ALBANY, N.Y. – The woman who spurred most states to track sex offenders after her 7-year-old daughter was raped and killed by a convicted child molester living across the street wants a tougher federal law to monitor pedophiles. Maureen Kanka‘s (search) daughter, Megan, was lured into a neighbor’s house in …

NEW YORK – The Dave Matthews Band (search) is celebrating the release of their latest album, “Stand Up,” (search) by performing a concert that will be broadcast live on the Web by AOL (search). The group will perform at the club Roseland on Monday night for their latest album’s Tuesday …

SAN FRANCISCO – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (search) acknowledged Friday that John R. Bolton (search) has “rough edges” but said it was time for the Senate to approve his nomination to be U.N. ambassador so he can promote needed reform. A day after Democrats forced the Republican-run Senate to …

MINNEAPOLIS – Tribal leaders on Thursday defended a $5,000 victims-aid grant given to the family of a teenager who killed nine people before killing himself, saying his relatives had “a double burden.” Red Lake Tribal Secretary Judy Roy said the tribal council had decided unanimously that shooter Jeff Weise (search) …

NEW YORK – Ted Koppel (search), who has anchored ABC News’ “Nightline” (search) since its inception a quarter-century ago, said Thursday he will leave the network when contract expires at the end of the year. “Ted and I have discussed a number of options under which he might have remained …

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – A key witness against a Marine officer accused of murdering two Iraqi civilians abruptly left the stand after he was accused of giving interviews about the case when he was ordered not to. Marine Sgt. Daniel Coburn (search) was testifying Wednesday against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano …

FORT WASHAKIE, Wyo. – A large wildfire bore down on this town of 250 on the Wind River Indian Reservation (search) on Sunday, burning a vacant building and prompting a full evacuation. No injuries were reported. The fire was at least five miles long along the banks of the Little …

Quietly at home, or with heads bowed in church, Americans marked the death Saturday of Pope John Paul II, recalling him as a great leader who combined warmth with moral power, a call to care for the poor with an emphasis on liberty. Bells tolled at Roman Catholic churches across …

BOSTON – The Big Dig (search) highway tunnels under downtown Boston are structurally sound and safe for traffic despite recent leaks, the Federal Highway Administration (search) said Monday. The agency launched the investigation into the Interstate 93 (search) tunnels after water broke though a faulty wall panel in September, backing …

VATICAN CITY – On one of Pope John Paul II‘s (search) last major trips four years ago, he stood in the ancient Omayyad Mosque in Syria and appealed for Christians and Muslims to seek common ground rather than confrontation. “May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another …