AP - Echoing military commanders, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday the U.S. could withdraw a significant number of troops from Iraq this year if Iraqi forces are able to assume greater control of the country's security.

AP - The Carolina Hurricanes were without three veterans Saturday night against the Washington Capitals, with center Doug Weight and defensemen Bret Hedican and Niclas Wallin out with lower-body injuries.

AP - Coach Mike Dunleavy knows the Los Angeles Clippers have an outside shot of breaking the franchise record for victories. He has loftier goals on his agenda, however.

AP - Elton Brand had 32 points and nine rebounds, Sam Cassell scored 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Washington Wizards 116-101 on Saturday for their 40th victory of the season.

Reuters - New Orleans city election campaigns are being waged where the voters are -- in cities like Baton Rouge, Houston, Dallas and Austin, where many residents ended up after being scattered by Hurricane Katrina.

AFP - President Hamid Karzai has personally intervened in the case of an Afghan man facing execution for converting to Christianity, a top official has said, amid fierce criticism in the West.

AP - Connecticut was as careless as a top seed can be — and got away with it.

Reuters - The United States will talk to Iran about Washington's accusations of Iranian destabilization of Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday in the first public acceptance of an Iranian offer to meet.

AP - A transplant-free approach to curing Type 1 diabetes using medication has been reaffirmed in tests on mice, according to a Washington University study.

AP - Feeling right at home, George Mason used a shutdown defense to take nearly all the suspense out of its mid-major matchup with Wichita State.

Reuters - Jessica Simpson has shifted from Columbia, for which she's recorded since 1999, to Epic Records.

AP - President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney launched a one-two political punch against Democrats on Friday, saying they are ill-equipped to handle the economic recovery or the war on terror.

AP - Displaced New Orleans residents deserve the same voting privileges as the people of war-torn Iraq, several black leaders argued Friday in pushing for satellite voting from locations outside Louisiana.

AP - Soldiers returning from Iraq and other conflicts with missing limbs and shattered bodies will have a place of honor among the memorials of the nation's capital.

Reuters - One thing can be said about the Environmental Film Festival: it's not Cannes or Sundance. It may not even be Missoula. But it is part of a U.S. trend to feature movies about nature and the assaults on it.

AP - The Supreme Court said Friday that it would hear arguments a second time before ruling on the constitutionality of a Kansas death penalty law, apparently so new Justice Samuel Alito can break a tie.

AP - Laughin' all the way, George Mason coach Jim Larranaga is having a grand ol' time at the NCAA tournament. He tells his players to relish the moment, then makes sure they do by making them guffaw at his awkward dance moves or by having them play a version of stickball.

With the Senate poised to take up immigration reform next week, thousands of demonstrators marched in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to oppose tough anti-immigration legislation sponsored by their congressman. In Washington, President Bush called for a "civil debate" on the hot-button issue, with "rhetoric in accord with our traditions."

Reuters - Iraqi leaders were holding their first formal talks in several days on Friday as Washington kept up pressure on them to form a national unity government that can avert civil war.

AP - Hundreds of Indians started long marches back to their highland villages, halting 11 days of roadblocks and violent demonstrations against Ecuador's free-trade talks with Washington.