Report: Sosa failed drug test in 2003

Sammy Sosa tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, The New York Times reported Tuesday on its Web site, the latest in a string of baseball stars implicated in the sport's steroids scandal of the past decade.

The Times said Sosa is one of 104 players who tested positive in baseball's anonymous 2003 survey, which has been the subject of a protracted court fight. The paper did not identify the drug.

It cited lawyers with knowledge of the 2003 drug-testing results and reported they spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to publicly discuss material under court seal.

Sosa is sixth on baseball's career home run list …

Sugar Makes Gotti's Hit List

After the New York Post ran an update on convicted mob boss JohnGotti, Villard Books, publisher of Sugar Rautbord's Sweet Revenge,was inundated with orders for the trashy tome.

Why? Seems Gotti's "literary" taste pulls weight with NewYorkers. The Post mentioned his current …

Survey: Texas ignoring new greenhouse gas rules

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas has refused to meet new federal greenhouse gas emission rules that go into effect in January, the latest anti-Washington move in an ongoing battle that could halt new construction at the nation's largest refineries and other industry in Texas.

The refusal to join 49 other states in agreeing to the new rules is the latest salvo from Texas in its fight with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which Gov. Rick Perry has used on the campaign trail as an example of meddling by the federal government.

"Texas has neither the authority nor the intention of interpreting, ignoring or amending its laws in order to compel the permitting of greenhouse gas …

Thomas leads Duke to win against LSU in 2nd round

Duke spent the night playing takeaway with LSU _ first the ball, then the game.

Jasmine Thomas scored 15 points to help Duke pull away late and beat LSU 60-52 on Monday night in the second round of the NCAA women's tournament.

Bridgette Mitchell scored 12 points for the Blue Devils (29-5), who went ahead to stay on Thomas' layup with 3 1/2 minutes left. The typically sure-handed Tigers (21-10) matched a season high with 22 turnovers and had one field goal in the final 4 minutes.

Allison Hightower had 19 points and LaSondra Barrett added 12 for LSU (21-10). Katherine Graham hit two free throws with 3:49 left to give the Tigers their last lead at …

Preseason Presents Problems // Players Beef Over Exhibitions, But No Changes Are in Sight

The thought of catching Greg Zomalt or Rico Mack in action isn'tenough for Tom Rydell.

"I can't get too excited about watching preseason football,"said Rydell, a Bears season-ticket holder since 1971.

Nor is he excited about having to pay for tickets to watch theZomalts, Macks and others who probably won't make the team. But hehas to do it to keep his season ticket privileges. That's just oneof the down sides of preseason football, which begins for the Bearstonight in Philadelphia.

The Bears play two preseason games at Soldier Field - Saturdayagainst Phoenix and Aug. 27 against the Super Bowl champion DallasCowboys - but while you might find Zomalt or …

Four spiritual truths of God's salvation: We need a clear, simple framework to explain our understanding of Christianity, says J Nelson Kraybill. Here he offers a Mennonite versio of the four spiritual laws

If someone asks you how to become a Christian, can you give a short, clear answer? There are various ways to explain salvation, and theologians write volumes. But in day-to-day witness, many of us need a thumbnail framework to explain the basics of our faith.

In 1965, Bill Bright of Campus Crusade drafted a summary of how to be saved. His "Four Spiritual Laws" are as follows (with his capitalizations):

1) God LOVES you and offers a PLAN for your life.

2) Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Thus he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.

3) Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience …

Hamilton denies arrogance accusation

Lewis Hamilton has refuted allegations of arrogance as the pressure grows on the championship leader heading into the penultimate race of the 2008 Formula One season this weekend.

Hamilton leads Ferrari's Felipe Massa by five points coming into the Chinese Grand Prix, yet the McLaren driver on Tuesday felt moved to answer a growing number of critics who attacked his driving in Japan, where a non-points finish extended his non-winning streak to six races.

BMW's Robert Kubica _ just 12-points behind Hamilton _ retains an outside chance of the title and was the most prominent of the critics last weekend, saying most other F1 drivers believed Hamilton was a …