Wildfire evacuations...National speed limit?...ebay vote offer

BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) More evacuations north of Santa Barbara, California, as strong winds push flames toward homes in the foothills. Farther north, the Big Sur fire has swallowed more homes for a total of at least 20. The death of a firefighter is reported north of San Francisco Bay.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Two days after being rescued from Colombian rebels, former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt is flying home to her native France. She'll meet with President Sarkozy (sahr-koh-ZEE'), who pressed for her release. Three Americans freed with her have been getting medical checkups.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) Vermont investigators say they've found no evidence so far of a sex ring associated with the death of a 12-year-old girl whose body was found Wednesday. But they say her uncle tried to make it look like she'd gone to see someone she met online. He's being held in the case.

Washington (AP) If Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia gets what he apparently wants, a new national speed limit might be imposed to save gas. He's urging the Energy Department to look into it. The national 55-mile-per-hour speed limit was dropped in 1995.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A college student's eBay offer to sell his vote has bought him legal trouble. Max Sanders of the University of Minnesota is charged with violating an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote. He says it was all a joke.

There were no bids for his vote.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-04-08 0047CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list