In the beginning was A.P.

The story of Virginia's musical Carter family is filled with thepathos, humor and endurance of the country music they helped turnloose on the rest of the nation. Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? TheCarter Family & Their Legacy in American Music, by Mark Zwonitzer andCharles Hirshberg (Simon & Schuster, $15) tells their story.

The Carters, whose hundreds of recorded songs included suchclassics as "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" and "Keep on the SunnySide," weren't simply an act, the authors tell us in theintroduction. "They were the real deal." The following 400 pages ofdetail about lives that spanned and created enormous change offerstrong support for that …

BRINGING IN THE CLEANER; Boise's new mayor takes control

Carolyn Terteling-Payne was sworn into office, as mayor of the city of Boise, on February 18, 2003 after a unanimous vote by the city council. Terteling-Payne was nominated by councilwoman Paula Forney to take the reigns of city hall until fall when voters pick a new leader. Terteling-Payne has said she will not run in the fall election.

"My council post is coming up in November and I've been toying with the idea that 10 years in long enough," said Terteling-Payne. "The fact that I've said I won't run in the fall helps people. The council is disallowing an incumbent."

Terteling-Payne has her sights on restoring public faith in city hall; a goal championed by her former …

Thai importer will return powered milk to China

A Thai dairy company announced Thursday that it will return 122 tons of milk powder imported from China because of fears over contamination, a move that highlighted the continued spread of the tainted dairy crisis.

The plan by Thailand's Dutch Mill Group was announced even though the country's food inspection authorities said they have not yet found dangerous amounts of the industrial chemical melamine in any foods tested.

Taiwan and Laos meanwhile announced measures to stop the sale of some milk products, after tests in the two countries found melamine in several brands of milk powder originating from China.

Milk containing melamine has been …

Tributes pour in for tragic Chris

A man who had been training for the Bath Half Marathon aftersurviving a life-threatening heart condition has died just daysbefore the race.

Bath City stalwart Chris Stillman, from Peasedown St John, waspreparing to run 13.1 miles in support of the race charity Golden-Oldies.

But he died, aged 59, after being admitted to hospital with aurine infection.

Retired legal executive Mr Stillman had major heart surgery lastyear, and was in hospital for six weeks.

To celebrate his recovery, he had been planning to run the halfmarathon for the first time on Sunday, saying he felt the fittest hehad been for more than 30 years.

He had set himself …

2 Italian Oil Workers Freed in Nigeria

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - Militants on Thursday released two Italian oil worker hostages who were seized more than three months ago in Nigeria's restive southern region, militants and officials said.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta militants said the two captives seized Dec. 7 were handed over to an Italian journalist visiting the region where Nigeria's crude is pumped.

The militants said the long captivity of the two Italians was meant to show Italy the injustice of their region, which remains impoverished despite its great natural resources. In a statement, they said they had achieved that goal, but vowed more kidnappings.

The Italians "will …

Cole's winner gives Liverpool 2-1 win over Bolton

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Joe Cole scored an injury-time winner Saturday to give Liverpool a much-needed 2-1 win over Bolton to provide some relief for under-pressure manager Roy Hodgson.

Kevin Davies had given Bolton the lead in the 43rd minute before Fernando Torres equalized four minutes after the break with his first goal since Nov. 10.

Cole then secured the win with an easy tap-in after Steven Gerrard's deep cross was touched back by Maxi Rodriguez, although replays suggested he was offside.

Hodgson has come under increased criticism after a home loss to relegation-threatened Wolverhampton in the last round, with British media reporting that the club's new owners …

Strike paralyzes Belgian trains, hit traffic

BRUSSELS (AP) — A 24-hour pre-Christmas public sector strike to protest pension reform has hit rail and bus traffic across Belgium, but major airports were operating close to normal.

Thursday's rush-hour train traffic was dense but not as chaotic as expected as many people decided to take a day off or work from home.

Intermittent road blocks by strikers worsened delays around the capital. The strike major …