WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Clinton is defending her contribution to a Democratic Senate candidate who opposes abortion, saying he is needed for the party’s struggle against Republicans. Clinton, an abortion rights supporter who many people think will run for president in 2008, acknowledged Monday she had contributed $10,000 last year …

WASHINGTON – More than two dozen cities have been invited to submit bids to explain why they would be the best choice for the 2008 Republican National Convention. The 31 cities were announced Wednesday by the Republican National Committee, which also has asked to hear from cities not on the …

LONDON – Elton John accepted an undisclosed financial settlement Thursday of a libel lawsuit against the Sunday Times. His lawyer, Hanna Basha, said in court that the newspaper had repeated a false rumor that the rocker acted in a self-important, arrogant and rude manner by telling guests at a fundraising …

NEW YORK – A 100-pound woman ate 26 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes Wednesday at a New York restaurant, winning the World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship. Sonya Thomas won $8,000 for the contest at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Times Square but said she was disappointed in her performance. …

This is a partial transcript from “The O’Reilly Factor,” February 17, 2006, that has been edited for clarity. Watch “The O’Reilly Factor” weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the “Radio Factor!” TONY SNOW, GUEST HOST: In the “Back of the Book” segment tonight, as you …

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A brain-injured firefighter who suddenly spoke after nearly a decade in a stupor, giving hope to families of countless other patients, died Tuesday. He was 44. Donald Herbert was injured in December 1995, when the roof of a burning home collapsed on him. Deprived of oxygen for …

DETROIT – A second victim died Monday after a man opened fire during a Sunday church service, sending frightened parishioners ducking under the pews for safety. The gunman later killed himself. The victim who died Monday, identified only as a man in his 50s, was shot while trying to protect …

LONDON – Pete Doherty has been arrested again — on suspicion of stealing a car and being in possession of hard drugs, British police said Tuesday. Doherty, the troubled 26-year-old frontman of the group Babyshambles and ex-boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss, was among three men arrested in Birmingham on Monday …

This is a partial transcript from “On the Record,” February 10, 2006, that has been edited for clarity. GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: Who is telling the truth about George Smith‘s final hours? The newlywed disappeared from his honeymoon cruise on July 5th. The night he vanished he was with four …

This is a partial transcript of “The Big Story With John Gibson,” February 13, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. JOHN GIBSON, HOST: That’s a clip from “Best in Show,” a film that pokes fun at the highly competitive world of dog contests. More than 2,600 pooches of 165 …