As of Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at least 4,236 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Malik Boothe is going to come back from left hand surgery earlier than expected, returning for Sunday’s 2 p.m. game against South Florida at Carnesecca Arena in a game that feels like a ‘must-win’ for St. John’s.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 31 (UPI) — Jerry Smith scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half Saturday and seventh-ranked Louisville hung on to top Big East Conference foe West Virginia, 69-63.

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Hines Ward have overcome their injuries and are fit to play in the Super Bowl, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Saturday.

Dick LeBeau, the Steelers’ defensive coordinator, has had two weeks to prepare for the high-flying Arizona offense in Super Bowl XLIII. His goal is not to completely shut down the Cardinals, but to choke off enough options to make Arizona capitulate.

A Waterford couple was arraigned today on charges they embezzled more than $1.5 million from Palace Sports & Entertainment in Auburn Hills.

A 7-year-old boy was shot and killed Friday afternoon in a house on Purdue Street, Cincinnati police said. The shooter was an 11-year-old boy who was a neighbor of the victim, according to police.

Iraqi Christians caught in the middle as Kurdish-Arab tensions rise in Mosul elections

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Former Falcon defensive end Claude Humphrey was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Career sacks leader Bruce Smith, versatile defensive back Rod Woodson and four others made the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, while former commissioner Paul Tagliabue was denied entry for the third straight year.