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NEW YORK – The 213-year-old New York Stock Exchange (search) vaulted into the top ranks of electronic stock trading Wednesday, announcing a merger with all-electronic rival Archipelago Holdings Inc. (AX) in a stunning move that will also transform the NYSE into a for-profit, publicly traded enterprise. The NYSE, famous around …

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush’s (search) nominee to be the nation’s first intelligence director promised fundamental changes at the 15 agencies he would oversee and said he would give policy-makers the “unvarnished truth” about security threats. “Our intelligence effort has to generate better results. That’s my mandate, plain and …

LAKEPORT, Calif. – An American activist who was killed by a car bomb in Iraq (search) earlier this month was remembered Saturday for her dedication to humanitarian causes and her personal mission of counting civilian casualties of war. Many of the more than 600 mourners, including friends, family, colleagues and …

This is a partial transcript of “The Big Story With John Gibson,” April 18, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. JOHN GIBSON, HOST: A new law in Arizona adds gun safety and target shooting to the curriculum. The elective classes will count as credit towards a high school diploma. …

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming residents cannot let their guard down against the West Nile virus (search), which caused few problems in the state last year, a state health official said. “I’m afraid that people will look at last year and say ‘Oh, it’s gone away,'” said Terry Creekmore, the Wyoming …

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Merger talks between US Airways (search) and America West (search) could herald the start of consolidation for U.S. airlines, although US Airways’ chairman is quick to concede that such a combination faces numerous hurdles. “A lot of things will happen in the U.S. airline industry in the …

LOME, Togo – Opposition supporters protesting the presidential election victory by the son of Togo’s longtime dictator threw Molotov cocktails and rocks during street clashes with security forces in the capital Wednesday, leaving at least six people dead and some foreign embassies damaged. The dead included at least three civilians, …

WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (search) offered a deal to Democrats Thursday to break the filibuster deadlock over President Bush’s judicial nominees but it appeared unlikely that Democrats will accept the plan. “Resolving the judicial obstruction debate, for me, isn’t about politics. This is about constitutional principles. It’s …

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Dozens of suspected Taliban (search) attacked a mayor’s office in southern Afghanistan (search), sparking a battle with government troops in which six people died, police said Monday. About 60 gunmen attacked the office in Reg district of Kandahar (search) province just before noon on Sunday, deputy police …

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration’s (search) hiring of a pundit to tout its education agenda was not illegal or unethical, but it was a poor decision and continued even after concerns were raised to the White House, an internal investigation found. The report by the Education Department’s (search) inspector general …