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WASHINGTON – The economy shifted to a higher gear in the spring, growing at its fastest pace in nearly a year as foreign buyers snapped up U.S. exports and tax rebates spurred shoppers at home. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that gross domestic product, or GDP, increased at a 3.3 …

This is a rush transcript from “Hannity & Colmes,” August 11, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: We’re just 85 days away from election day and a controversial voice from Obama’s past, preacher problems is back. Father Pfleger making …

OKLAHOMA CITY – Health officials say two Texas women who received the kidneys of a man contracted tuberculosis as a result, and one of them died. The 46-year-old organ donor hadn’t been diagnosed with the disease and tested negative for tuberculosis six months before he died in June. A report …

WASHINGTON – Millions of dollars of lucrative Iraq reconstruction contracts were never finished because of excessive delays, poor performance or other factors, including failed projects that are being falsely described by the U.S. government as complete, federal investigators say. The audit released Sunday by Stuart Bowen Jr., the special inspector …

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi court on Tuesday began hearing the case against Tariq Aziz, one of Saddam Hussein’s best-known lieutenants, over charges of allegedly ordering the execution of dozens of merchants for profiteering. Aziz is one of eight defendants accused of executing the 42 merchants in 1992. If convicted, they …

DAYTON, Ohio – A woman has pleaded guilty to murder and arson charges for killing her two young children by setting fire to the family’s house in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. Heather Silverman faces a sentence ranging from 30 years to life in prison. She entered her plea Wednesday …

A North Carolina-based Marine wanted in the brutal murder of a pregnant colleague has been captured in Mexico. The FBI office in Charlotte said Thursday night that special agents and Mexican authorities arrested Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, and he is expected to be extradited to the United States on a …

PORT ORANGE, Fla. – Authorities say a group of children playing ball on a beach discovered an adult human skeleton in the back yard of home near Port Orange, Florida. The sheriff’s office in Volusia County says yesterday’s find is being investigated as a suspicious death. The person had been …

BOULDER, Colo. – The family of JonBenet Ramsey remains hopeful that the 6-year-old beauty queen’s murderer will be apprehended, although the girl’s father reportedly said, “I don’t know anyone that evil.” “I’ve always said I don’t know anyone that evil,” John Ramsey told 9News/KUSA in Colorado. “I don’t. There have …

MEXICO CITY – Hurricane Elida weakened to a Category 1 storm off Mexico on Thursday, while Tropical Storm Fausto continued to gain strength. Both storms were well off Mexico’s Pacific coast and not expected to threaten land. Tropical Storm Fausto had maximum sustained winds near 70 mph and was expected …