Favorites Wear Familiar Hue: Once Again, It's Maize & Blue Series: BIG TEN CONFERENCE '93 PREVIEWS (STANDARD)

Isn't this getting repetitive?

Every year college football season rolls around, Michigan ispredicted to rule the Big Ten.

No difference this year, even though Penn State is added to themix of contenders. The Nittany Lions suffered a huge loss of talentin the NFL draft, and Ohio State, the other top challenger, continuesto suffer from having a coach named John Cooper.

Michigan's second team could probably win this thing if pressedinto action.

1. MICHIGAN: If a tie is like kissing your sister, theWolverines' 1992 season bordered on incest.

After tying Notre Dame, Illinois and Ohio State, Michiganfinally got it right in a big game by …

Lady Gaga on Japan: It's safe, food's great

TOKYO (AP) — Lady Gaga says that if you want to help Japan recover from its tsunami disaster, come visit.

The flamboyant pop star, in Tokyo this week for a benefit concert for tsunami victims, said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that she's making a point to get out and enjoy the city and its food, and that her fans should do the same thing.

"I can't say enough to people all over the world that the majority of Japan right now, Japan in general, is very safe," she said. "It's fine to come here. It's beautiful."

Many performers and athletes have canceled appearances in Japan after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that caused widespread destruction and …

Euro higher at $1.3599 in European morning trade

The euro is higher against the dollar as Greece's measures to reel in its budget deficit lend confidence to the common currency.

The 16-nation euro is at $1.3599 in European morning trade Friday _ up from $1.3576 late Thursday in New York.

The British pound is up to $1.5037 from $1.5029. The dollar is up to 89.26 Japanese yen from 89.10 yen.

Greece, whose debt crisis has …

PRESIDENT-ELECT: DAY ONE HTE ELECTION FINALLY DECIDED, BUSH PREPARES TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

WASHINGTON Victory secured, President-elect Bush invited aDemocratic senator to Texas for a job interview and tinkered Thursdaywith the final components of his White House and national securityteams.

Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) under consideration for energy secretary,will visit the incoming president today in Austin, Texas, as part ofhis promise to reach across party lines after the fiercely contestedcampaign against Vice President Al Gore, advisers said.

Plucking a Democrat from the Senate would embolden Republicans inthe chamber, which will be split 50-50 next year. Republican Gov.Mike Foster has been put on notice by the Bush campaign that he mightbe called on to …

PUSH seeks to match poor with energy assistance

PUSH seeks to match poor with energy assistance

Those needing financial assistance to pay their heating bills should come to Saturday's Rainbow PUSH Coalition meeting where energy applications are being taken, said Mark Allen, field director to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

And, Jackson is seeking an audit of the utilities meter readings which he says is obviously flawed.

"With Peoples Gas and the City putting up an additional $2 million, we're making applications available for those people who need to apply to avoid a cutoff," Allen told the Chicago Defender.

"Peoples Energy said they will not cut off anybody if they apply for assistance; so, people …

Slumping US market hurts Japanese automakers

The slumping U.S. auto market reduced vehicle production in August at most major Japanese automakers, according to data released Thursday.

Toyota Motor Corp., the nation's top automaker, saw worldwide production dive 15.5 percent last month from a year earlier at 626,745 vehicles.

Toyota marked its on-year overseas production decrease in more than six years amid a slowdown in Europe and North America, while production in sluggish Japan also dropped on year, it said.

Honda Motor Co. reported its best vehicle production ever in China for August but saw production in troubled U.S. plunge 10.2 percent from the previous year. Japan's second biggest …

SSAC files appeal in Supreme Court: ; Commission wants Judge Webster's ruling on S.C. players overturned

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission wantsthe state Supreme Court to overturn Kanawha Circuit Judge CarrieWebster's decision to nullify the suspension of four SouthCharleston High players.

According to a scheduling order from the state Supreme Court, theSouth Charleston players have until noon Monday to respond to thepetition. The Supreme Court will not act on the case until afterthat deadline.

The state Supreme Court's new appellate procedure rules, whichwent into effect Wednesday, require a scheduling order be filed "assoon as practicable" after a petition is filed. The scheduling ordersets a deadline for a response from other …