The high school class of 2006 posted the biggest score increase on the ACT college entrance exam in 20 years, and recorded the highest scores of any class since 1991. Average composite scores on the exam, which measures students’ readiness for college-level work, rose to 21.1 from 20.9 last year. …

LEGAZPI, Philippines – Searing gas and debris raced down the slope of a Philippine volcano as rumbling Mayon entered its most dangerous phase after weeks of ejecting lava and ash, a scientist said Sunday. The burst of pyroclastic flow on Saturday marked the first time Mayon shot out fast-moving hot …

LOS ANGELES – “Pirates of the Caribbean” is looking more like “Treasure Island.” Already a record-shattering blockbuster, Johnny Depp’s sequel “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” dug up $62.2 million in its second weekend, raising its 10-day total to $258.2 million according to studio estimates Sunday. The movie has …

This is a partial transcript from “Hannity & Colmes,” July 24, 2006, that has been edited for clarity. SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: And welcome back to “Hannity & Colmes.” Joining us now, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) HANNITY: Mr. Prime Minister, as you know, the secretary of …

CHICAGO – Foie gras could soon be back on the menu in Chicago — Mayor Richard M. Daley says he doesn’t have the stomach for the city’s month-old ban. Daley, who recently called the ban on serving the goose- or duck-liver delicacy in restaurants “the funniest law they ever passed,” …

HILLSBORO, Ore. – Police arrested a man who returned to an 87-year-old woman’s house to apologize for raping her in the spring. Joshua Lee Moreno, 20, of Hillsboro fled on a bicycle after the woman screamed and called for help following the apology, said Cmdr. Chris Skinner of the Hillsboro …

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In space, nobody can hear you scream “Fore!” Then again, “fore” isn’t something Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin is likely to shout out Wednesday when he strikes a lightweight golf ball with a special 6-iron from outside the international space station in a promotional stunt for a …

VICTORIA, Texas – Authorities are awaiting autopsy results for a man who slipped and fell on a stake while refilling a deer feeder in the back of his truck. Ashley Lehmann, 35, of Spring, died after he was impaled on a stake used to support the feeder, Victoria County Sheriff’s …

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish maritime officials say pirates have commandeered a Turkish chemical tanker off the coast of Yemen. It is the second ship to be commandeered in the area in the past two weeks. On Oct. 29, Somali pirates hijacked a ship carrying iron ore and demanded a ransom …

A former student at the Rhode Island College School of Social Work is suing the school and several of his professors for discrimination, saying he was persecuted by the school’s “liberal political machine” for being a conservative. William Felkner, 45, says the New England college and six professors wouldn’t approve …