CAMDEN, N.J. – The families of three missing boys made a tearful plea for their safe return Friday, and authorities posted a $9,000 reward for information. “All you guys, we love you. We want you back. We’re not mad at you. Please come back. Please bring my baby back,” said …

Researchers have made progress in the effort to create a vaccine against Parkinson’s disease. The strides were seen in tests on mice. It’s not known if years of additional research will eventually help prevent or cure the disease in people. Still, “this shows the first demonstration of a vaccine for …

WASHINGTON – Some government-funded researchers who tested AIDS (search) drugs on foster children over the past two decades violated federal rules designed to protect vulnerable youths, U.S. investigators have concluded. Researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center (search) and New York Presbyterian Hospital failed to obtain and evaluate whether they …

WASHINGTON – President Bush (search) said Friday that he’s disturbed by reports that say Syria is failing to live up to terms of a U.N. resolution that it withdraw all its forces and intelligence officers from Lebanon. “I’ve been disturbed by reports I read in today’s newspaper that said that …

Tangos, waltzes, sambas, and foxtrots are gliding across America’s TV sets on the hit ballroom dance show, Dancing with the Stars. Do you tap along with the beat as you watch? Or shimmy during the commercial breaks? This may be one time when health experts won’t fret if you follow …

FRESNO, Calif. – A jury decided Wednesday that Marcus Wesson (search), the domineering patriarch of a large clan he bred through incest, should get the death penalty for the murders of nine of his children. Wesson, 58, was convicted earlier this month, more than a year after the bodies were …

WASHINGTON – Deep misgivings about China’s rising economic and political clout have helped fuel political resistance to a major Chinese oil company’s bid to buy U.S. producer Unocal, experts said on Friday. State-owned CNOOC Ltd.’s $18.5 billion bid for Unocal Corp. (UCL) on Wednesday, topping Chevron Corp.’s (CVX) roughly $16.4 …

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – In any other year, Miss Delaware Becky Bledsoe (search) would be making her travel plans. The folks at Fischer Florists would know when they have to deliver all the corsages and bouquets. Boardwalk Hall would have a two-week period blocked out for pageant rehearsals, preliminary competitions …

SHANGHA – Haier Group (search), the top Chinese appliance maker, and private equity giants Bain Capital and Blackstone Group have bid $1.28 billion for Maytag Corp. (MYG), topping Ripplewood Holdings LLC’s offer for the U.S. washer maker. Haier’s global ambitions would be boosted by adding Maytag, which also makes Hoover …

PHILADELPHIA – Five young children were killed in a fast-moving fire that swept through a rowhouse on Sunday morning, and fire officials said security bars in the home’s windows slowed the attempted rescue. Two adults escaped but were seriously injured in the blaze. The man and woman jumped from a …