AUGUSTA, Maine – Armed with $900,000 in public funds, Maine’s Green Party gubernatorial candidate is feeling a lucky streak, and won’t bediscouraged by accusations from Democrats that he is a spoiler. Rep. John Baldacci is the Democratic candidate for governor in the state, and is leading in the polls, but …

SHOW LOW, Ariz. – They grab sleep when and where they can, sometimes on a bed of ashes. “Home” is a field of tents spread like nylon mushrooms across the lawn at Show Low High School. For William Loeller, it’s also the launching point for fighting his 12th wildfire since …

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Winona Ryder’s preliminary hearing on shoplifting and drug charges was interrupted Monday when a television camera bumped her on the way into court, and her attorney reported later that she suffered a broken right arm. Ryder arrived for the hearing late, in time for only brief …

AUSTIN – The Catholic diocese in which Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez grew up has banned him from speaking at church facilities because of his position favoring abortion rights. Bishop Edmond Carmody of Corpus Christi on Monday also said Democratic lieutenant governor candidate John Sharp is banned because of his …

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD) said on Friday its quarterly earnings rose 55 percent as robust doughnut sales were complemented by a new coffee-selling initiative. The company, known for its “hot original glazed” and other premium doughnuts, reported net income for the third quarter ended Nov. 3 …

MOSCOW – Russian lawmakers turned up the pressure on Denmark on Saturday, demonstrating outside the country’s embassy to warn the small Scandinavian nation that Moscow will not drop its demand for the extradition of a detained Chechen rebel envoy. Akhmed Zakayev, a top aide to Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, …

NEW YORK – Standard & Poor’s said Monday it may lower McDonald’s Corp. (MCD)’s long-term debt ratings because a plan by the world’s largest fast-food chain to close restaurants and cut jobs may not improve its business. S&P said it may cut its “A-plus” rating, its fifth-highest grade, on McDonald’s …

DETROIT – Shares of Ford Motor Co. (F) led auto stocks higher on Monday as the sector rallied on hopes that new U.S. vehicle sales in November will be better than pessimistic forecasts. Shares of Ford rose 67 cents, or 6.56 percent, to close at $10.88 on the New York …

The “tummy time” story in Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal is a real hoot. Moms are putting their babies through rug-rat training sessions so they’ll build the upper-body strength needed for head lifting and crawling. In the ’90s, pediatricians told new mothers to put babies to sleep on their backs; it …

ST. JOHNS, Antigua – A U.S. Consulate official alerted authorities that sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad tried to obtain a U.S. passport in 2000 with fraudulent documents but he escaped from Antiguan custody before questioning, a task force official said Thursday. In a letter dated March 19, 2001, to Antiguan …