Automakers face skeptical senators on aid plan (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:54:24 GMT
AP - U.S. automakers drew fresh skepticism from lawmakers Thursday in a rocky confrontation over their pleas for an expanded $34 billion rescue package they say they need to survive. Congressional analysts said one bailout plan under consideration would fall short of what the carmakers want.

People draw unemployment benefits at 26-year high (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:54:36 GMT
AP - More evidence of consumers' weary state and the nation's deteriorating job market came Thursday with reports that people continuing to draw unemployment benefits climbed to a 26-year high, while retail sales and orders to U.S. factories sank.

Indian airports on high alert after new warning (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:09:43 GMT
AP - Airports in India went on high alert Thursday following fresh attack warnings as officials said India suspects two senior leaders of a banned Pakistani militant group orchestrated the deadly Mumbai attacks.

Suicide blasts kill 17 as Iraqi council OKs pact (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:54:53 GMT
AP - Suicide bombers killed 17 people — including two American soldiers — and wounded more than 100 in a string of blasts in two Iraqi cities Thursday as a timetable for withdrawing all U.S. troops won final government approval.

New tapes show LBJ worried about Vietnam, Nixon (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:03:54 GMT
AP - In the last months of his administration, President Lyndon Johnson voiced worry over the Vietnam peace talks and stridently suggested that associates of Richard Nixon were attempting to keep South Vietnam away from the table until after the 1968 election, recordings of telephone conversations released Thursday show.

Minn. teen girls charged in nursing home abuse (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:55:04 GMT
AP - Two teenage girls who worked at a nursing home have been charged with abuse, accused of taunting, spitting on and groping residents who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Gun club, police chief indicted in boy's Uzi death (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:06:31 GMT
AP - Three men, including a small-town police chief, were indicted Thursday on involuntary manslaughter counts in the gun-fair death of an 8-year-old who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi that a prosecutor said he never should have been allowed to handle.

Boot Knut? Ex-cuddly polar bear cub faces uncertain future (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:57:14 GMT
AP - Knut the superstar polar bear turns two on Friday looking nothing like the button-eyed ball of white fluff who captured hearts around the world.

NJ woman sues Pa. sports bar for toilet seat break (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:22:46 GMT
AP - A New Jersey woman is suing a Pennsylvania sports bar and restaurant, saying she got stuck inside a toilet bowl for 20 minutes when the seat broke. Kathleen Hewko, of Delran Township, said she was in the bathroom at Starters Pub in an Allentown suburb when the handicapped toilet seat she was sitting on cracked and dumped her into the bowl.

Stars' Avery meets NHL commissioner for 3 hours (AP)
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:23:00 GMT
AP - Suspended Sean Avery has met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for about three hours at a disciplinary hearing to discuss derogatory comments the Dallas Stars forward made earlier this week.