IBT Staff Reporter

Sales of new U.S. homes unexpectedly tumbled in September, their first drop in six months, underscoring the hazards to an economic recovery that businesses appeared to be banking on.

The first major winter storm of the season has hit Denver on Wednesday causing several schools to close.

California Coastal Communities Inc said on Wednesday it filed for Chapter 11 protection to modify and eliminate certain debt covenants and to extend the maturity on about $182 million loans related to one of its projects.

The brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been getting regular payments from the Central Intelligence Agency, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing current and former U.S. officials.

The suede, camel-colored, military issue boots of the suicide bomber looked brand new. He had the face of a young man, no older than 19.

Childhood cancer survivors are 18 times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than the general population, UK researchers report.

Qwest Communications International Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and boosted its full-year outlook as it planned more cut costs, sending its shares up 3.4 percent.

Patients with non-operable head and neck cancers should be given chemo- and radiotherapy at the same time, as it more than doubles the time they live without the disease getting worse, British scientists said on Wednesday.

With the storied New York Yankees facing off against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies, Fox Sports has a potentially compelling matchup in baseball's World Series that should drive strong TV ratings.

Health insurer WellPoint Inc posted an 11 percent decline in third-quarter profit on Wednesday as layoffs among customers led to lower membership, but results crushed estimates on improvements in its business serving elderly and low-income Americans.

Hot off her acting debut in the title role of the upcoming drama Precious, Gabourey Sidibe is in talks to join Showtime's comedy pilot The C Word.

Disney Channel is looking to expand its stable of musically themed comedy series with Dance Dance Chicago.

Buttressed by strong Monday Night Football viewership, ESPN is on track to win its second straight monthly ratings race in cable.

New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods rose 1 percent in September, meeting Wall Street expectations, Commerce Department data showed on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday after September new home sales unexpectedly tumbled and analysts said there was little in the way of catalysts to further fuel the market's seven-month rally.

ESPN promos for SportsCenter are particularly clever, but would they be as funny if their take on men and sports was expanded from 30 seconds to, say, a half-hour?

When Miley Cyrus wanted to shift from the tween roles that have defined her career, her mother and co-manager started at the top.

Britpop icons Pulp are not planning to reunite for Britain's Glastonbury music festival next June, despite reports that singer Jarvis Cocker had been in talks with the band, his spokesperson said Tuesday.

Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes unexpectedly tumbled 3.6 percent in September in their first drop since March, but the inventory of new homes available at the end of the month shrank to the smallest in 27 years, government data showed on Wednesday.

The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 indexes extended losses on Wednesday after data showed a surprise drop in September new homes sales, the latest sign the economic recovery may be slower than hoped.

The recurring themes of U2's first Los Angeles-area show in four years were space and time, and both were laid out right off the bat.

Canadian indie-rock duo Tegan & Sara's snappy songwriting and intimate lyrics have found a steadily growing audience in the United States since the twin sisters started recording songs a decade ago.

Animal data suggests a proposed Human Genome Sciences Inc drug may help people exposed to anthrax but more study is needed to show the treatment adds benefit beyond antibiotics alone, a U.S. advisory panel said on Tuesday.

International movie distributors have shunned a film on exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer, whom China condemns as a separatist, because they fear Beijing's wrath, the film's producer said on Tuesday.

Foreign aid may provide the best value for money spent by the U.S. government, Bill and Melinda Gates said Tuesday, but few seem to know it.

January Jones is jumping with rabbits.

New rewards to store carbon in trees are driving forestry investments, but green groups fear they pose a threat to ancient woodlands and rainforests.

Entourage co-star Emmanuelle Chriqui has been cast in the lead female role in Georgia, a war film being directed by Renny Harlin in the former Soviet state.

Ron Perlman, Josh Lawson and Emma Lung have been cast in the lead roles of the indie thriller Crave, the directing debut of Charles de Lauzirika.