-8 advantage on the panel to confirm Priscilla Owen (search) and Janice Rogers Brown (search) for federal appeals court seats. The movement to the full Senate for consideration sets …

MADISON, Wis. – Tommy Thompson’s little brother is back in politics. Ed Thompson (search) won a spot on the Tomah City Council (search) in the spring elections without even running. He was an unofficial write-in candidate (search) and never campaigned. He says he’ll formally accept the position Friday. Ed Thompson’s …

WASHINGTON – A big surge in energy costs pushed producer prices (search) up a steep 0.7 percent last month but underlying price pressures were subdued, a government report showed on Tuesday. The Labor Department (search) said the jump in its producer price index (search), a measure of prices received by …

SYDNEY, Australia – Thousands of wild camels in Australia’s Outback will be shot from helicopters as part of an attempt to control the animals’ burgeoning numbers, a state official and local media said Tuesday. Camels were first introduced into Australia (search) in the mid-1880s to transport supplies across the desert, …

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Jurors were shown crime scene photos of the nude body of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion (search) on Tuesday during closing arguments in the trial of a factory worker accused of kidnapping, assaulting and murdering the little girl three years ago. “This is the hard part of the …

TAMPA, Fla. – A 9-year-old girl was raped, bound and buried alive, kneeling and clutching a purple stuffed dolphin, state prosecutors said in documents released Wednesday. Jessica Lunsford‘s (search) body was found March 19 buried about 150 yards from her house in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. According …

WASHINGTON – The government can move ahead to decide whether to re-impose quotas on various types of imported clothing from China (search) based on cases the U.S. industry filed last year, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. The U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia (search) lifted an …