Avalanche make sweeping changes, hire Greg Sherman as GM and fire coach Tony Granato

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche promoted Greg Sherman to general manager and fired coach Tony Granato and five others in a sweeping shakeup Wednesday.

Air France plane went down in region known as ‘birthplace of our strongest storms on Earth’

Air France Flight 447 vanished in a zone of ferocious weather over the Atlantic Ocean known as the birthplace of some of the world’s strongest storms — just as the plane was encountering a 400-mile-long maze of lightning, hail, driving rain and fierce 100-mph updrafts.

Aetna cuts full-year profit outlook, citing higher commercial costs, lower Medicare revenue

HARTFORD, Conn. — Managed-care company Aetna Inc. on Tuesday cut its full-year profit expectations below analysts’ forecasts due mainly to rising commercial medical costs and lower projected Medicare revenue.

Biden teases Obama over teleprompter dependence

COLORADO - Vice President Joe Biden teased his boss President Barack Obama on Wednesday over his teleprompter dependence.

Biden didn’t leak information about secret bunker

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden’s spokesperson has clarified that he was merely describing a guest room in the Naval Observatory to the dinner guests, and not the location of the secret bunker.

Israel to build new settlement in West Bank

TEL AVIV - Israel is beginning construction of the first completely new Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank in 26 years, Israel Army Radio reported Monday.

Specter says ‘prospects are pretty good’ for bill making it easier for workers to form unions

WASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter said Thursday the “prospects are pretty good” for a compromise on legislation making it easier for workers to form unions.

Joe Crede’s grand slam in 13th inning gives Twins 14-10 victory over Tigers

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Crede’s two-out grand slam in the 13th inning off a tired Brandon Lyon gave the Minnesota Twins a 14-10 victory over Detroit — hours after Dontrelle Willis made his first start of the season for the Tigers.

Joe Crede’s grand slam in 13th inning gives Twins 14-10 victory over Tigers

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Crede’s two-out grand slam in the 13th inning off a tired Brandon Lyon gave the Minnesota Twins a 14-10 victory over Detroit — hours after Dontrelle Willis made his first start of the season for the Tigers.

SS Derek Jeter, DH Hideki Matsui out of Yankees’ lineup at Toronto

TORONTO — Shortstop Derek Jeter and designated hitter Hideki Matsui were held out of the New York Yankees’ lineup Wednesday night because of nagging injuries.

Next? LeBron, Cavaliers again play waiting game after second straight sweep

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Team Sweep did some housekeeping on Wednesday.

Hundreds fill Florida church to mourn former Pistons, Dream Team coach Chuck Daly

TEQUESTA, Fla. — Chuck Daly’s team gathered around him one last time. Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were side by side on one end, Joe Dumars on the right, Isiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson standing together a few feet back.

Wall Street falls in early trading amid weaker-than-expected retail sales report

NEW YORK — Wall Street fell sharply in early trading Wednesday after the government reported weaker-than-expected retail sales in April.

Yankees SS Derek Jeter scratched from lineup with sore oblique, is day to day

TORONTO — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was scratched from Tuesday night’s lineup against Toronto with a sore right oblique and was listed as day to day.

STIMULUS WATCH: Places hit hardest by job losses are getting the least from federal road money

WASHINGTON — The billions in transportation stimulus dollars that President Barack Obama promoted as a way to create jobs shortchange counties that need the work the most, an Associated Press analysis has found.

Mourners at Mass. church remember former Red Sox great, 7-time All Star Dom DiMaggio

WELLESLEY, Mass. — Boston Red Sox fans, family and friends paid their final respects to former team great Dom DiMaggio.

Firefighters say southern California wildfire may have sparked during vegetation clearance

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The wildfire that has scorched 13 square miles and destroyed dozens of homes in the hills above this scenic coastal city was apparently sparked by a power tool being used to clear brush, investigators said Sunday.

Obama displays biting and self-mocking humor at White House correspondents’ dinner

WASHINGTON — It was the hottest ticket in town, a black-tie dinner gathering of Washington’s political and media elite but Dick Cheney couldn’t make it.

President Obama entertains press corps with biting and self-mocking humor

WASHINGTON — It was the hottest ticket in town, a black-tie dinner gathering of Washington’s political and media elite but Dick Cheney couldn’t make it.

Hail the mighty home run: Ball flies, woes seem to go away

BALTIMORE — Memo to Jake Peavy, or whoever starts July 3 for the San Diego Padres: Don’t throw a first-pitch fastball to Manny Ramirez.

Braves beat Phillies 6-2 behind strong pitching from Vazquez, homers by Escobar and McCann

PHILADELPHIA — Javier Vazquez pitched neatly into the eighth inning, Yunel Escobar and Brian McCann hit two-run homers and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Saturday.

Manny’s gone, A-Rod is back, and the playing field remains uneven in baseball

The new rules for Manny Ramirez read like something out of the Wild West, which is somehow appropriate since baseball doesn’t get played much farther west than Dodger Stadium. Instead of having to be out of town by sundown, Ramirez must be out of uniform by the time paying customers begin making their way into the seats once known as Mannywood.

Builder of Cowboys’ collapsed training facility had 3 other buildings fall in heavy weather

DALLAS — Court records show the company that built the Dallas Cowboys’ collapsed training facility also manufactured at least three other buildings that have fallen in heavy weather since 2002.

Taking a walk: Base-stealing king Rickey Henderson to tour baseball Hall of Fame Friday

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Rickey Henderson, baseball’s all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored, won’t be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame until July.

Kobe Bryant scores 40 to lead Lakers to volatile 111-98 victory over Rockets, tying series 1-1

LOS ANGELES — Two ejections. A handful of technical fouls. One bloody cut on Derek Fisher’s shaved head. Oh yeah, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets actually played some basketball, too.

Kobe Bryant scores 40 points in Lakers’ rough 111-98 playoff win over Rockets; series tied 1-1

LOS ANGELES — Another rough-and-tumble game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets turned bloody. This time, though, the Lakers defended their home court. Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Lakers won Game 2 111-98 on Wednesday night to even the Western Conference semifinal series.

Joe the Plumber calls gays ‘queer’ but says marriage should be left up to states

NEW YORK — Samuel Wurzelbacher, the Ohio man hailed as “Joe the Plumber” by Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign last year, said he believes gays are “queer” and said he won’t allow them near his children.

California’s Santa Barbara imperiled by wildfire again; Officials: 75 homes damaged, destroyed

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — California fire officials say the wildfire in Santa Barbara has damaged or destroyed 75 homes.

California’s Santa Barbara imperiled by wildfire again; Gov. says dozens of homes destroyed

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Paradise is not lost, but it’s in flames — again. The seasonal wildfires that menace this idyllic coastal city roared to life earlier than usual but with all-too-familiar ferocity, burning mansions to their foundations and forcing more than 13,000 to flee. Dozens of homes were destroyed, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

Obama holds meeting with House Dems on climate bill, as GOP, others lay out alternative plans

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama summoned 36 House Democrats to the White House on Tuesday to urge them to agree on climate and energy legislation that is under increasing criticism from Republicans and members of his own party.