McCain rejects 'audacity of hopelessness' for Iraq (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:53:44 GMT
AP - Republican presidential candidate John McCain, ridiculing Barack Obama for "the audacity of hopelessness" in his policies on Iraq, said Friday that the entire Middle East could have plunged into war had U.S. troops been withdrawn as his rival advocated.

FDA: Avoid jalapenos from Mexico, not US (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:21:55 GMT
AP - Only jalapeno peppers grown in Mexico are implicated in the nationwide salmonella outbreak, the government announced Friday in clearing the U.S. crop.

Obama camp cites Pentagon in scrapping troop visit (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:22:00 GMT
AP - An aide to Sen. Barack Obama said Friday the Democratic presidential contender believed he could visit wounded troops at a military hospital in Germany without involving them in a campaign controversy and scrapped his plans after the Pentagon raised concerns.

Qantas jet lands with gaping hole in fuselage (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:23:50 GMT
AP - The 346 passengers were cruising at 29,000 feet Friday when an explosive bang shook the Qantas jumbo jet. The plane descended rapidly. Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling as debris flew through the cabin from a hole that had suddenly appeared in the floor.

Military says US troops killed Iraqi editor's son (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:23:53 GMT
AP - The U.S. military said Friday that bullets fired by American soldiers killed the 14-year-old son of the chief editor of a U.S.-sponsored newspaper during a gunbattle this week in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Pa. teens charged in fatal beating of immigrant (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:49:03 GMT
AP - Three white teens were charged Friday in what officials said was an epithet-filled fatal beating of an illegal Mexican immigrant in a small northeast Pennsylvania coal town. Brandon J. Piekarsky, 16, and Colin J. Walsh, 17, were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation in the July 12 attack on Luis Ramirez.

Phoenix police: College shooter was punched first (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:48:46 GMT
AP - The most seriously wounded of three people shot in a community-college computer lab had punched the gunman in the face before he opened fire, police said Friday.

Spears and Federline settle custody case (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:29:27 GMT
AP - Britney Spears and Kevin Federline finalized their child-custody settlement Friday, including a $5,000-per-month increase in child support for the pop singer's ex-husband.

Angry man shoots lawn mower for not starting (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:17:18 GMT
AP - A Milwaukee man was accused of shooting his lawn mower because it wouldn't start. Keith Walendowski, 56, was charged with felony possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle and misdemeanor disorderly conduct while armed.

Favre must file letter to show for Packers camp (AP)
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:07:49 GMT
AP - If Brett Favre plans to show for the Green Bay Packers' training camp, he'll need permission from the NFL. And as of Friday evening, he had not petitioned the league for reinstatement.