Stafford-led Lions rally to beat Panthers 49-35

DETROIT (AP) — Matthew Stafford shook off a couple of early interceptions, then went about leading the Detroit Lions to yet another memorable comeback.

The Lions quarterback matched a career-best with five touchdown passes, the final one a 7-yarder to Brandon Pettigrew with 2:32 left, and the Lions rallied for a 49-35 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

"We were killing ourselves with turnovers," he said. "We knew that we'd be able to score in the second half if we could just keep our hands on the ball."

The Lions (7-3) scored five second-half touchdowns and became the first NFL team to win three games in a season after trailing by at least 17 points.

"We can …

Union activists occupy finance ministry in Athens

Members of a labor union occupied Greece's finance ministry building in central Athens early Thursday, hanging a massive banner from the top to protest harsh new austerity measures designed to pull the country out of its financial crisis.

Dozens of union activists holding flags and chanting slogans blocked the entrance to the building, which stands on the capital's central Syntagma Square, preventing employees from entering. They unfurled banners reading: "Rise up - everyone in the streets against the anti-popular measures."

The union, the communist party-linked PAME, planned a demonstration in Athens later in the day. Separately, former Olympic …

Firms may make cloth off the cob Corn starch fiber studied

A Decatur company has a deal with Du Pont Co. to study thepossibility of making clothes from corn starch.

Tate & Lyle Citric Acid, a sister company to locally based foodprocessor A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co., hopes to develop a cornstarch-based fiber to be woven into a new synthetic material calledSorona.

"This will be a product produced from a renewable resource, whichis always better than petroleum-based," said Mary Matiya, Tate & Lylespokeswoman. "This is really an excellent fit with our strategy andcore business."

The deal could mean more jobs and business for Tate & Lyle, butnot in the first few years. Scientists for Tate & Lyle and Du Pontwill do their …

Radio journalist killed in Honduras

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Authorities in Honduras say gunmen shot to death a radio reporter who supported ousted former president Manuel Zelaya, the second such killing in as many months.

Prosecutors' spokesman Elvis Guzman said Friday that Radio Uno journalist Medardo Flores was killed in his home in northern Honduras Thursday.

Flores also served as the regional …

Afghan gov't: No breakthroughs in Taliban talks

The Afghan government has held "good discussions" with Taliban militants as it seeks a way to end an increasingly the bloody insurgency against Afghan, U.S. and NATO forces, the president's spokesman said Tuesday.

The spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said there have been "some developments" in the talks, giving the government hope they could lead toward peace. However, he cautioned there would not be a quick agreement.

"We have had some talks," Humayun Hamidzada told a news conference. "We shouldn't expect a quick outcome, but there has been some developments. There are some contacts at different levels."

…

Aces card first victory despite town's second-half salvo

Potts Minis Division Two U12s

South Moorlands Aces 4 Cheadle Town Blacks 3

SOUTH Moorlands Aces claimed their first league win of the seasonafter overcoming local rivals Cheadle Town Blacks in a seven-goalthriller on Sunday.

Aces threatened immediately from the kick-off. Joe Mandermistimed his shot from Jordan Taylor's cross before Brandon Reynoldsopened the scoring with Aces' next opportunity.

Moorlands continued to press forward with Taylor and Ben Hackneyboth trying their luck. And it was Taylor who doubled Aces'advantage after …

Ruins Await Residents' Return in Kansas

GREENSBURG, Kan. - Rescue crews have twice searched the debris-strewn yards and splintered homes that once held Greensburg's 1,500 residents. They began a third sweep Monday to secure the area before families who lost almost everything were to be allowed back in.

Not much remained in Greenburg to go back to.

The F5 tornado, the most powerful to hit the U.S. in eight years, demolished every business on the main street. Churches lost their steeples, trees were stripped of their branches, and neighborhoods were left unrecognizable. Officials estimate as much as 95 percent of the town was destroyed. At least 10 people died in the storms.

"We've been over the town …