Hamas leader claims progress in Palestinian talks

The leader of Hamas said Sunday that significant progress has been made in Egyptian-sponsored talks aimed at reconciling his militant Palestinian group with the rival Fatah movement.

The two main Palestinian factions have been bitterly divided since Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, leaving Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah in control only of the West Bank.

The split has complicated peace efforts with Israel as well as reconstruction of the impoverished and war-damaged Gaza Strip. Efforts to bring them together in a power-sharing arrangement failed and the Egyptian-mediated talks are now aimed at ending the …

Worm's new role: he's Mr. Manners

Dennis Rodman had to smile as he watched Michael Jordan mix it upwith the New York Knicks' Chris Childs.

For once, some other Bulls player was losing his cool.

"Can you believe that? I haven't been the bad guy all year,"Rodman said after the Bulls' 100-82 victory over the Knicks onTuesday. "I'm becoming a mild-mannered guy. It's getting to thepoint now where I'm, like, God, I'm getting cheap fouls and this andthat. Time for me to open up the can of worms, man."Jordan escaped with only a technical foul while Childs wasejected with 2:52 remaining. But it was Jordan's repeated elbows ofChilds that precipitated Childs throwing the ball at Jordan andJordan responded …

Woman convicted in US millionaire's '94 murder

SANTA ANA, California (AP) — A woman was convicted Monday of arranging to have a former National Football League player kill her millionaire boyfriend more than a decade ago to collect on a $1 million life insurance policy and other cash.

Jurors found Nanette Ann Packard, 46, guilty of first-degree murder in the 1994 shooting death of Newport Beach mogul William McLaughlin and that she committed the crime for financial gain.

Kimberly McLaughlin, the victim's daughter, clasped her hands and whispered "thank you" to jurors as they exited the courtroom in Santa Ana.

"This is in honor of my dad and all of the many people this woman has used and abused," she told reporters …

Zimbabwe football chief suspected of match-fixing

Zimbabwe's football federation says it has suspended its chief executive on allegations of match-fixing involving Asian betting syndicates during a football tournament in Malaysia.

The federation said it is investigating betting and bribery charges against Henrietta Rushwaya related to the …

Classy chassis headed for Boulevard: ; PEDAL TO THE METAL; Organizer says annual hot rod show growing faster than he ever dreamed

Festivities are kicking into gear for the fourth annual Rod Runand Doo Wop with more than 1,000 cars from several states expectedto line Kanawha Boulevard over the next few days.

Organizers never expected the event would grow with such speed.

"We dreamed," said Randy Easter.

"It's still hard to swallow that it's happening"

Easter, construction project manager for the city of Charleston,credits the initial efforts of Terry Bragg, who began contactingcity officials several years ago about bringing such an event toCharleston. Since it began in 2006, the event has grown steadilyeach year.

The first year there were 563 entries. The number grew …

No. 1 Ohio State Ready After 54-10 Rout

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Ohio State Buckeyes made quick work of Northwestern, and now it's finally time to turn their attention to Michigan. "It's the biggest rivalry in college football," running back Antonio Pittman said after the top-ranked Buckeyes routed Northwestern 54-10 on Saturday. "And it's been talked about for the last six weeks."

And it will be talked about day and night before next Saturday's showdown in Columbus - No. 2 Michigan (11-0) vs. No. 1 Ohio State (11-0).

"It's what you dream about as a little kid, playing in that game," defensive tackle David Patterson said.

The stakes have never been higher, either, with the winner getting to play in the …

Steelers TE arrested in Virginia

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonathan Dekker was arrested early Saturday and charged with obstruction of justice.

Dekker, who injured his knee in August and spent the season on injured reserve, was released on $1,000 bond, police said.

Police said they responded to a complaint at 3:30 a.m. near Old Town Alexandria. When they arrived, police said, Dekker tried …