COLUMBUS, Ohio – Welcome to Ohio, springtime crossroads in the battle for control of the House, where the political parties, outside groups, attack advertising, surrogate campaigning and more are in full flower. The two parties have spent more than $600,000 combined trying to influence the fate of Democratic write-in hopeful …

ORANJESTAD, Aruba – The family of a 19-year-old arrested in the case of a young Alabama woman who went missing last year while visiting Aruba said Wednesday that he had nothing to do with her disappearance. The family of Geoffrey van Cromvoirt also said in a statement released by his …

NEW YORK – It’s an old kitchen-table debate: Does it cost more to turn the lights off when you walk out of the room than it does to leave them on? The answer is worth considering because many homes today have more — and more varied — electronic gadgets. Wasted …

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Hamas gunmen backed by police came to the rescue of the new Palestinian health minister — a top Hamas official — after angry gunmen raided his office Sunday and sparked a shootout that left three people wounded. The shootout was the latest explosion of violence …

BURBANK, Calif. – Chris James needed help moving a piano and three dozen boxes of records from his music studio, but instead of corralling some buddies he rented a truck and hired day laborers outside the local Home Depot. The two Guatemalan men finished the job in an hour and …

SPACE CENTER, Houston – NASA employees throughout the country paused Thursday to rededicate themselves to space exploration and remember their 17 astronaut colleagues who died pursuing it. “They and their families sacrificed much in the pursuit of their dreams and our dreams. We have not, will not, ever forget what …

ANKARA, Turkey – The man convicted of trying to assassinate Pope John Paul II and released from prison this week failed to report to police Saturday, Turkish media reported Saturday, but his lawyer insisted he was “a free person” who did not have to check in. Mehmet Ali Agca has …

LOS ANGELES – Divorcing couple Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are selling their famous “Newlyweds” home, Rob Shuter, Simpson’s publicist, said Monday. The Calabasas house was featured on the hit MTV show “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica.” The Mediterranean-style house, which includes a screening room and music studio, is being listed …

WASHINGTON – More than 9,000 pieces of space debris are orbiting the Earth, a hazard that can only be expected to get worse in the next few years. And currently there’s no workable and economic way to clean up the mess. The pieces of space junk measuring 4 inches or …

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A man convicted of killing four people in Houston 14 years ago was put to death Wednesday, hours after the Supreme Court rejected a request to spare him. Asked by a warden if he had a final statement, Marion Dudley did not respond and kept his eyes …