CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Rev. Will Graham, the grandson of evangelist Billy Graham, will lead his first U.S. crusade this week. The 31-year-old’s appearance at the three-day Greater Gaston Celebration is a first step for a man whose grandfather has led more than 400 crusades worldwide, and whose father, Franklin, …

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Battered from a scathing GOP primary, Sen. Lincoln Chafee has struggled to gain traction in the general election against a well-financed and well-known Democrat in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans more than three to one. While Chafee’s political views are in line with many voters here …

Get off that boring old treadmill and belt out a cheesy Elvis song on the exercise bike, instead. Strut around in 3-inch heels or work up a sweat on the pogo stick. As gyms compete with dance studios and adult sports leagues to hold on to members with ever-shorter attention …

While prices at the pump have been on a steady downturn since mid-August, experts say it may be a while before their evil counterparts — surcharges and fees placed on consumer goods — disappear. As consumers felt the pinch of skyrocketing gas prices last summer, many also felt the squeeze …

NEW YORK – To the long and lengthening list of scams and petty shakedowns, add a new one: Return fraud — when criminals take advantage of companies’ return policies to get cash for stolen goods or return used items. The National Retail Federation says merchants can expect to lose $3.5 …

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A Marine private who pleaded guilty to reduced charges in the killing of an innocent Iraqi civilian was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in custody by a military judge who wanted to mete out a five-year punishment but had to stick with terms of a plea …

WASHINGTON – Activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Wednesday as she led about 50 protesters to a White House gate Wednesday to deliver anti-war petitions she said were signed by 80,000 Americans. The Berkeley, Calif., woman, whose son was killed in Iraq more than two years ago, was arrested along with …

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria denied on Thursday accusations by the White House that it was seeking to topple Lebanon’s Western-backed government, and said it was not interfering in Lebanese internal affairs. “The U.S. administration’s attempts to circulate that Syria, Iran and Hezbollah are seeking to destabilize Lebanon are not true,” …

NEW YORK – There’s a new way to send large movie, music and other files without worrying about whether the e-mail systems can handle large attachments. Free software from Pando Networks Inc. automatically converts your attachments into a small file that your friend or relative can simply open to download …

HONOLULU – Crammed in the corner of a hotel’s banquet hall, they stood and stared silently, mesmerized by what they were seeing. They were watching a soldier gunning down a giant monster on one TV and Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade taking over an NBA game on the other screen. What …