DALLAS – A scuffle on the dance floor of a crowded college bar apparently spilled out onto a freeway intersection a few hours later, with a motorist opening fire on a car and killing three people. University Park police Capt. Robert Brown said the shooter waited for the other party …

LOS ANGELES – The 12 “American Idol” (search)semifinalists picked by television viewers include a Ukrainian-born college student, a martial arts black belt holder and a bartender-waitress. The No. 1-rated Fox series, which is reaching up to 30 million viewers an episode in its fourth season, eliminated four contestants Wednesday to …

Brian Nichols is being held for the murders of four people: Rowland Barnes Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes could laugh at himself. The 64-year-old would appear in skits at the Atlanta Bar Association’s annual charity fund-raiser —- sometimes wearing only his underwear. “How many judges would do that? He could …

Allen Ruhland said he’s not a cat person, yet he’s had at least a dozen hanging around his house. “At the high point I believe we had 19 cats last year,” said the Wisconsin resident. “They just started coming around more and more.” These cats aren’t house pets. They’re free-roaming …

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Authorities were hunting for a man accused of killing three jewelers during a robbery spree in New York and Connecticut. Authorities believe Christopher DiMeo (search), 23, chatted up store employees, saying he was looking for an engagement ring, then pulled out a gun and took merchandise worth …

The news doesn’t stop on the weekends and neither does “FOX & Friends.” So start your Super Bowl (search) weekend in the know with hosts Juliet Huddy, Mike Jerrick, Julian Phillips and Brian Kilmeade live in Jacksonville, Florida. Saturday Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (search) says that military action in …

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Police have arrested two men working for the rancher in Brazil’s who allegedly ordered the killing of American nun Dorothy Stang, authorities said. Cleone Santos and Magnaldo Santos, known as Negao, were taken into custody Saturday evening, accused of aiding the two gunmen who shot …

NEW YORK – Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) on Monday said it would acquire long-distance telephone company MCI Communications Inc. (MCIP) for $6.75 billion, an apparent response to the acquisition of AT&T Corp. (T) by SBC Communications Inc. (SBC) and the third big telephone industry merger in two months. The agreement …

ANAPU, Brazil – An elderly American nun killed in the struggle to protect the Amazon rain forest from loggers and ranchers was buried in her adopted homeland after a funeral attended by thousands who remembered her courage and dedication. Mourners held up saplings to symbolize the jungle Dorothy Stang (search) …

WASHINGTON – Thousands of black farmers who say they have been left out of a landmark civil rights case are turning to Congress as their last hope to get compensation for years of being denied loans by the government. “This is not discrimination that took place in the 1950s. That …