July 4 fireworks shows go up in smoke

With the recession eating away at state and local budgets everywhere, it will be a silent Fourth of July across the country for many communities that have canceled their annual fireworks shows.

Jackson says he'll return for another Lakers run

Phil Jackson is returning to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season.

Honduras says won't restore president

Honduras' Supreme Court rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas' top international diplomat Friday, refusing to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya before a Saturday deadline.

N. Korea marks July 4 with missile barrage
North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.

Johnny comes marching home — to no job
National Guardsmen are coming home from Iraq to face a new enemy – a swooning economy that has landed like a KO'd heavyweight on the canvas of their home towns.

2 GIs die in bombing, gunfight at Afghan base
Militants blew up a vehicle outside the gates of a U.S. base in Afghanistan on Saturday, sparking a two-hour gunbattle, officials said. Two American troops were killed and four others injured.

Powerful sedative found in Jackson's home

A law enforcement official says the powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson's home. Diprivan is an intravenous anesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it's very unusual to have in a private home

Rusty Ramirez hitless in Dodgers' victory

Returning from his suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, Manny Ramirez barely hit the ball out of the infield in the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday.

Up to 6,000 exposed to hepatitis at hospital
A former surgery technician may have exposed thousands of Colorado patients to hepatitis C when she swapped her own dirty syringes for ones filled with a powerful narcotic, officials said.