National
Wells Fargo’s bid to buy Wachovia gets court boost
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES
NEW YORK — The battle for control of troubled bank Wachovia tilted toward Wells Fargo on Sunday as a New York appeals court blocked a lower court ruling that had favored rival bidder Citigroup. - Monday, October 6, 2008
In the news
Addie Polk, 90, of Akron, Ohio, recovering after shooting herself in the chest as deputies tried to evict her from her foreclosed home, will have her debt forgiven by the Federal National Mortgage Association, said Fannie Mae spokesman Brian Faith, who explained, “Just given the circumstances, we think it’s appropriate.” Pope Benedict XVI kicked off Italian state TV’s The Bible Day and Night by reciting the first chapter of the book of Genesis as the first of more than 1,200 people who will read the Old and New Testaments over seven days and six nights. - Monday, October 6, 2008
11 Iraqis die in suicide bombing during raid; Turks strike Kurds
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES
BAGHDAD — Eleven Iraqis, including six women and children, were killed Sunday after a suicide bomber set off explosives during a raid by U.S. forces on a house in Mosul, the U.S. military said. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Europeans try to throw lifelines to sinking banks
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Germany became the latest country to move to allay fears about the financial meltdown, enhancing a rescue plan for Hypo Real Estate AG and guaranteeing private bank accounts as European governments scrambled on their own Sunday to save failing banks. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Candidates getting testy as more accusations fly
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign called his Republican rival “erratic” in a television commercial released Sunday as both campaigns stepped up personal attacks. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Russians dismantling troop posts in Georgia
BY SOPHIKO MEGRILIDZE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NADARBAZEVI, Georgia — Russian troops Sunday began dismantling positions in the so-called security zones inside Georgia that they have occupied since August’s war, Georgian and EU officials said. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Wall Street woes hit poor as giving slides
BY ROBIN SHULMAN THE WASHINGTON POST
NEW YORK — For Citymealson-Wheels, a nonprofit group that delivers food to homebound New Yorkers, the Wall Street crisis already means 100,000 fewer meals will be delivered to people who need them. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Lawyers pursue train-crash clients
BY CAROL J. WILLIAMS LOS ANGELES TIMES
LOS ANGELES — In the weeks since Metrolink Train 111 crashed head-on with a Union Pacific freight train in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley northwest of downtown L.A., in a collision that killed 25 and injured at least 130 others, litigators have pursued clients so aggressively that the State Bar of California reminded lawyers of the professional sanctions they could face for initiating contact with accident victims. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Dating-violence education required in Rhode Island
BY ERIC TUCKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Beginning with this school year, a new law called the Lindsay Ann Burke Act requires all public middle and high schools in Rhode Island to teach students about dating violence in their health classes. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Disney Chihuahua is theaters’ top dog
BLOOMBERG NEWS
LOS ANGELES — The comedy Beverly Hills Chihuahua opened as the top film in U.S. theaters, collecting $29 million in ticket sales for Walt Disney Co. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Film companies formalize split-up
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks said Sunday that they are formally separating after DreamWorks’ deal to partner with Reliance Entertainment of India. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Families gather to greet returned Marines, sailors
BY TONY PERRY LOS ANGELES TIMES
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — While other children nearby were playing and laughing, 4-year-old Jaden Williams was quietly focused on one thought: “My daddy is coming home today,” he said. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Tropical Storm Norbert strengthens near Mexico coast
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY — The National Hurricane Center said Sunday afternoon that Tropical Storm Norbert is strengthening off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast and could become a hurricane in the next 24 hours. The center said Norbert was centered 215 miles south of the Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa resort area with winds of 60 mph. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Tradition of sworn virgins dying out in Albania culture
BY ELENA BECATOROS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHKODRA, Albania — Drene Markgjoni spent 12 years in a hard-labor camp, punished for her fiance’s attempt to flee Albania’s regime, then one of the world’s most repressive and isolationist. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Livni: Time to make peace very short
BY MARK LAVIE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni warned Sunday that time is running out for a peace agreement with the Palestinians as extremists gain strength as negotiations stumble. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Attack reportedly enrages Taliban
BY ISHTIAQ MAHSUD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — The Taliban are furious about the latest apparent U.S. missile strike in Pakistan, officials and residents said Sunday. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Ailing magazine taking on new life at UCA
BY DEBRA HALE-SHELTON
CONWAY — Like a starving artist, The Oxford American has struggled financially almost since its birth in Oxford, Miss., in 1992. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Turrell mayor, City Council clash over wards
BY KENNETH HEARD
Turrell Mayor Franklin Lockhart has tried to fire his six City Council members, saying they don’t live in separate wards of the Crittenden County town of 957. - Monday, October 6, 2008
Veterans memorial nears funding goal
BY CHARLIE GOCIO THE SENTINEL-RECORD
A committee has nearly reached its fundraising goal of $300,000 to construct the Garland County Veterans Memorial, which will be in the gardens of the Hot Springs Greenway adjacent to the Transportation Center. - Monday, October 6, 2008
EU chiefs long on talk about financial plight
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES
PARIS — The leaders of Europe’s four largest economic powers vowed Saturday to protect their banks from the continuing reverberations of the increasingly global financial crisis but could not agree on a common Europe-wide strategy. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Tax plans differ on who will see cuts, how much
BY JANE FULLERTON
Death and taxes may be the only things in life that are certain, as Benjamin Franklin observed, but promises to cut those taxes have become just as sure on the modern American campaign trail. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Candidates’ gloves coming off
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES
John McCain enters the final month of the presidential campaign with his prospects weakened by the nation’s deepening financial crisis and persistent doubts about his choice of running mate, but his game plan is clear: sow doubts about Barack Obama by portraying him as liberal and unready to lead. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Verizon-Alltel deal seen on track despite hurdles
BY BILL W. HORNADAY
Verizon Wireless still faces significant hurdles in its $28.1 billion bid to acquire Alltel Corp. in a financial climate that has steadily worsened since the companies reached the agreement in June. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
U.S. sources see Karzai brother tied to drug case
BY JAMES RISEN THE NEW YORK TIMES
WASHINGTON — When Afghan security forces found an enormous cache of heroin hidden beneath concrete blocks in a tractortrailer outside Kandahar in 2004, the local Afghan commander quickly impounded the truck and notified his boss. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Episcopal diocese to leave church
BY JOE MANDAK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MONROEVILLE, Pa. — Clergy and lay members of the theologically conservative Pittsburgh Diocese voted overwhelmingly Saturday to break from the liberal Episcopal Church, with which it differs on issues ranging from homosexuality to biblical teachings on salvation. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Miner in Philippines arrested after rescue
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANILA, Philippines — The last of 16 miners trapped in a flooded gold mine in the northern Philippines was rescued after 11 days — and then arrested by police. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Enthusiasts find plenty to keep track of on railroad
BY SCOTT GOLD LOS ANGELES TIMES
FULLERTON, Calif. — It’s another Friday night at the Fullerton train station, which is full of the usual types: commuters with briefcases, people sprinting over a bridge because they found themselves on the wrong side of the tracks, families struggling with suitcases. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
Indicted lawmaker leads early vote
BY KEVIN MCGILL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS — A 28-year political career was on the line Saturday for indicted U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, who is fighting bribery charges as he tries to fend off six Democrats in the primary for his New Orleans-based congressional seat. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
FBI’s powers expanded
BY CARRIE JOHNSON THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Justice Department officials released new guidelines last week that empower FBI agents to use intrusive techniques to gather intelligence within the United States. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
British stamps sell for $1.5 million
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — A collection of rare British Empire postage stamps has sold for nearly $1.5 million at a New York City auction. - Sunday, October 5, 2008
