SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley has won the Democratic nomination to take on U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., in November.Merkley defeated Portland activist Steve Novick after months of a hard-fought race for the chance to take on Smith, whom Democrats see as politically vulnerable in the left-leaning state.With 78 percent of the vote counted Tuesday, Merkley led Novick 46 percent to 41 percent, The (Portland) Oregonian reported.Merkley was recruited to run for ... [full story]

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The two Democratic U.S. presidential hopefuls each scored a primary win Tuesday but it was Barack Obama who moved closer to the party's nomination.The Illinois senator won Oregon, giving him the bigger share of the 52 delegates up for grabs in the Beaver State, while rival Hillary Clinton handily won in Kentucky by 35 points, CNN reported."We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people and ... [full story]

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South African President Thabo Mbeki approved troop deployments to help stop attacks on migrants that have claimed two dozen lives, his office said Wednesday.Red Cross officials in South Africa said about 13,000 people have been displaced since the violence began last week, CNN reported.Many of the victims are Zimbabweans and others from neighboring countries who have fled to South Africa for political or economic reasons.The violence began in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township, ... [full story]

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Brian Keenan, who played a key role in the Irish Republican Army's peace negotiations, died of cancer Wednesday in Belfast.Keenan, 66, joined the IRA around 1970 and eventually became quartermaster of the Belfast brigade and involved in Belfast bombings, The Times of London reported Wednesday.Keenan, who spent 19 years in prison for his IRA activities, became known as the right-hand man for the imprisoned Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams. As the ... [full story]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Hungry alligators will eat almost anything, from deer to dolls and tennis balls to other alligators, Florida wildlife officials say.Recently, a G.I. Joe action figure and a plastic toy turtle were found stuck in the intestines of a 9-foot alligator that died in the Florida Keys, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.Terry Parlier, who traps nuisance alligators in Orange County, Fla., said that bad diet can cause problems in other ways. He cited ... [full story]

PHOENIX -- A veteran Phoenix police officer and an employee of Arizona Child Protective Services have been charged with sex crimes involving children.David Wigton, 57, a former supervisor with the state agency, was indicted Tuesday on charges that include having sex with a 4-year-old girl, The Arizona Republic reported. He was also charged with looking at pornography in the presence of minors.Richard Michael Polk, 50, who recently retired after 26 years with the Phoenix Police ... [full story]

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- An Illinois man has been charged with attempting to kill his wife and 5-year-old daughter by disconnecting a gas line to the kitchen stove.Gary Smith was in custody in St. Louis County in Missouri, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Smith was severely burned when his house in Belleville exploded May 2. At the time, police believed the blast was accidental.Darline Smith and her daughter, Courtney, escaped with minor injuries. Investigators say that ... [full story]

Flying from Nashville to Las Vegas for the live telecast of the "43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18 will be a no-brainer for Brad Paisley, a hardened roadrunner who spends more than 200 days a year on a customized, 45-foot Prevost bus with every amenity.   BRAD PAISLEY - Country music singer Brad Paisley is a hardened roadrunner who spends more than 200 days a year ... [full story]

"Speed Racer" should turbo-boost the visibility of its talented star, Emile Hirsch. A stylistically bold adaptation of the classic '60s cartoon, the loud, fast and computer-enhanced film stars Hirsch as the white-knuckled speed demon who has high-octane fuel in his family bloodline. In fact, his given name actually is Speed Racer. The Wachowski brothers channeled their action and effects expertise from "The Matrix" movies into this whiplash-paced, kid-friendly film, which co-stars Christina Ricci, John Goodman ... [full story]

John Cho reprises his role as the straight-laced stoner Harold in the raunchy and satirical sequel "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."   JOHN CHO - John Cho and Kal Penn are in trouble again in 'Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.' CNS Photo courtesy of Jamie Trueblood.  The dopey original 2004 pothead comedy "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" was not a huge blockbuster, but has remained popular on DVD. In the more ... [full story]