Threat

Is giant reed a 'miracle plant' or the next kudzu?

By ALLEN G. BREEDAP National Writer OXFORD, N.C. (AP) - It's fast-growing and drought-tolerant, producing tons of biomass per acre. It thrives even in poor soil and is a self-propagating perennial, so it requires little investment once established. To people in the renewable fuels industry

US pension insurer runs record $34B deficit

By MARCY GORDONAP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal agency that insures pensions for more than 40 million Americans last year ran the widest deficit in its 38-year history. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said Friday that its deficit grew to $34 billion for the budget year that

Fire out at Gulf oil rig; 4 hurt, 2 may be missing

VENICE, La. (AP) - An oil rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana sent four people to hospital Friday and two others were believed to be missing, Coast Guard officials said. Coast Guard spokesman Drake Foret said the fire was out in the meantime. Four people were taken to West Jefferson Medical

Philly officer who punched woman at parade charged

By PATRICK WALTERSAssociated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A former police lieutenant caught on video punching a woman in the face while responding to a disturbance at a Puerto Rican Day parade festival was charged Thursday with simple assault, prosecutors said. Jonathan Josey, a veteran supervisor