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More than eight in 10 Americans believe that God performs miracles, and almost half believe they have experienced or witnessed one, a Newsweek magazine poll finds. The poll, released Saturday, shows that 84% of Americans have faith in divine miracles, and 79% believe in the reality of miracles described in the Bible. Nearly half (48%) have personal experiences with miracles, and 63% say they know of people who have. Also, 90% of Christians are miracle believers, as are 98% of evangelical Protestants, the poll says.

Penn naturalist wins science's Japan Prize

Retired naturalist and landscape architect Ian McHarg is to become the 24th American to receive the prestigious Japan Prize. McHarg, 79, professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, will be honored in Tokyo this week for his work integrating ecology and urban planning. Forty-three scientists have been named since the prize, administered by the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan, was established in 1985, and three recipients have gone on to win Nobel Prizes. The award carries a prize of 50 million yen, or approximately $485,000. Second prize goes to Kimishige Ishizaka, a Japanese scientist who helped found the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology near San Diego. Ishizaka won for research that helps explain allergic reactions.

Women in more top jobs, still paid less

The "glass ceiling" that historically has been a barrier to advancement by women in the workplace is showing some cracks, a gradual change backed up by Census Bureau figures. According to the latest government estimates, more than 7.1 million women were in full- time executive, administrative or managerial positions in 1998 -- a 29% jump from 1993. Approximately 9.4 million men had the same kinds of jobs, but that represented only a 19% increase. Analysts point to a variety of factors, including the growing number of working single mothers and two-income households. Females also make up 51% of the overall population. But while the median income level for men and women in executive positions rose at the same 20% clip in 1998, men made nearly $17,000 more -- $51,351 -- the statistics show.

TB cases prompt concern in urban East

An outbreak of tuberculosis in New York City and Baltimore among a group of men who consider themselves "transgender" -- they are biologically male but identify themselves as female -- has prompted health officials to warn that the disease could be spreading in other large Eastern cities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 26 cases of active TB and 37 dormant infections had been confirmed among men and women who had contact with or were members of a social network of predominantly young, black men. "We want to heighten awareness in large metropolitan areas," CDC epidemiologist Peter McElroy says. He says groups hold dances and fashion balls "regularly in Philadelphia, Newark, N.J., New York and Atlanta." McElroy says active TB "can be prevented, and it certainly can be cured."

Drug OK'd to treat spreading colon cancer

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Camptosar (irinotecan hydrochloride injection) for treating patients with colorectal cancer that has spread beyond the colon or rectum. Two studies show that the drug, made by Pharmacia, can prolong lives when used in combination with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) as a first-line therapy.

Jersey City school is USA's 'kindest'

J.W. Wakeman School in Jersey City is the "Kindest School in America," with students there performing 59,247 acts of kindness and justice during a two-week initiative in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. During the Kindness & Justice Challenge, 2,811,442 students at 11,201 schools across the nation participated by tracking ways they helped others or stood up for what's right, says the sponsor, Do Something, a non-profit group started by actor Andrew Shue to encourage young people to be community leaders. A list of winning participants from all 50 states is available at www.dosomething.org/kjchallenge.