VENTURA, Calif. (AP) – An Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Pulp Fiction” has pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving for a crash that killed a passenger in his Mercedes. Roger Avary of Ojai, Calif., entered the pleas Tuesday in a Ventura court. He’ll be sentenced next month and remains free on bail. Authorities say the […]

NEW YORK (AP) – Authorities say a New York City man secretly killed at least four of his live-in girlfriend’s cats, slaying the pets as the woman unsuspectingly adopted new ones. Thirty-six-year-old Sean Lynde was arrested Friday on charges including felony animal cruelty. His attorney, Elliot Kay, said he pleaded not guilty and was freed […]

WASHINGTON (AP) – A White House budget official says the Obama administration expects the federal deficit over the next decade to be $2 trillion bigger than previously estimated. The projection now is for a deficit of $9 trillion. The new figure reflects a worse economic picture than expected earlier this year. The official spoke on […]

DETROIT (AP) – American Muslims face an August Ramadan for the first time in 33 years, meaning the days of the holy month are going to be longer and hotter than many can remember. Religious leaders see the seasonal shift as an opportunity for increased faithfulness, but worry participation by the young and some programming […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) – The weather is looking good for Tuesday’s launch of space shuttle Discovery. Forecasters put the odds of acceptable conditions at 70 percent. Launch time is 1:36 a.m. (0536 GMT). Discovery and a crew of seven will deliver more than 15,000 pounds (6,800 kilograms) of supplies and equipment to the international […]

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Michael Jackson won’t be laid to rest on what would have been his 51st birthday after all. A spokesman for the Jackson family says the King of Pop’s funeral has been postponed until Sept. 3, five days after the singer’s birthday. Spokesman Ken Sunshine, in a statement Friday, offered no reason […]

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. says it’s finished testing Wi-Fi Internet access on four aircraft and plans to expand the service to all its planes beginning early next year. The airline said Friday that the test has generated raves among passengers. Southwest said it would continue testing prices for the service through the end […]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say a St. Louis-bound Southwest Airlines flight was forced to return to Oakland International Airport after a male passenger stripped, hit another passenger and fought with crew members. Alameda County sheriff’s deputies say flight 947 returned Thursday morning after 21-year-old Darius Chappille of Oakland allegedly exposed himself to the female […]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A second lawsuit has been filed against an exclusive Connecticut boarding school where a former dean has been charged with molesting three students. Susan Smith, a lawyer for a former student, filed a lawsuit Thursday against The Gunnery. The suit includes graphic descriptions of the alleged abuse. The family of another […]

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) – A retired police sergeant has pleaded guilty to robbing two banks in holdups that earned him the nickname “The Grandpa Bandit.” Sixty-two-year-old Frank Holder of Phelan entered pleas to federal charges in Riverside and is free on bond. A federal prosecutor said Wednesday Holder is expected to get a three-year sentence […]