WASHINGTON – Policy-setting members of the Federal Reserve (search) resumed a two-day meeting on Thursday that is expected to result in a ninth straight quarter-percentage-point increase in short-term rates as the Fed seeks to keep inflation in check. The Federal Open Market Committee (search) began meeting at 9:00 a.m. EDT …

President Bush often says “Girls go to school now” when touting the success of the U.S. military campaign that ousted the Taliban from Afghanistan. The progress in Afghanistan (search) over the last three years is undeniable. Approximately 5 million children are now enrolled in school — and 40 percent of …

CLINTON, Ky. – No damage was reported Monday after an earthquake hit western Kentucky. The temblor was felt throughout the region, including parts of southern and eastern Missouri, said John Minch, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Center (search) in Golden, Colo. The 3.9 magnitude quake hit at 7:21 a.m. …

BURBANK, Calif. – Nine hundred federal and local law enforcement agents joined forces Tuesday for a raid on a gang suspected in the shooting deaths of two police officers, authorities said. The overnight raid targeted 42 members of the Vineland Boys gang (search). The operation had netted 19 arrests early …

See you weeknights in the No Spin Zone at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET! Tonight … “The O’Reilly Factor” is on… Are the far-right extremists in the U.S. hurting conservatives and traditionalists? Radio commentator Laura Ingraham enters the “No Spin Zone” for a “Great Debate” on an explosive “Factor” …

NEW YORK – Americans increased donations to charity by 5 percent in 2004, a lift for philanthropies that saw contributions stagnate in the past few years, says a new study, released Monday. But givers sent most of their additional donations to organizations in which they have a direct stake, rather …

Able Laboratories has recalled all of its products, most of which are generic drugs, says the FDA. The recall is due to “serious concerns that [the drugs] were not produced according to quality assurance standards,” says an FDA news release. People who have been taking drugs produced by Able Laboratories …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – George Mikan (search), professional basketball’s first dominant big man who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA championships, has died, family members said Thursday. He was 80. Six-foot-10 with thick glasses, Mikan was so effective as a center at DePaul that he forced the NCAA to adopt …

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A scandal-plagued former sheriff has been charged with leading a criminal enterprise while in office that included extortion, drug trafficking (search) and witness tampering, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The indictment accuses former Cameron County Sheriff Conrado Cantu (search) of receiving payments from drug traffickers in exchange for …

CAPE SAN BLAS, Fla. – Beachgoers warily returned to the water Tuesday after the second shark attack in three days off the Florida Panhandle (search), with tourism officials hoping the maulings won’t scare visitors away ahead of the July 4 weekend. Most vacationers here were aware of the shark attacks …