Columbia South Carolina

Calif. faces blazes on two fronts - A pair of out-of-control wildfires roared along California s central coast Friday, chewing through opposite ends of a parched forest and threatening a total of more than 4,500 homes.

Former Sen. Jesse Helms dies at 86 - Former Sen. Jesse Helms, who built a career along the fault lines of racial politics and battled liberals, Communists and the occasional fellow Republican during 30 years in Congress, died Friday. He was 86.

Chestnut wins hot dog contest after eat-off
Americans mark an old-fashioned Fourth
Federer, Nadal cruise to Wimbledon final
Bush heckled at new citizen ceremony
NYT: McCain camp struggles to find strategy
French hero's welcome for Betancourt
4 shot dead outside house party
Scientist: Pakistan knew of N. Korea nuke deal
12 feared dead as canoes run over dam
Ailing U.K. spy chief tested for poison
Top military officer urges Iran diplomacy
GIs in Iraq mark Fourth of July
'Yankee Doodle' turns 250 maybe
Rosa Parks' belongings set to go under hammer
U.S. air raids hit vehicles in Afghanistan
Bomb blast injures 50 at concert in Belarus
Passport snooping not uncommon
What's a penis worth? $795,000, court rules

US NEWS

Americans mark an old-fashioned Fourth
4 shot dead outside house party
Calif. faces blazes on two fronts
Rosa Parks' belongings set to go under hammer
'Yankee Doodle' turns 250 maybe
Hostage search: U.S. spent $250 million
3 rescued U.S. hostages back home
Passport snooping not uncommon
Obama opens door to altering his Iraq policy
Utah is going to a 4-day workweek
Marines with kids often drop out
Father accused of caging kids
Six Flags death leads to sign change
Are you smart? Take our weekly news quiz

WORLD NEWS

French hero's welcome for Betancourt
GIs in Iraq mark Fourth of July
Scientist: Pakistan knew of N. Korea nuke deal
12 feared dead as canoes run over dam
Ailing U.K. spy chief tested for poison
Bomb blast injures 50 at concert in Belarus
U.S. air raids hit vehicles in Afghanistan
British Muslims feel like 'the Jews of Europe'
Tibet vows to continue 'difficult' China talks
Fate of Gitmo debated
Gunmen kill 8 Afghan police
What's a penis worth? $795,000, court rules

BUSINESS

Nontraditional tenants filling up vacant malls
Jobs that earn a surprising six-figures
U.S. economy lost 62,000 jobs in June
GM bankruptcy described as unlikely
Bourbon producers see amber-colored future
Job losses add to consumer worries
Stocks end abbreviated trading session mixed
YouTube must give Viacom video user logs
SportsBiz: Bull riding goes mainstream
Utah is going to a 4-day workweek
Newsweek: Higher gas prices could kill the suburbs
GM may bring new mini car to U.S.
ConsumerMan: Get a cheap cell headset
Continental charged in Concorde crash
Struggling Starbucks woes could get worse
European Central Bank raises rates
Service sector contracts as orders fall

ENTERTAINMENT

Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dies
French locals indifferent to Brangelina
Brinkley testifies affair 'shattered' her world
Paparazzi feel the heat in California
Christie Brinkley divorce trial goes nuclear
Naomi Watts reportedly expecting second baby
Wax museum in Berlin features Hitler
Accountant sues Rachael Ray for $1 million
Scoop: No Broadway shows for Tom Cruise
Inside Lindsay Lohan s 22nd birthday bash
Tidbits: Michael Lohan's private LiLo call goes public
Test Pattern: Is my iPod saying I'm old?
Review: Jason Bateman s the real hero of Hancock
Newsweek: 7 summer TV shows not to miss
Slide show: The week in celebrity sightings
TV listings

SPORTS

Federer, Nadal cruise to Wimbledon final
Chestnut wins hot dog contest after eat-off
Sister showdown: Venus vs. Serena for final
Austin: Serena has narrow edge in Sister Act III
Let go by Rangers, Jagr signs with Russian club
Martin joins Hendrick, replacing Mears in '09
Arenas reportedly staying with Wizards
Paul, Hornets agree to contract extension
Just how close are Madonna and A-Rod?
NBCOlympics.com: Willard sets U.S. steeplechase record
NBCOlympics.com: Wariner upset in men's 400
Abrahamson on NBCOlympics.com: Hansen loss a stunner
NBCOlympics.com: Hansen out of 200 breast
NFLPA reportedly ready to oust director Upshaw
Howell, Love among first PGA players drug tested
Report: Clemens' DNA will be on 'roid syringes
Special feature: NBA top free agents
Slide show: Slide show: The Week in Sports Pictures
Rotoworld: Get latest fantasy baseball updates
Odds: Find latest lines, more on each game
Matchups: Breaking down each contest
Sound off in our sports discussion boards
Injury report: Who will, won't be playing

HEALTH

Some psych patients wait days in ERs
Strike the right balance
Road-trip rescue
WP: Vitamin D studies ignite debate
Is this even legal ? Pro bono sex advice
Haywire brain chemical linked to SIDS
'Pregnant man' gives birth to daughter
On-the-wagon wines
New West Nile strain may worsen epidemic
Beef recall expands to 5.3 million pounds
German woman s assisted suicide fuels debate
Baby's temperament can predict later behavior
Fountain of youth? Red wine gives up secrets
Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects
Brain food: If it helps gerbils, it could help you
Potential herpes cure flushes out virus
Newsweek: 7 facts about your body rhythm
Mosquito threat multiplies after Midwest floods
Teen with upside-down feet takes first steps
Don't take a vacation from your diet
New global standards set for infant formula
Twin births like Angelina's are complicated
4,000 in Denmark may have salmonella
The Body Odd: Why her skin was crawling with bugs
School's pregnancy spike stirs day care debate
Predicting IVF pregnancies may get easier
Broccoli nudges genes to fight cancer

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Cosmic Log: Stars and stripes in space
8 dangerous volcanoes around the world
The scientific flash behind the fireworks
Turns out, cavemen loved to sing
Mystery cave opened at Mexican pyramid
Volcanoes on Mercury solve 30-year mystery
Get your grill on with some tech
A century ago, Americans marveled at flight
Privacy advocates decry YouTube court order
Don't post your baby on eBay it's not funny
Mars lander s next whiff could be its last
Google in deal with Brazil to fight child porn
Fiber Internet growth worldwide exceeds cable
Cablevision ups HD channel offerings
Flash video Web search to get easier
Just how many 'brains' does one PC need?
Secrets of the super-connected
Can t telecommute? Watch this!
Movie trailers find big audiences online

TRAVEL

Top 10 places to celebrate the Fourth of July
Bring a bib to America's best barbecue joints
15-pound gut bombs and other sparkling meals
Hassles, costs don t stop travelers over Fourth
Commuters pull over, flock to buses, carpools
Airport 'go-arounds' probed as safety hazard
Most airlines nix cash for onboard purchases
Indulge your inner monarch and rent a castle
Most romantic beaches of the Mediterranean
Larceny in the air: Keep your valuables safe
Photo of the Week: Where was this image snapped?
Test your travel IQ with the weekly Excursion Exam

WEATHER

Calif. faces blazes on two fronts
Tropical storm forms in Atlantic
Storms cut power to hundreds of thousands
Bridges, locks reopen as floods recede
117 in L.A.? Experts see hot future