WASHINGTON – Republicans generally stood by President Bush’s call Tuesday for action on energy and the economy, but one pillar — boosting use and production of corn-based ethanol — is becoming an increasingly sticky point for some in the president’s own party. Once seen as a panacea to curing America’s …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Pork-Barrel Postponement It appears House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has quietly shelved the proposed one-year moratorium on earmarks — those pet spending projects that lawmakers slip into legislation to benefit their home districts. Pelosi initially supported the one-year ban on pork projects, which …

Animal rights group PETA is rolling out its controversial “Sex Talk” ad — in which two parents urge their daughter to have a lot of sex and “pop out all the kids you want” — in the top 10 teen pregnancy states to promote spaying and neutering of pets. The …

This year, it’s all about nuts. Not about candidates for president. Or the guy who is president. Not about tax policies. Or housing policies. Or any policies. If you want to know what will set the tone for the year, my prediction? Those who want to terrorize this year. Don’t …

Two giant plumes erupted recently on Jupiter, moving faster than any other Jovian feature and leaving global streaks of red cloud particles in their wake. New analyses of the March 2007 outbursts suggest internal heat plays a significant role in generating such weather patterns. The results, detailed in the Jan. …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Critics Corner When the departed Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill co-wrote an unflattering book about his tenure in the Bush administration, the White House spokesman said of the book: “It appears to be more about trying to justify personal views and opinions than …

Pacino, Keaton in Backstage Soap Opera | Tonys: Good Show, but Awards Goofed | Laurie Colwin Remembered; Brokaw to Return to Anchor Desk? Pacino, Keaton in Backstage Soap Opera How did Al Pacino and Diane Keaton even exist together for a minute backstage at the AFI Tribute to Warren Beatty …

LOS ANGELES – When it comes to parenting, Angelina Jolie certainly likes to maintain her privacy. After all, she stopped talking to her father Jon Voight back in 2002 when he announced that she had adopted Maddox in addition to hinting that she needed help for her “mental problems.” So …

Ever worry you could be minding your own business supporting your team at the Super Bowl or shopping at your local mall when a terrorist decides to unleash some creepy “28 Days Later” or “I Am Legend”-style bio-attack on you? While it’s known that the U.S. Secret Service protects the …

LOS ANGELES – Cindy Crawford will forever be remembered as the supermodel who made curves cool, but it seems the retired runway mom is going for a skinnier style. Looking very lean, the 42-year-old popped into The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills last week to have lunch and preview and …