Gadhafi vows Libya will defend itself, warns civilian targets across the region are in danger

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Gadhafi vows Libya will defend …

Bidding war starts in Texas Rangers auction

Billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and a group led by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan were locked in a fierce bidding war for the Texas Rangers early Thursday, with each side adding millions to the pot in a rare and contentious bankruptcy court auction.

Just before midnight, the group led by team president Ryan and sports attorney Chuck Greenberg made a bid of $365 million in cash _ a portion of its total bid _ and dropped provisions worth $12 million.

Cuban's group countered with a $390 million cash offer, part of a $598 million bid and that's where things stood as the hearing stretched into Thursday, with no end in sight.

The …

Alabama State women win SWAC track title

Defender staff report

Led by the splendid performance by Jewell Wells, the Alabama State women's track team captured the 2007 SWAC championship at Troy State (Ala.) University.

Wells, a senior, captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 10,000-meter run. She also placed second in the 1,500 meter run.

The Lady Hornets won the overall team title with 190 overall points while Southern was second with 156 points.

Pacing the Southern effort was senior Monica Robinson who took first in the pole vault, second in the long jump and third in the high jump.

Meanwhile, the Grambling men captured their second straight SWAC men's title with 181 points, easily …

IBM's Palmisano Made $20.9M in 2007

IBM Corp.'s chairman and chief executive, Samuel J. Palmisano, enjoyed an 11 percent raise in compensation to $20.9 million in 2007, a year in which the technology company increased its profits and stock price.

In a regulatory filing Monday, IBM said Palmisano, 56, was paid $1.8 million in salary and $5.8 million in a bonus-like payout under IBM's incentive plan. He also got options and stock equivalents worth $12.3 million when they were issued.

Another $988,479 came to Palmisano through various perks, including $406,235 worth of travel on IBM aircraft, $364,162 in dividend …

A-B to take vote on Clydesdales in Super Bowl

Anheuser-Busch isn't saying "neigh" just yet to putting its Clydesdales in the Super Bowl.

The longtime Super Bowl advertising leader will ask fans starting later Friday to vote on three possible Budweiser ads on the brand's Facebook page. One of them includes the company's trademark Clydesdale horses. All are by advertising agency DDB.

Earlier this …

Frank Peoples

HE IS Pastor and actor. HIS CHURCH HIS CHURCH First Baptist Church of Maywood.

THE STAGE THE STAGE Peoples (shown in costume) is understudy for thelead role of the governor of Cyprus in "An Affair of State." It's atthe Set Gourmet Theatre, 2743 N. Lincoln. SHOW MUST GO ON SHOW MUST GO ON Made his Set Gourmet debut in Marchwhen the actor who normally plays the governor lost his voice. Camethrough magnificently. WHY A MINISTER? WHY A MINISTER? "When I was a kid in Washington, Iwas basically non-church." Later, "In Kansas, there was not a lot ofactivity except churches in this little town. The pastor for youthin the church was one of those people who related very well to …

NY shoplifter leaves hospice, sent back to jail

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A New York judge who released a shoplifter from jail so she could spend her dying days in a hospice has ordered her back to jail.

Nassau County Judge Francis Ricigliano (reh-sih-glee-AH'-noh) received information Tuesday from the Long Island hospice that Diane McCloud could live another six months. A doctor earlier this month had indicated the 48-year-old was near …