Children — like adults — are increasingly trying electronic cigarettes, according to the first large U.S. study to gauge use by teenage students.

Health officials say the study suggests many kids are now getting a first taste of nicotine through e-cigarettes and moving on to regular tobacco products.

Legislators in Puerto Rico are preparing to debate a bill that would allow people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes in this conservative U.S. territory, officials said Thursday.

The measure would create a system to legally produce the substance and allow state health officials to regulate it, said Rep. Jose Baez, one of the bill's two authors.

After falling four years in a row, U.S. births may finally be leveling off.

The number of babies born last year — a little shy of 4 million — is only a few hundred less than the number in 2011, according to a government report released Friday.

And the honorary Academy Awards go to... Angelina Jolie, Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury and Italian costume designer Piero Tosi.

The film academy announced Thursday that Jolie will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while Martin, Lansbury and Tosi will get Oscars recognizing their career achievements.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said Friday that a naval torpedo destroyer was being deployed just off the Lebanese coast to protect the 1,100 Italian troops on U.N. peacekeeping duty in Lebanon.

Italian media reported a second warship, a frigate, was also being sent to Lebanon's coast, but the Defense Ministry denied plans to deploy it.

Osasuna has hired Javi Gracia as coach to replace the fired Jose Mendilibar.

The 43-year-old Gracia helped Almeria earn promotion to Spain's first division last season.

A year after skipping the U.S. Open because of a bad knee, Rafael Nadal powered his way back to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows by overwhelming Spanish compatriot Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday.

"Great to be able to play your best match in the quarterfinals," Nadal said. "Playing a little better every day is a great feeling."

For all its success at the World Cup, four-time winner Italy has never qualified with two matches to spare.

Yet that's just what the Azzurri can do if they win their next two qualifiers — both at home — against Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will honor Carol Burnett as she receives the top U.S. humor prize in Washington.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is awarding Burnett the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Oct. 20.

Michelle Williams will make her Broadway debut next year in a role best known by Liza Minnelli — fishnet-and-bowler hat wearing chanteuse Sally Bowles in "Cabaret."

The Roundabout Theatre Company confirmed Wednesday that the former "Dawson's Creek" and "Brokeback Mountain" star will join Alan Cumming in the revival. Williams takes over after Emma Stone withdrew due to scheduling conflicts.