WASHINGTON – Construction spending shot up 1.1 percent in December, capping a year in which building activity posted the best performance since 1996. The Commerce Department (search) said Tuesday that last month’s increase, the best showing in eight months, followed a 0.3 percent advance in November and reflected widespread strength …

Join host Brit Hume and FOX’s Team Washington weekdays at 6 p.m. ET for “Special Report” — Find out what’s happening inside the Beltway and on the world stage. Real journalism: fair and balanced. That’s why we’re No. 1 — FOX News Channel. Tuesday, Feb. 1: President Bush goes before …

LOS ANGELES – A new study on affirmative action that says racial preferences used in law school admissions have a negative effect is coming under fire. The study, written by UCLA law professor Rick Sander (search), says unprepared African-American students have difficulties succeeding in elite law schools and many end …

WASHINGTON – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi responded to President Bush’s State of the Union address immediately following the president’s remarks. REP. NANCY PELOSI: Thank you, Senator Reid. Throughout our nation’s history, hope and optimism have defined the American spirit. With pride and determination, every generation has passed on a …

NEW YORK – Inside the giant factory of cool known as MTV (search) headquarters, a crew of hip twentysomethings has been hard at work creating a two-headed monster. This beast wants to be man’s new best friend. On Sunday, during the Super Bowl halftime, MTV2 (search) is relaunching with a …

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Israeli troops imposed a curfew early Saturday on a West Bank (search) village, the apparent home of a homicide bomber who earlier attacked a Tel Aviv night club, Palestinian security officials said. The attack, just before midnight Friday, killed four Israelis, wounded dozens more and ended …

DENVER – The Durango cookie conflict isn’t over yet. The spat between two teens from the southwestern Colorado town and one of their neighbors over a batch of cookies they baked last summer has garnered national publicity over the past week. It has led to donations for the girls. For …

NEW YORK – Call it a pre-emptive paparazzi strike. Julia Roberts (search) and her husband, cameraman Danny Moder (search), have released the first photos of their nearly three-month-old twins to People magazine, on newsstands Friday. “We are releasing these photographs not only to share our happiness, but to ensure the …

The American Medical Association says the federal government should not spend money on community-based sex education programs unless it has solid scientific evidence that the programs work, a position that would eliminate many abstinence-only programs. The new AMA policy puts the doctor group at odds with the Bush administration, which …

This is a partial transcript of “The Big Story With John Gibson,” February 24, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. JOHN GIBSON, HOST: Joining me now from Massachusetts is the former Ambassador to the Vatican (search), Ray Flynn. Ambassador Flynn, thank you very much. RAY FLYNN, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR …