BAQOUBA, Iraq | It's Staff Sgt. Edgar Covarrubias' second Fourth of July in Iraq. No family barbecue, no fireworks, but Covarrubias says he'll call his mom, wife and kids to share the day anyway.

RALEIGH, N.C. | 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 conservative years in Congress, died on the Fourth of July.<br>He was 86.

In June, McClellan, 44, was chosen from about 100 principals as National Turnaround Principal of the Year by School Turnaround, a New York-based leadership group that helps struggling, high-poverty schools.

DAVENPORT | A 34-year-old female pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Davenport on Wednesday night, leading to the discovery that she was pregnant, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

EUGENE, Ore. | Jeremy Wariner isn't invincible anymore - a point LaShawn Merritt proved once again Thursday night.<br>Merritt pulled his second upset of the year over the world's supposed fastest 400-meter runner, pulling away from Wariner in the final 150 meters to win the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

1 - At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, anglers jumping a couple tarpon in mornings off pier, and oversized catch-and-release snook consistent late at night. Trout bite is off. A few Spanish mackerel in mornings.

ST. PETERSBURG | A family of five is being treated at a St. Petersburg area hospital after they left their generator running in the living room and were overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning.

On the playground, children pilfer lunch money and push each other around. But in the cyber-clubhouses they're filling by the millions, kids rig elections, sell fake products and scam each other out of every virtual-worldly possession.

Bank of America's new "Image ATMs" have come to Polk County. The digital machines allow customers to deposit cash without filling out an envelope or deposit slip. You don't even have to do the math. Just slide the bills right into the machine up until 8 p.m., and the bank will credit your account the same day. You also can deposit a check, which...

Oil prices raced above $145 per barrel for the first time Thursday as traders added to their bets on the commodity ahead of the long holiday weekend.