The Large Hadron Collider, the world’s new and largest particle collider, passed its first major tests by firing two beams of protons in opposite directions around a 17-mile underground ring Wednesday. Scientists hope it’s the next great step to understanding the makeup of the universe. After a few trial runs, …

WASHINGTON – U.S. hospitals and long-term care facilities annually flush millions of pounds of unused pharmaceuticals down the drain, pumping contaminants into America’s drinking water, according to an ongoing Associated Press investigation. These discarded medications are expired, spoiled, over-prescribed or unneeded. Some are simply unused because patients refuse to take …

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. – A thief made off with an unusual item from a Douglas County woman’s car: a braid of hair intended for a nationwide group that makes wigs for children with cancer. Nancee Goldwater had a 25-inch braid of her hair cut in late July to donate to Locks …

Millions of Indian viewers will watch on Tuesday when British reality TV star Jade Goody is told by her doctor that she is suffering from cervical cancer. Goody, 27, received the diagnosis while appearing on “Bigg Boss,” the Indian version of “Big Brother.” After speaking to her consultant in the …

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Authorities have released new details in the case of five men who were found slain in a Birmingham apartment. They say the men appear to have been bound with duct tape and their throats were slashed. The men were last seen alive Sunday and their bodies were …

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee prosecutors want to try a 15-year-old boy as an adult in last week’s fatal shooting of a classmate in the middle of a crowded school cafeteria. Jamar Siler is charged with first-degree murder in last Thursday’s shooting death of 15-year-old Ryan McDonald at Knoxville’s Central High …

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S.-led coalition says its troops have killed 25 militants and eight Afghan civilians held hostage by militants in southern Afghanistan. A coalition statement says its forces were ambushed from a building along a road in Uruzgan province on Sunday. It says the militants then moved into a …

WASHINGTON – Democrats signaled on Friday that they don’t see much hope in ending the Iraq war this year so long as President Bush insists U.S. troops remain committed there in large numbers. But party leaders wrote to Bush on Friday anyhow, telling him it’s not too late to change …

This is a rush transcript of “Special Report With Brit Hume” from April 25, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT JR., TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: Persons who heard the entire sermon understand the communication perfectly. …

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI met Wednesday with a group of Islamic scholars from Iran following their talks with a Catholic delegation on issues apparently related to recent tensions between Muslims and Christians. The Vatican said the pope received the Iranians after his weekly public audience, describing Benedict as …