WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Department (search) nominee Michael Chertoff denied asylum, ordered deportation or otherwise ruled against foreigners in 14 of 18 immigration cases he handled during his short tenure as a federal appeals court judge. But he has secured grudging respect from immigration rights groups who applaud his legal …

LOS ANGELES – Apropos for an Oscar ceremony in which a boxing movie was one of the leading nominees, host Chris Rock (search) came out swinging Sunday night, unleashing his acerbic wit on anyone and everyone in Hollywood — including himself. Rock kept it clean compared to the profanity that …

CAIRO, Egypt – Leaders across the Middle East condemned the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (search), fearing it would reopen old wounds and threaten the fragile Palestinian-Israeli truce. The massive attack in Beirut on Monday — killing 14 people, igniting 20 cars and shattering windows a mile …

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers eager to speed the transition to digital television (search) said Thursday the government may need to help millions of low-income Americans keep their analog (search) TVs working. About 21 million homes, or 19 percent of U.S. households, get their TV signals at no cost using over-the-air antennas. …

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (search) threatened Sunday to freeze peace efforts if the Palestinian leadership does not crack down on militant groups after a weekend suicide bombing in Tel Aviv killed four Israelis and wounded dozens. At a Cabinet meeting, Israel decided to suspend a plan to …

WASHINGTON – A nationwide ad campaign funded largely by the tobacco industry has helped cut youth smoking rates, a study by a health journal estimates. But anti-smoking advocates say money for such campaigns is drying up. The American Legacy Foundation‘s (search) “truth” campaign prevented about 300,000 youths from becoming smokers …

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The legal battle over a contentious right-to-die (search) case involving a severely brain-damaged woman hinges on what — if any — instructions that a Florida appeals court gives on when her feeding tube can be removed. Michael Schiavo could have doctors take out the feeding tube from …

LOS ANGELES – Angry residents and community leaders in South Los Angeles questioned why police shot a 13-year-old boy suspected of stealing a car. Police fired 10 rounds into a car driven by Devin Brown (search), who was unarmed, after he led them on a 3 ½-mile chase and then …

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A clinic providing free heroin (search) to Vancouver addicts is to open later this month to see if prescribing the drug can help addicts who have failed in other treatment programs. Similar projects have been scorned in the United States, seen as unethical or dangerous. There …

Less than a year ago, Tabitha Bonilla’s father gave his life for his country in Iraq. Last week, her husband gave his, too. Army Capt. Orlando A. Bonilla (search), 27, of Killeen, Texas, was killed Friday in a helicopter accident in Baghdad. Her father, Army Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. …