SAN FRANCISCO, July 9 (UPI) -- All San Francisco city departments must audit unused land in the city to see if it can be turned into community gardens or farms, the mayor said.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 9 (UPI) -- Swimming superstar Michael Phelps, nearing his return to the global stage, set a world record Thursday in 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Championships.
CALEDONIA, Minn., July 9 (UPI) -- A lawyer for a Minnesota couple charged with poisoning a neighbor's dog argues they have as much right as farmers to protect their property.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 9 (UPI) -- Fires were plaguing the south central area of Alaska, including one that consumed more than 125,000 acres, the state Division of Forestry said Thursday.
JUNEAU, Alaska, July 9 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's administration says ethics complaints, lawsuits and records requests have cost the state $1.9 million.
MINNEAPOLIS, July 9 (UPI) -- A Minnesota judge blocked the proposed suspensions of defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said.
BOSTON, July 9 (UPI) -- Changing the way women take abortion pill RU-486 cut the number of serious infections tied to the drug by more than half, a U.S. study published Thursday said.
ALBUQUERQUE, July 9 (UPI) -- Investigators say the 11 women whose bodies were found in Albuquerque appear to have been killed and dumped by the same person.
DENVER, July 9 (UPI) -- Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic retired Thursday after a 20-year NHL career during which he played on two Stanley Cup championship teams.
ST. LOUIS, July 9 (UPI) -- People want food to be local and they want to know where it comes from and how it is made, a Washington state research firm said.
L'AQUILA, Italy, July 9 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday Iran has until the Group of 20 Pittsburgh summit in September to respond to U.S. diplomatic overtures.
NEW YORK, July 9 (UPI) -- More than 15,400 claimants met the deadline to apply for compensation for losses in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, a trustee in New York said Thursday.
WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said Thursday he would invoke privilege if asked about advice he gave to Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., on handling an extramarital affair.
LAS VEGAS, July 9 (UPI) -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said Thursday his parents gave $96,000 to his mistress and her family out of concern for the well-being of family friends.
HOUSTON, July 9 (UPI) -- Those going on a summer vacation would be wise to assemble a medical travel kit to take along, a U.S. physician advises.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., July 9 (UPI) -- A new U.S. book claims Ernest Hemingway was a not-very-effective spy for the KGB during the 1940s.
ALBANY, N.Y., July 9 (UPI) -- A month of legislative gridlock ended Thursday in Albany, N.Y., when a state senator rejoined the Democrats in return for being made majority leader.
NEW YORK, July 9 (UPI) -- The Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge and Philadelphia Phillies' Shane Victorino were named Thursday as the fans' choice for the final All-Star Game roster berths.
ORLANDO, Fla., July 9 (UPI) -- Most unmarried U.S. couples who live together aren't trying to test their relationship -- they just want to spend more time together, a multiyear study found.
CHICAGO, July 9 (UPI) -- Architect David Woodhouse won the competition to design a memorial to Chicago planner Daniel Burnham, officials from AIA Chicago Foundation announced Thursday.