Allmendinger enjoys taking 1st laps at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS | AJ Allmendinger needed help buckling down Saturday.

YOUNG VOICES: Mali is another al-Qaeda battleground

Have you ever heard of the expression “out in Timbuktu”? In case you did not know, Timbuktu is a city in Mali, a former French colony, that has been in the news recently. March marked the third month of French military involvement in Mali.

Scouting combine shows NFL's global progress

INDIANAPOLIS | Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah knew nothing about the NFL when he was growing up. Now, he could be a first-round pick in April's draft.

US wins team sprint at Nordic worlds in Italy

VAL DI FIEMME, Italy | Kikkan Randall and Jessica Diggins gave the United States its first gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Nordic world championships Sunday with a victory in the women's team sprint.

Toast a white Christmas with chardonnay and more

Red may be the color of the season — what with Santa's suit and Rudolph's shiny nose — but what if you're dreaming of a white wine Christmas?

American Michael Ellis leads French Michelin guide

Something new is in the stars for the Michelin Guide — the French restaurant reviewing institution is getting an American accent.

Vogue shows Raf Simons at head of Dior table

After almost two years of ups, downs and more than a little bit of drama, could it be one big happy family at Christian Dior now, with Raf Simons sitting at the head of the table?

WWII veteran's 'one day' of service became a fight for his life

Less than two months before Pearl Harbor, William Kadar joined the U.S. Army at the request of Uncle Sam.

WWII vet's duffel bag coming home 68 years later

MERRILLVILLE | To his family, William Kadar, a WWII veteran and former German prisoner of war, is a hero, and now they are getting the chance to show their appreciation for what he suffered almost 70 years ago.

Wine experts: worst grape harvest in half century

Winemaker Cherie Spriggs had watched the bad weather over southern England's vineyards all season long. It just wasn't good enough for Nyetimber, her award-winning sparkling wine.

YOUNG VOICES: Costly studies abroad leave you enriched

This past spring, I was studying abroad. For four months, I called Cannes, France, home. It was the best decision I've made.

Hobart Clocktower Model Boat Race opens three-day run

HOBART | The city hosts the fourth annual Hobart Clocktower Model Boat Race on Lake George, starting at 8 a.m. today.

Hamilton says Armstrong book provides relief

NEW YORK | At first, Tyler Hamilton was impressed with the power Lance Armstrong wielded in cycling circles, his ability to call the head of the international cycling federation at any time — and call him by his first name.

Julia Child in her Kitchen in 1978

Julia Child shows a recipe she prepared in the kitchen of her vacation home in Grasse, southern France, in this Aug. 21, 1978, file photo. Today, Aug. 15, 2012, marks her 100th birthday.

OLYMPIC ROUNDUP: Agnel wins 2nd gold in 2 nights at London Olympics

LONDON | Yannick Agnel bested Ryan Lochte for the second night in a row at the London Olympics, upstaging the American as the biggest star in the pool so far in these games.

Franklin, Grevers shimmer gold in pool, Lochte fails to medal

LONDON | Missy Franklin stared out on the horde of reporters, suddenly sounding very much like a high school senior-to-be. "I don't like being up here alone," she said nervously.

An angry Bradley Wiggins keeps Tour de France lead

PORRENTRUY, Switzerland | Tour de France. Keeping his cool was another matter.

THE GOOD LIFE: Five lessons I learned about the French lifestyle

There is some truth to the saying that we Americans "Live to Work" and Europeans "Work to Live." This became very evident during my family's spring break trip to Paris this year when we all noticed significant differences between how we live in America and how the Parisians approach the joys…

The Daily Fix

Offering perspective on today's issues

Small plates at the Heritage and Millar scores in James Beard

Incredible food lineup for Saturday night at the Heritage Center in St. Joe includes chocolate-covered bacon mousse and Reserve Chef Matt Millar is in James Beard semifinals. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine