New research shows that in world-class athletes, an enlarged heart may not raise the risk of heartbeat problems. Specifically, researchers looked at the heart’s upper left chamber (the left atrium) in more than 1,700 competitive athletes. They found that relatively few athletes had left atrial enlargement and that the condition …

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Three car bombs exploded Wednesday near a crowded bus station and a nearby hospital where survivors were being taken, killing up to 43 people in the deadliest homicide attack in Baghdad (search) in weeks. Rescuers used bolt cutters to free some victims hurled into barbed wire fences …

INDIANAPOLIS – Fed up with what it considers “hostile” and “abusive” American Indian nicknames, the NCAA (search) announced Friday it would shut those words and images out of postseason tournaments, a move that left some school officials angry and threatening legal action. Starting in February, any school with a nickname …

PHILADELPHIA – A reward for information leading to the discovery of the whereabouts of a missing Philadelphia woman has been increased to $100,000, authorities said Tuesday. Latoyia Figueroa (search), 25, who is five months pregnant, was last seen July 18. She has a 7-year-old daughter, whom friends and family say …

SAN FRANCISCO – A fiery explosion from an underground utility chamber in the downtown shopping district Friday critically burned a woman, sent a manhole cover flying and shattered windows at a Polo Ralph Lauren clothing store, authorities said. The cause was still under investigation hours later, but authorities ruled out …

DALLAS – Women taking daily amounts of non-aspirin painkillers — such as an extra-strength Tylenol (search) — are more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who don’t, a new study suggests. While many popular over-the-counter painkillers have been linked before to high blood pressure, acetaminophen (search), sold as …

NEW YORK – Nick Lachey (search) and Kelly Ripa (search) took a broom to some rumors as they co-hosted the syndicated TV show “Live With Regis and Kelly.” Lachey denied that his marriage to Jessica Simpson (search) is on the rocks, and Ripa said her co-host, Regis Philbin (search), isn’t …

CARACAS, Venezuela – Pat Robertson‘s (search) call for American agents to assassinate President Hugo Chavez (search) is a “terrorist” statement that needs to be investigated by U.S. authorities, Venezuela said Tuesday. The Bush administration quickly distanced itself from the religious broadcaster. Robertson’s suggestion Monday that the United States “take out” …

Now that you’ve landed a new job, you can’t wait to tell your old boss to shove it. Better reconsider. These days it’s more critical than ever to make a graceful exit. SUE BIRCH THOUGHT she had a live one. Last year, the human-resources specialist for database marketer Acxiom (ACXM) …

WASHINGTON – Backers of a permanent National Mall memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. (search) said Monday they are more than a third of the way toward their $100 million fundraising goal. “He is the foundation and the moral compass for our youth,” Sheila Johnson (search), owner of the WNBA’s …