Top Mexican drug lord nabbed, U.S. says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One of the most wanted drug lords in the world was captured Wednesday aboard a 43-foot boat in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico, federal law enforcement officials said.

Chaos, courage in new 9/11 tapes

NEW YORK (AP) -- A fire official described near chaos inside the World Trade Center, with communication becoming increasingly difficult as firefighters tried to reach people trapped by a devastating blaze raging high overhead, recordings released Wednesday of emergency phone calls from the September 11 attacks show.

Captors demanded tears on cue from Jill Carroll

(The Christian Science Monitor) -- After dinner they told me to put on a track suit they'd given me two days earlier, and remove my head scarf. I wanted to wear my hijab if they were going to film me; they said no, they wanted to make my hair messy, make me look bad.

Teen wins court battle to stop chemo

ACCOMAC, Virginia (AP) -- A 16-year-old cancer patient's legal fight ended in victory Wednesday when his family's attorneys and social services officials reached an agreement that would allow him to forgo chemotherapy.

Flight diverted to Boston after passenger disturbance

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Fighter jets escorted a London-to-Washington, D.C., flight to Boston's Logan airport Wednesday after the pilot declared an emergency because an apparently claustrophobic passenger caused a disturbance, a federal official said.

College ACT test scores highest since '91

(AP) -- The high school class of 2006 posted the biggest score increase on the ACT college entrance exam in 20 years, and recorded the highest scores of any class since 1991.

Senator denies remark was racist

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. George Allen denies a remark he made to describe an opponent's campaign worker was racially charged, saying in a statement that the media misunderstood his comments.

Ex-NBA player arrested near White House

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Secret Service officer arrested a former NBA player after gunshots were reported just blocks from the White House early Wednesday morning.

Jimmy Carter's son wins Senate nod

RENO, Nevada (AP) -- Nevada voters picked a former first son to take on an incumbent Republican U.S. senator, set up an intriguing governor's race and delivered a razor-thin victory to a GOP candidate hoping to fill the state's only open U.S. House seat.

Searchers recover body of would-be rescuer

WILMINGTON, Illinois (AP) -- The body of a 23-year-old Marine was recovered from the Kankakee River Tuesday morning, two days after he disappeared while trying to save his 4-year-old nephew, authorities said.

Rain to soak Carolinas to Dakotas

(AP) -- Rain was expected across much of the nation Wednesday, with the heaviest precipitation predicted in the southern High Plains.

Congressman delivers his own son at home

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Rep. Bobby Jindal barely had time to call 911 when his wife woke with labor pains Tuesday. Minutes later, he helped deliver his own son.

Katrina damage ruling

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi (CNN) -- A federal judge Tuesday rejected a couple's insurance claim for Hurricane Katrina-related flood damage in a case sure to resonate with homeowners ravaged last year by the storm.

With shovels, AOL to hunt for spammer's gold

WASHINGTON (AP) -- AOL is preparing to dig for buried gold and platinum on property in Massachusetts owned by the parents of a man it sued for sending millions of unwanted spam e-mails to its customers.

Ford admitted to hospital for testing

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Former President Ford was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on Tuesday for "testing and evaluation," his office said in a statement.

Nebraska man arrested 226 times

LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) -- Kevin Holder's rap sheet is 43 pages long, dating back to 1980, and he just got another entry -- his 226th arrest.

Judge: Katrina storm surge not covered

GULFPORT, Mississippi (AP) -- A federal judge ruled Tuesday that an insurance company's policies do not cover damage from flood waters or storm surge in a decision that could affect hundreds of upcoming cases related to property damage from Hurricane Katrina.

Heroin bust nabs 130 alleged traffickers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal agents arrested more than 130 alleged drug traffickers from coast to coast Tuesday, who U.S. officials said smuggled heroin from Mexico and offered phone-up home delivery like a takeout pizza shop.

Arkansas heat stalls Clinton birthday bash

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- A concert by the Rev. Al Green to mark the 10th anniversary of the River Market district and the 60th birthday of Bill Clinton, whose presidential library is just down the street, has been postponed because of hot weather.

Investigators say pair employed 240 prostitutes

RIVERSIDE, California (AP) -- Two Israeli nationals were arrested on suspicion of running a massive prostitution ring that employed more than 240 women across several Western states and generated millions of dollars, authorities said.