`I'm not racist': Common claim after racial slurs

It's almost a cliche. First, someone talking about blacks makes reference to fried chicken, watermelon, monkeys or dogs — or even uses the indefensible N-word. Then, along with the inevitable apology, comes the kicker: I'm not racist. The latest denial is from golfer Sergio Garcia. Asked a joking question about having dinner with his adversary Tiger Woods, Garcia said: "We will serve fried chicken." He... Full Story

Jerry Lewis repeats his distaste for female comics

Ladies? Don't make him laugh. Asked who his favorite female comics were Thursday at a Cannes Film Festival press conference, Jerry Lewis listed Cary Grant and Burt Reynolds. He then added: "I don't have any." Full Story

Obama: Policy in leaks investigations under review

President Barack Obama said Thursday that the Justice Department will review the policy under which it obtains journalists' records in investigations of the leak of government secrets. Obama acknowledged he is "troubled by the possibility that leaks investigations may chill the investigative journalism" that he says holds government accountable and said he has expressed his concerns to Attorney General Eric Holder. But he said his administration would continue to try to find the government employees who are responsible for leaks. Full Story

Thunderstorms slow Oklahoma tornado cleanup

A band of thunderstorms battered the Oklahoma City area Thursday, slowing cleanup operations in the suburb where a tornado killed 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes this week. The first of the funerals, for a 9-year-old girl killed at a Moore elementary school that took a direct hit in Monday's storm, took place Thursday morning. A family photo showed the girl, Antonia Candelaria, beaming... Full Story

Iowa kidnapping suspect probed in cousins' deaths

The man suspected of kidnapping a still-missing 15-year-old Iowa girl and her friend as they walked home from school is being scrutinized in last year's unsolved kidnapping of two young cousins whose bodies were found 100 miles away. One reason investigators are interested: It's extremely rare to abduct multiple children at once, and police say Michael J. Klunder has done that at least twice. Full Story

Storm took town's youngest as it swept through

One loved the spotlight. Another was nicknamed "The Wall" because of the force he brought to the soccer field. When a top-of-the-scale EF5 tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., it took with it 24 lives. Seven of them were children at Plaza Towers Elementary school; two were only babies. Full Story

Military calls UK attack victim a model soldier

The soldier brutally murdered in a suspected terrorist attack in London was a popular 25-year-old drummer and machine gunner, a father, and a passionate fan of the Manchester United soccer team, the British military said Thursday. Lee Rigby, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who had joined the army in 2006, was posted in Cyprus, Afghanistan and Germany before becoming a recruiter, assisting... Full Story

Sweden's riots raise questions about inequality

Sweden has long been a bastion of generous social welfare and an egalitarian political culture. So many people were shocked when scores of youths hurled rocks at police and set cars ablaze during rioting in several largely immigrant areas near Stockholm this week. Few dispute that the violence was probably touched off by the fatal police shooting of an elderly man who had locked himself... Full Story

Q&A: What is known about London attack

A look at the key known facts about attack in south London in which two men killed a British soldier near military barracks Wednesday. Q: What happened? Full Story

Coded goal: RG3 still aiming for Redskins' opener

Robert Griffin III's rehab started with a "cry festival." Then came a special new passcode for his cellphone and a chance to hash things with coach Mike Shanahan. There's also been a Twitter rant about political correctness, some flak about all the wedding gifts he's received and, most recently, a suggestion from his father that the Washington Redskins should pass the ball more. Full Story

David Beckham bids au revoir to soccer

David Beckham might bid adieu to soccer Sunday from the bench. The 38-year-old Beckham, who said last week he will retire from the sport after the season, will be with French champion Paris Saint-Germain when the team travels to Lorient for the season finale. But PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said it is unlikely Beckham will play, although it has not been officially decided yet. Full Story

Committee hits stretch run for NY-NJ Super Bowl

The NFL draft is history. Organized team activities are under way. Minicamps will follow next month, and training camps will open a month after that. The 2013 season is on the horizon and so is the cold-weather Super Bowl. Full Story

Jerry Lewis repeats his distaste for female comics

Ladies? Don't make him laugh. Asked who his favorite female comics were Thursday at a Cannes Film Festival press conference, Jerry Lewis listed Cary Grant and Burt Reynolds. He then added: "I don't have any." Full Story

Jerry Lewis repeats his distaste for female comics

Ladies? Don't make him laugh. Asked who his favorite female comics were Thursday at a Cannes Film Festival press conference, Jerry Lewis listed Cary Grant and Burt Reynolds. He then added: "I don't have any." Full Story

87-year-old woman loses to Trump in civil case

An 87-year-old grandmother took on billionaire Donald Trump. And on Thursday — she lost. Jurors sided with the real estate mogul-turned-TV showman in a weeklong civil trial focused on Jacqueline Goldberg's claim that Trump cheated her in a condo bait-and-switch scheme. Full Story

Stocks end lower as investors reassess Fed worries

Stocks are ending the day slightly lower after recouping a big loss early on. U.S. markets fell immediately after the opening bell following a global slump prompted in part by an unexpectedly weak report on manufacturing in China. Full Story

87-year-old woman loses to Trump in civil case

An 87-year-old grandmother took on billionaire Donald Trump. And on Thursday — she lost. Jurors sided with the real estate mogul-turned-TV showman in a weeklong civil trial focused on Jacqueline Goldberg's claim that Trump cheated her in a condo bait-and-switch scheme. Full Story

IMF chief Lagarde in court in fraud probe

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde faced hours of questioning at a special Paris court Thursday over her role in the 400 million euro ($520 million) pay-off to a controversial businessman when she was France's finance minister. The court hearing threatens to sully the reputations of both Lagarde and France. The payment was made to well-connected entrepreneur Bernard Tapie as part of a private arbitration... Full Story

NASA head views progress on asteroid lasso mission

Surrounded by engineers, NASA chief Charles Bolden inspected a prototype spacecraft engine that could power an audacious mission to lasso an asteroid and tow it closer to Earth for astronauts to explore. Bolden checked on the progress Thursday a month after the Obama administration unveiled its 2014 budget that proposes $105 million to jumpstart the mission, which may eventually cost more than $2.6 billion. Full Story

Study: Amphibians disappearing at alarming rate

A new study has determined for the first time just how quickly frogs and other amphibians are disappearing around the United States, and the news is not good. The U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday that populations of frogs, salamanders and toads have been vanishing from places where they live at a rate of 3.7 percent a year. Full Story

Hurricane forecast: Another busy Atlantic season

Get ready for another busy hurricane season, maybe unusually wild, federal forecasters say. Their prediction Thursday calls for 13 to 20 named Atlantic storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. Full Story