Top headlines:
'Potter' publisher to promote next big thing: U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps announced on TODAY he will use the $1 million bonus he earned for tying Mark Spitzs record of seven gold medals to start his own foundation to promote education about swimming and pool safety. ›14:16 2 Sep, Tue
Green polar bears puzzle zoo visitors: Three normally white polar bears at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in central Japan changed their color in July after swimming in a pond with an overgrowth of algae. ›16:19 7 Sep, Sun
Its back-to-school time for bedbugs: The baseball was hit high. It was deep. It was over the wall! And so was Kenny Campbell, a 10-year-old fan who took a 15-foot fall from an outfield wall at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. ›13:13 29 Aug, Fri
Poodle elected Obama's top dog: From big wins to bad bets, being the son of a gambler had its ups and downs. In his memoir, "The Bookmaker," Michael Agovino writes about his Italian-American family's quest to make it in New York City. An excerpt. ›14:05 29 Aug, Fri
Tracing your own family roots: Talk about icing on the cake. A slice of royal wedding history was sold for 1,000 pounds ($1,830) at an auction. The piece of wedding cake from Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's ceremony in 1981 was sold by a former royal servant, who had kept it wrapped in clingfilm in an attic for 27 years. ›13:56 29 Aug, Fri
What can I do if my flight is canceled?: In light of how the airlines are cutting back their schedules this fall, what can I do and what recourse do I have if my flight is canceled? ›20:34 4 Sep, Thu
Couple wed at funeral home: On Sept. 9, the U.S. publisher of "Harry Potter" will premiere "The 39 Clues," a highly ambitious series with a mystery ending for readers and a couple of puzzlers for the industry: How big is the market for a multimedia story and can a phenomenon be conceived by a publisher rather than created by the public? ›13:27 2 Sep, Tue
Brazil Indian reservation targeted for breakup: The future of Brazil's traditional Indian cultures was under challenge on Wednesday as Brazil's Supreme Court began hearing arguments on whether to break up a vast Amazon reserve. ›22:55 27 Aug, Wed
For Chinas new Midases, gold tableware: Aiming at Chinas newly rich, a Japanese jeweler is selling a tableware set made entirely of gold for $1 million. The 13-piece set includes goblets, plates, chopsticks and cutlery, each engraved with a dragon, a symbol of youth and health in China. ›15:28 3 Sep, Wed
Google is world's most powerful 10-year-old: When Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google Inc. on Sept. 7, 1998, they had little more than their ingenuity, four computers and an investor's $100,000 bet on their belief that an Internet search engine could change the world. ›16:39 5 Sep, Fri
Black bear busts secret Utah pot farm: Investigators say a large black bear raided a clandestine marijuana growing operation so often that it chased the grower away. ›14:07 5 Sep, Fri
20 great wines I drank this summer: TODAY wine columnist Edward Deitch shares some great finds from around the globe. ›04:37 5 Sep, Fri
Fed up as 'fat mom,' she lost 127 pounds: After decades of struggling with her appearance and how strangers and even her own children viewed her, 39-year-old Sheri Harkness finally found the motivation to overcome her poor eating habits. Find out how the newest member of the Joy Fit Club slimmed downand reclaimed her self-confidence. ›17:07 14 Jan, Mon
FAA investigating 11 air carriers on safety issues: Federal aviation officials said Friday they are investigating 17 cases in which 11 air carriers did not comply with government safety directives. ›22:25 5 Sep, Fri
Bush may create largest protected area: President Bush on Monday said he was considering creating two protected marine areas in the Pacific Ocean one of which would be the world's largest, covering an area almost as large as Alaska. ›23:45 25 Aug, Mon
One unique man's slices of 'America': Ramadan is not about starving yourself," says author Huma Siddiqui, "it's about taking a step back." Epicurious examines memorable recipes and traditions of Muslim holy month. ›21:15 29 Aug, Fri
'39 Clues' a multimedia adventure: Amy and Dan Cahill and are on a worldwide quest to find the secret to their family's power in "Maze of Bones," the first book in The 39 Clues, a multimedia series. An excerpt. ›20:22 5 Sep, Fri
Ramadan's memorable recipes, traditions: Have you ever wondered what it's like breaking Ramadan's fast in Ramallah? Epicurious' Raja Aziz Shehadeh had the chance to break fast with Muslim friends in the Middle Eastern city. ›21:16 29 Aug, Fri
Daisy Martinezs traditional sausage dish: Keep dinner simple yet delicious by preparing dishes that will please everyone. Daisy Maria Martinez, author and host of PBS television series "Daisy Cooks," shares an affordable and easy-to-make Latin specialty choripan, a unique take on sausage. ›15:13 4 Sep, Thu
An Italian favorite: Chicken parmigiana: No Italian meal can be complete without this classic dish. Here, Sal Scognamillo from the famed Patsy's restaurant in New York City and now Atlantic City give their family recipe for the perfect chicken parmigiana. ›20:31 5 Sep, Fri
U.K. army to reconsider bearskin hats: After meeting with animal rights activists, the British military said Tuesday that it will study alternative materials to replace the bearskin hats worn by the soldiers who guard Buckingham Palace. ›12:22 3 Sep, Wed
Philadelphia museum seeks chemical attraction: For anyone whose last foray into chemistry was being forced to memorize the periodic table of elements in high school, there's new reason to take another look at a subject you may have vowed never to revisit after final exams. ›17:52 7 Sep, Sun
Rower crossing Pacific to combat plastic: A British environmentalist arrived in Honolulu early Monday, completing the initial leg of her journey as she tries to become the first woman to row alone across the Pacific Ocean. ›01:52 2 Sep, Tue
Brazil: Amazon deforestation worsens: Amazon deforestation jumped 69 percent in a year the first such increase in three years as rising demand for soy and cattle pushes farmers and ranchers to raze trees, officials said Saturday. ›22:19 30 Aug, Sat
