LA's latest art project is 340 tons and rock solid

LOS ANGELES (AP) — King Sisyphus, it turns out, had little on the folks at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to push a giant rock up a hill for eternity. In modern-day LA, the city's largest museum has spent months — and $5 million to $10 million — trying to get a 340-ton boulder from a dusty quarry in Riverside onto its campus west of downtown.

When the teardrop-shaped chunk of granite finally arrives it will become the focal point of acclaimed earth artist Michael Heizer's latest creation, "Levitated Mass." Museum visitors by the thousands are expected to walk under what will be one of the largest environmental art …

Ill. budget proposal raises complex questions

Democratic legislators are on the verge of passing a state budget that would patch over a $13 billion deficit. Critics call it a farce that digs the state further into debt. Even supporters admit it doesn't fix the state's long-term problems.

Here's a look at what the budget would do to state finances, government services and taxpayers' wallets:

Q: Would the budget be balanced?

A: Not really. It's built on borrowing money and leaving bills unpaid. Advocates say it will keep the doors of government open for another year, but they don't claim it resolves the worst budget crisis in Illinois history.

Q: What kind of borrowing?

…

Charleston attendance mark will fall tonight

Never mind where the West Virginia Power is in the South AtlanticLeague second-half Northern Division standings.

Considering the Power's recent personnel moves, the MilwaukeeBrewers' low Class A farm club belongs on the TV show "ExtremeMakeovers."

Maybe it's because the Brewers were embarrassed by a 5-22 start inthe season's first 30 days, as they began a new affiliation in a newballpark. The Brewers understand, with only a two-year PlayerDevelopment Contract with West Virginia Baseball LLC, time's awastin' on proving they want to stay in such nice digs after 2006.

Maybe it's because some of the youth among their personnel fromrecent drafts has started to …

Taylor rallies Newcastle to 1-1 draw with Arsenal in Premier League

Steven Taylor scored midway through the second half to rally Newcastle to a 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Wednesday.

Taylor equalized in the 60th after taking a cross from Alan Smith.

Emmanuel Adebayor put Arsenal ahead in the fourth minute with a volley after taking a cross from Emmanuel Eboue. Gilberto da Silva and Eduardo da Silva also had first-half chances.

Soon after Arsenal's opener, Cameroon midfielder Geremi put a header wide. In the 33rd, Taylor had a header saved by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

Despite heavy Arsenal pressure late in the second half, Newcastle held out for the draw, which ended a two-game …

Military: 56 dead in clashes in northwest Pakistan

Three days of clashes between security forces and militants in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border left more than 56 militants and six soldiers dead, the military said Tuesday.

There was no way to independently confirm the casualty figures because access to the affected regions was restricted for journalists.

The vast majority of the deaths occurred during a two-day operation Sunday and Monday in the Maidan area of Lower Dir, a region bordering the Swat Valley where the army has been wrapping up an offensive against Taliban militants.

More than 50 militants died in the clashes, said Maj. Fazlur Rahman, spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps. The army also …

No decision yet as OPEC wrestles with output cut

GENEVA (AP) OPEC reported no breakthroughs yesterday as oilministers met informally in small groups in a bid to overcomeobstacles to agreement on a plan for cutting output and boostingprices.

The 13 ministers of the Organization of Petroleum ExportingCountries had decided Saturday, after three days of talks, to suspendtheir full conference until today.

A key obstacle discussed in yesterday's private meetings waswhether Iraq and some of OPEC's smaller producers, such as Ecuadorand Gabon, should be exempted from proposed cuts in production,officials said.

Javier Espinosa Teran, the oil minister of Ecuador, toldreporters he expected Saudi Arabia to …

NHL Season Opens Tonight, Kind Of

DETROIT - If you don't count two regular-season games played in London over the weekend, tonight is the NHL's opening night.

The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, who split two games in England against the L.A. Kings, …