NEW YORK – Sony BMG Music Entertainment has reached a tentative settlement with consumers who filed a class action lawsuit over the music company’s copy-protection software on CDs, court papers show. The lawsuit against Sony BMG, a joint venture of Japan’s Sony Corp (SNE) and Germany’s Bertelsmann AG (BERT.UL), stems …

LOS ANGELES – Saturday is the final day immigrants can apply for green cards under a government amnesty program. Lawyers estimate as many as 100,000 immigrants may be eligible under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. The legislation said people who left the United States between 1982 and 1987 …

CHICAGO – Ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ) on Thursday said quarterly profit rose on strength in its U.S. business and said it was reviewing its international portfolio as it moves to focus on its biggest brands overseas. The company has just completed a three-year plan in which it sold …

A growing number of older Americans are living with HIV and AIDS, but few may be receiving advice on how to avoid spreading the disease, experts told lawmakers Thursday. Infection rates aren’t increasing in either younger or older people, health officials say. But the widespread use of antiretroviral drugs in …

WASHINGTON – Four years ago, James Hahn (search) was elected mayor with a debt to his surname — much like a Kennedy or a Bush. His late father, Kenneth Hahn (search), was a revered county supervisor for nearly half a century, leaving behind one of the region’s most devoted political …

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. (GM) chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner (search) has little time to formulate solutions for the company’s perfect storm of problems: mounting losses, rising competition, shrinking market share and increasing health care and pension costs. Wagoner will face shareholders at GM’s annual meeting June 7 …

JONESBORO, Ga. – Spooked by the courthouse shootings in nearby Atlanta, some Clayton County (search) judges are arming themselves with guns. The judges requested the guns and firearms training from Clayton County police several weeks ago, Clayton County police Capt. Jeff Turner said. Clayton Sheriff Victor Hill said police gave …

ATLANTA – Two members of singer Bobby Brown’s (search) entourage were hospitalized for treatment of knife wounds after a fight at a restaurant early Monday, police said. Brown, who has a history of drug and alcohol arrests, was apparently not involved, authorities said. He lives outside Atlanta with his wife, …

HOUSTON – A man who told undercover agents he has “no loyalty for America” has been charged with trying to build a bomb and sell it to an affiliate of Al Qaeda (search), officials said Monday. Ronald A. Grecula (search), 68, of Bangor, Pa., was arrested Friday in Houston during …

WASHINGTON – President Bush, facing a battle to win congressional approval of a new free-trade agreement in an era of soaring trade deficits, is getting lobbying help from an unusual source — the presidents of six Latin American countries. In fact, historians believe this is the first time the leaders …