McClatchy Newspapers

JOHN P. JOHNSON/HBO
Chris Meloni stars in “True Blood,” which kicks off its fifth season tonight on HBO.

The fanged gang's all here as 'True Blood' returns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sookie Stackhouse is taking a break from love. Let's enjoy it while it lasts.

Tonight, HBO's "True Blood" kicks off a fifth season of vampires, werewolves, werepanthers, shape-shifters , witches, mediums, demons, fairies and even the occasional boring human populating fictional Bon Temps, La.

Psychology gives depth to Russian fantasy

"THE SCAR." By Sergey and Marina Dyachenko, translated by Elinor Huntington; Tor ($24.99)

Sergey and Marina Dyachenko, husband-and-wife authors, have written numerous science-fiction and fantasy novels in Russian -- and have racked up a mantel-ful of awards in doing so -- but they've only now made a foray into U.S. bookshelves with "The Scar."

DH or no DH, it's still about handling a bat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano had a sly grin on his face after crossing home plate Sunday.

Zambrano had just crushed a Joe Blanton pitch 418 feet into the stands, silencing the Phillies faithful.

NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner 
Matt Malan finishes his workout at CrossFit Ogden in The Front Climbing Gym late last year in Ogden.

CrossFit trend gains strength

MIAMI -- Just a couple of years ago, terms like WOD, Fran or bar-facing burpee were mostly unknown. That's ditto for Pukey the Mascot and Greg Glassman, the former gymnast who founded the intense, grueling fitness craze called CrossFit.

US confirms death in Pakistan of No. 2 al-Qaida official

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials on Tuesday confirmed the death in Pakistan of the No. 2 official in al-Qaida's central organization, Abu Yahya al-Libi, the latest senior operative killed in the United States' campaign against the terrorist organization.

Queen Elizabeth II is shown in North Wales during “The Diamond Queen,” a three-part documentary premiering at 6 p.m. today on BBC America.
BBC

BBC showcases 'Diamond Queen'

It's going to be a very British summer. Along with the Olympics in London, it is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the celebration of her 60 years of monarchy.

Kicking off the celebration tonight, BBC America has a three-part documentary "The Diamond Queen," which probably will be repeated endlessly. Narrated by writer Andrew Marr, it looks at a hardworking royal whose real power lies in her immense dignity and human touch.

After shaky start, Kahne equipped for Chase run

Kasey Kahne knows what it's like to have a bad ride and what it's like to have a good ride.

So he was asked this week, after his victory in the Coca-Cola 600 over the weekend, which is tougher:

Sam Mellinger: Teen racer has drive to make a difference

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Tyler Nelson is 15 years old and wears silver braces and Super Mario high-tops. He is 5 feet 2 and weighs 105 pounds even though he eats like a garbage disposal. Maybe that means a growth spurt is coming. Maybe that means he'll start shaving soon.

Draft lotteries that changed NBA history

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Wednesday could be the most important night in Charlotte Bobcats history.

United States Capitol

Experts say Congress is broken

WASHINGTON - Congress isn't just stuck in partisan and ideological gridlock: It's broken.

Once again this month, and probably throughout this year, lawmakers are mired in stalemates over what used to be routine solutions to commonplace issues.

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, center, speaks to campaign senior advisor Eric Fehrnstrom, left, and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, after arriving in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Romney seals the deal in Texas primary

WASHINGTON - There was no suspense, there was no drama but Texas finally played a bit role in the presidential election Tuesday with a final boost to GOP candidate Mitt Romney, giving him enough delegates for him to secure the nomination.

Voisin: Manny Ramirez again attempts to fit in

 SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The question isn't what Manny Ramirez wants to do with the rest of his life. Manny always takes care of Manny. It's what the former Boston Red Sox slugger can do -- if anything -- for the Athletics for the remainder of their surprisingly competitive 2012 season.

CAMMY CLARK/Miami Herald
The Keller family of Washington, D.C., explores the mangrove creeks at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Fla.

Paddles common transportation in the Keys

ISLAMORADA, Fla. -- Mark Terrill led a couple on bicycles down a narrow road lined by perfectly manicured trees, flowers and shrubs. At the end was the crystalline white sand beach of The Moorings Village, a luxurious 18-acre resort along the Atlantic Ocean that formerly was a coconut plantation.

"This is where they filmed scenes from the movies 'Hannibal' and 'I Am Number Four,' " Terrill said, adding it also has been a popular location for photo shoots by the likes of Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated.

Tom Sorensen: X Games star Travis Pastrana busts down fence, lets fans in

CONCORD, N.C. -- Travis Pastrana is taking media members for rides in his 600-horsepower all-wheel drive Dodge Dart. He speeds into a turn that's as tight as a man who spends Memorial Day weekend with a metal detector.

Pastrana spins around an orange cone and skids beautifully until he smacks the back of the car into the chain-link fence in the zMax Dragway parking lot.

Pastrana returns to his hauler, his crew does a quick check, and he takes off again. Soon he goes skidding majestically around a cone, tires squealing and smoke rising, and with the back of the Dart pops the fence harder than the previous time.

N.C. county backs down, allows protest of anti-gay sermon

MAIDEN, N.C. — Catawba County, N.C., officials have backed down after initially denying a request from marchers who want to use county facilities this weekend to stage a protest against a preacher’s anti-gay sermon.

Organizers of the protest had originally predicted several hundred marchers would show up Sunday outside the Providence Baptist Church in Maiden to protest against the Rev. Charles Worley, who said in a sermon that gays should be put behind electrified fences.

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