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Load up on fiber and vegetables: They lower cholesterol almost as much as cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, Canadian researchers report. Here’s your shopping list: Cholesterol-lowering margarines containing plant fats such as “Benecol” or “Take Control”, soy proteins and soluble fibers like oats, barley, psyllium (search), plus all kinds of vegetables, including …

WASHINGTON – Democrats argued Tuesday that President Bush’s proposal to boost government payments to families of U.S. troops killed in Iraq (search), Afghanistan and future war zones should extend to all military personnel who die on active duty. Sen. Carl Levin (search) of Michigan, ranking Democrat on the Armed Services …

WASHINGTON – President Bush engaged in another round of telephone diplomacy Wednesday, calling allies to drum up support for the new government being created in Iraq following last weekend’s elections. Bush called Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and El Salvador President Tony Saca, White House press …

WASHINGTON – Although he considers it “morally wrong” to put off dealing with Social Security, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Sunday he agrees with fellow Republicans that changes in the venerable domestic program can’t be forced upon an unwilling American public. “What we need to do is really demonstrate …

NEW YORK – As an actress, Nicole duFresne (search) had roles in dozens of way-off-Broadway productions. But it was an unfortunate real-life line witnesses say duFresne uttered before her slaying — “What are you going to do, shoot us?” — that has brought her to the public’s attention. Authorities have …

ROME – Worried about the lure of the devil, a Vatican-linked university on Thursday debuted its latest course offering: a class on Satanism, black magic and exorcism. The class for clergy and seminarians at Rome’s Pontifical Academy “Regina Apostolorum (search)” has arisen from alarm about Satanic practices among young people, …

WASHINGTON – When a roadside bomb in Iraq (search) exploded on Feb. 9, Army Sgt. Jessica M. Housby became the 21st female soldier killed in action since the war began nearly two years ago. That may seem a small number, given that hostile deaths among U.S. troops recently surpassed 1,000 …

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A woman concocted a heartbreaking story of how her soldier husband died a hero in Iraq (search) — and then admitted the story was all a hoax. “I think I need some serious counseling,” 24-year-old Sarah Kenney told The Daily Sentinel newspaper on Wednesday editions. “This …

WASHINGTON – More than five days after unveiling his budget, President Bush (search) spelled out in detail for lawmakers his requests to eliminate or sharply reduce spending for 154 programs the administration sees as duplications, failures or inefficiencies. With a document detailing the administration’s rationale for each proposed cut, the …

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration indicated Thursday that some progress had been made in narrowing differences that had stalled talks aimed at creating a Western Hemisphere free trade zone (search). The hopeful assessment came after two days of discussions between the co-chairs of the negotiations, Acting U.S. Trade Representative Peter …