House OKs rescue for homeowners, Freddie, Fannie (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:58:40 GMT
AP - Rescue legislation sailed through the House on Wednesday aimed at helping 400,000 strapped homeowners avoid foreclosure and preventing the collapse of troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Hurricane Dolly slams South Texas, but levees hold (AP)
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:10:50 GMT
AP - Hurricane Dolly barreled into South Texas on Wednesday, lashing the coast with winds up to 100 mph and dumping heavy rain that threatened to flood low-lying areas but spared levees along the heavily populated Rio Grande Valley.

McCain denies he misstated timing of Iraq surge (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:57:01 GMT
AP - Republican John McCain pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic criticism that he misstated when the troop buildup ordered by President Bush began, saying elements were put in place before Bush announced the strategy in early 2007.

Minimum wage increase is little help as costs soar (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:53:28 GMT
AP - About 2 million Americans get a raise Thursday as the federal minimum wage rises 70 cents. The bad news: Higher gas and food prices are swallowing it up, and some small businesses will pass the cost of the wage hike to consumers.

Pentagon to recommend more troops for Afghanistan (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:52:56 GMT
AP - Top Pentagon leaders are expected to recommend soon that Defense Secretary Robert Gates order hundreds of additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan over the next month or so, according to a senior military official.

California woman attacked by bear while walking dogs (AP)
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:22:05 GMT
AP - A woman mauled by a bear in rural Kern County was recovering Wednesday in a Los Angeles hospital as game wardens sought to trap and kill the animal.

Pittsburgh cancer center warns of cell phone risks (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:47:45 GMT
AP - The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

Bale attends 'Dark Knight' premiere in Spain (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:25:35 GMT
AP - Christian Bale swept into Barcelona on Wednesday night to attend a glittering Spanish premiere of "The Dark Knight," appearing calm as he greeted fans a day after reports surfaced that his mother and sister had accused him of assault.

'Pantyhose Bandit' causes sheer annoyance in Mass. (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:28:22 GMT
AP - Dozens of pairs of pantyhose have been left near a Milford school bus stop — causing sheer annoyance in the neighborhood. The pantyhose — sometimes new, sometimes used — has been left on Camp Street for more than two years. They're almost always black and queen sized.

AP Source: Goodell monitoring Favre situation (AP)
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:47:09 GMT
AP - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is monitoring the ongoing rift between the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre. A person with direct knowledge of Goodell's interest said the commissioner has spoken with Packers management several times recently as tensions mounted between the three-time MVP and his team.