VATICAN CITY – The Vatican and Russia announced they would upgrade diplomatic relations to the highest level.Read More

ANNAPOLIS – Catholic school leaders are decrying Gov. Martin J. O’Malley’s decision to cut $400,000 from a state program providing nonreligious textbooks and technology to nonpublic school students.Read More

DETROIT – To the cheers of hundreds of kids involved in Little League baseball, Detroit Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez announced Jan. 13 a new scholarship to help young people from southwest Detroit go to college.Read More

WASHINGTON – Imagine a bill that has bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. Given the recent wrangling on many bills that have gotten more publicity, one might think such a thing doesn’t happen anymore.Read More

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The bishop of Providence said he was “disappointed and really surprised” Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., made public a letter he wrote to the congressman almost three years ago about his practice of the Catholic faith and reception of Communion.Read More

Panther gymnasium, on the campus of St. Frances Academy, was packed for another Sunday afternoon basketball showdown between two top-ranked area teams.Read More

Jesse Lawrence was a high school freshman when his sled went over a retaining wall that was several feet high. The impact crushed his foot, breaking numerous bones, said his mother, Sharon, and some bones were “dusted,” meaning they just weren’t there any more.Read More

It was a difficult decision for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa to suspend its wild rice harvest last fall.Read More