Jack Nicholson on drugs death of Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger: 'I warned him'

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BrokeBack Mountain-
The Untold Story

written by

Ingrid Pluktchy

By MARK COLEMAN and RICHARD SIMPSON
Last updated at 01:18 24 January 2008

 
Warning: On hearing of Heath Ledger's death, Jack Nicholson said in London last night 'I warned him'

Shock: Hollywood star Heath Ledger (right) cut a tragic figure in his last days on set of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in London over the weekend. Left: the last picture of the star, also taken on set

Warning: On hearing of Heath Ledger's death, Jack Nicholson said in London last night 'I warned him'

Last days: Heath, in east London on 6 January, filming a Terry Gilliam fantasy adventure with model Lily Cole
The news of Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger's death in a New York apartment has caused shockwaves around the world, but it didn't come as a surprise to one Hollywood star.

A revealing ? if ambiguous - comment made by Jack Nicholson hints he was aware Ledger was battling personal demons.

The acting veteran, who played the Batman's most famous Joker, said in London: "I warned him.?
The comment came as it emerged that police had recovered a rolled-up $20 note from the apartment.

At a press conference NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly admitted that "no testing has been done for narcotics at this time" on the note, but it is something the police are looking into.

A source told CBS 2 that several drug packets containing an unknown substance had also been found but Kelly refused to elaborate on this, saying only, "Some of them were sleeping pills, in essence, and some other drugs there as well. ... We are going to wait for the toxicology report."

His family have rejected speculation that he committed suicide earlier.

An initial autopsy carried out by the New York City Medical Examiner was "inconclusive", according to U.S. reports.

The official investigation was launched after a police spokesperson confirmed that presciption anxiety drugs Valim and Zoloft as well as sleeping medication Ambien were found in the vicinity of the actor's body.

In Perth, his home town, Ledger's father Kim read out a statement in which he insisted the death was an accident.

Surrounded by his ex-wife Sally and their sobbing daughter Kate, he said: ?We confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda.?

Last days: Heath, in east London on 6 January, filming a Terry Gilliam fantasy adventure with model Lily Cole

He went on to describe his son as "a down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many."

Kim continued: "Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life that few had the pleasure of truly knowing him."

Ledger's ex-fiancée Michelle Williams and their two year old daughter Matilda flew from a film set in Sweden to their home in Brooklyn following the tragedy.

"You can't begin to imagine the state she's in," an executive on the film told the Mail Online.

It has been revealed Ledger made a friend promise to call and ?wake me up? hours before his death.

?I last spoke to him the night before he died. He said he could not see me that night but really wanted to meet me the next day. He made me promise that I would call him in the morning and wake him up. I tried. Little did I know that his soul had already left his body,? he said.

He added: ?He was one of the most gentle, most honest, most caring, and most compassionate persons I had met.?

The actor was found dead at a SoHo, Manhattan residence, where he had been staying on a temporary basis.

Meanwhile Naomi Watts, who dated Ledger for two years after they met on the set of Ned Kelly in 2002, has cancelled all her press at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where she was set to promote her upcoming thriller Funny Games.

The actress is said to be devastated by his death and will not attend her film premiere tonight reports Usmagazine.com.

Heartbroken: In a statement, Heath's family, including father Kim and mother Sally with his sister Kate outside their home in Perth today, described the star as 'generous, kind-hearted and life-loving'

Sources told Mail Online that Ledger had been battling substance abuse problems - including an addiction to heroin - for some time.

"He had a stint in rehab last year when he was treated for heroin," a source told The Daily Mail, adding that Ledger was increasingly introverted at the time of his death.

There are claims the strain of playing the Joker in the new Batman film may have proved too much for the star ? in a recent interview, he told how the role of a ?murderous psychopath? had left him ?sleepless and exhausted?. He is also said to have recently suffered pneumonia.

He was only sleeping around two hours a night, with reports speculating his reliance on sleeping pills led to his "accidental overdose".

A housekeeper at Ledger's New York City apartment made the shocking discovery of his body face down on a bed at 3.20pm local time on Tuesday afternoon.

Minutes earlier, the housekeeper had opened the door to a masseuse, who had an appointment with the actor.

The Hollywood website TMZ.com reported that Ledger was in cardiac arrest when emergency services arrived on the scene.

The actor's body was moved to the floor but subsequent attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead at 3.35pm, at the scene.

His remains were removed by police in a body bag from the apartment three hours after his death.

Her father Larry Williams said: ?It has just broken everybody's heart in my family. I think Tennyson got it right in the poem he described someone as having died at a young age but burning the candles at both ends. And oh what a beautiful flame he made. That was Heath.?

He said Ledger was devoted to his daughter Matilda.

An insider disclosed that the Oscar nominated star had been battling substance abuse problems during the later part of his life.

Perth-born Ledger took his break-up with Williams last September very badly, according to the source.

"Heath was shattered by his split from Michelle," the source told Mail Online, adding: "He became a recluse. He barely slept he was dealing with terrible mood swings."

Ledger spent the past several months mourning the loss of his relationship with Williams and friends say he had become an introvert, who was headed in a downward spiral.

"Heath totally wanted to be on his own these past few months since he and Michelle split in September," says a source. "She was very much in love with him, but the fact he continued to dabble in drugs kept their relationship from being one she could rely on.

"He adored his daughter Matilda, and when Michelle called it quits, he missed Matilda so much that he was thrown into a deep dark depression.

"Heath was living in New York to be close to his daughter. But he hardly ever ventured out anymore.

"His close friend and Brokeback co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal has been worried about him for months. And he knew Heath was sinking further into a depression. Jake is Matilda's godfather, and he and Heath had become really close since they did the film Brokeback together.

"Jake wanted Heath to get help, but he refused, and now it looks as though he may have died of a drug overdose.

"Michelle will be devastated by the news, because she always hoped he would get help and they could manage to work out their relationship for the sake of their daughter.

"Now poor little Matty is left without a father, and Heath has died a senseless death.

"He had so much to live for and he was so talented. He was working on a new film, and he had everything in life to live for. Now, tragically, he has thrown it all away at just 28."

Industry observers spoke of the increasingly "unhinged" way that Ledger has carried himself professionally and personally in recent months.

"It's easy to think an actor is just dressing bizarrely and acting weird on the red carpet to try to drum up some interest in themselves. But a picture is fast emerging, through discussions with his friends and work associates, that Heath has really been very out of it for months.

"And he's been battling some pretty serious demons. It's just so incredible that it was allowed to gone on unchecked for so long."

Ledger's former fiancée Williams failed to talk sense into her now deceased former partner.

"She cared for him deeply but his life was unmanageable," said the source. "As much as she wanted to stay together, he was a different person these past couple of years.

"The tragic reality was that he lost his grip on life."

As for Ledger's trip to rehab, the source said: "It was during his filming of The Dark Knight. Heath's addiction was really getting in the way of his ability to act. He went to rehab but left fairly quickly, within a number of days.

"Tragically, he never really faced up to his addictions. Had he done so, he would be alive today."

It was at the Venice Film Festival in September of last year that Ledger first started displaying signs of being floored by his split with Williams and at was then that friends noticed a change of behaviour in him.

After behaving oddly during a press junket at the festival on the Venice Lido all day on September 3rd, Ledger went alone to a party thrown by Italian designer Alberta Ferretti on a yacht moored off the main city at 10pm.

Ledger arrived dressed "as if he was homeless", said a source.

"It looked as if he was if he was trying to make some kind of point. He drifted around the party not talking to anyone for half an hour and then just walked off into the night like a lost soul. It was most odd.

"He and Richard Gere were both special guests at the party. But Heath was just like a ghost. It was obvious something awful had happened to him."

In an interview last November, Ledger spoke of the joy of fatherhood; "Having a child changes every aspect of your life ? for the better, of course. The sacrifices are large, but what you get in return is even bigger than the sacrifices you make.

"I feel, in a sense, ready to die because you are living on in your child."

Chief among his celebrity confidants during the final stages of his life was fellow Australian Naomi Watts.

Ledger was currently in the middle of filming the Terry Gilliam movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus at the time of his death. Last weekend, he was photographed dressed as a clown on set in London.

The fantasy-adventure film about a travelling theatre troupe was scheduled for release next year.

Born in Perth, Western Australia, to race car driver Kim Ledger and French teacher Sally Bell, the actor left school at age 16 to pursue his acting career in Sydney.

After making his TV debut in children's TV series Clowning Around at the age of 13, Ledger made his first big screen outing in Australian drama Blackrock.

Ledger's breakout Hollywood role came in 1999 teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, alongside Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

After high-profile roles opposite Mel Gibson in The Patriot and Halle Berry in Monster's Ball, Ledger was firmly established as a leading man in Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain in 2005.

Ledger was Oscar-nominated for his acclaimed performance as gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain, but missed out to Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won the Academy Award for Capote.

He can currently be seen in cinemas playing Bob Dylan in I'm Not There alongside Cate Blanchett and Richard Gere.

His performance as The Joker in Batman sequel The Dark Knight has already received a good reception from test audiences. The movie is expected to be a blockbuster when it is released this summer.

Warner Bros. Pictures Group, who produced the Batman movie, has issued a statement: "The studio is stunned and devastated by this tragic news. The entertainment community has lost an enormous talent.

"Heath was a brilliant actor and an exceptional person. Our hearts go out to his family and friends."

As well as his film career, Ledger also had a love for music and started a record company with American musician Ben Harper.

Ledger's demise comes just a week after the sudden death of another young Hollywood star, 25-year-old Brad Renfro. It is believed Renfro died of a suspected drug overdose.

Despite his high-profile relationships with Williams, Watts and Heather Graham, Ledger hated the media attention that came with his fame and had often hit the headlines for altercations with the paparazzi.

As well as his parents and daughter Matilda, Ledger is also survived by his sister Katherine, and half-sisters Olivia Ledger and Ashleigh Bell.

Heath Ledger's filmography

The Dark Knight (2008}

I'm Not There (2007)

Candy (2006)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Lords of Dogtown (2005)

Ned Kelly (2003)

The Four Feathers (2002)

Monster's Ball (2001)

A Knight's Tale (2001)

The Patriot (2000)

Two Hands (1999)

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Paws (1997)

Blackrock (1997)

Clowning Around (1992)

Tragic: Ledger?s body is carried from his New York apartment last night under the media?s gaze

Scene: Officers removed the actor's body three hours after he was found dead in his apartment

Heartbroken: In a statement, Heath's family, including father Kim and mother Sally with his sister Kate outside their home in Perth today, described the star as 'generous, kind-hearted and life-loving'

Father: Heath with his two-year-old daughter Matilda

Ex love: After meeting on the set of Brokeback Mountain, Heath and Michelle Williams had a daughter Matilda

Taking on The Joker: Ledger's next film is upcoming Batman sequel The Dark Knight with Maggie Gyllenhaal (pictured right)

Being Bob: Ledger played Bob Dylan in I'm Not There

Blockbuster: A Knight's Tale in 2001 was one of Ledger's first blockbuster roles

Last days: A dishevelled Heath Ledger in east London on 6 January, filming a Terry Gilliam fantasy adventure with model Lily Cole

Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett lead tributes as Hollywood mourns fallen star Heath Ledger

Tributes are pouring in for Australian actor Heath Ledger, who was found dead in his New York apartment yesterday.

As police began an investigation into the cause of the 28-year-old's untimely death, some of Hollywood's brightest stars paid their condolences to the troubled actor's family.

Nicole Kidman, best friend of Ledger's former girlfriend Naomi Watts, said in a statement: "What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to Heath's family."

Lindsay Lohan, who briefly dated Ledger last year, sobbed uncontrollably as she learned the news outside a bakery in west Hollywood today.

The 21-year-old Mean Girls star was deeply fond of Ledger and stayed on friendly terms with him after their brief romance ended
And fellow Australian Cate Blanchett, who was yesterday nominated for an Oscar for I'm Not There, which also stars Ledger, said she was shocked by the news.

"I deeply respect Heath's work and always admired his continuing development as an artist."

Supermodel Helena Christensen, who was romantically linked to the star late last year, was on her way to him when she learned of his death.

The 39-year-old has revealed she left a message on his answering machine just moments before his was body was found.

She told US fashion newspaper Women's Wear Daily: "I am beyond sad at this point, and shocked.

"I was on my way over to pay him a visit when I found out.

"I had just left him a message and heard his voice on the machine.

"He was such a special and genuine person, so extraordinarily talented because he was so raw and honest with his feelings.

"He was so full of life, so electric... this is immensely sad."

Mel Gibson, who starred alongside Ledger in The Patriot, said: "He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss.

"My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

While on a promotional visit to Australia John Travolta said: "He is one of my favourite actors. His abilities are rare... it's a tremendous loss."

The producer of Brokeback Mountain James Schamus said: "Heath Ledger was a courageous actor, and a great soul.

"He gave us the gift of sharing his fearless and beautiful love ? of his craft, and of all who worked with him ? for which all of us will be eternally grateful."

"This is an unimaginable tragedy," Todd Haynes, the director of Ledger's most recent film I'm Not There, said in a statement.

"Heath was a true artist, a deeply sensitive man, an explorer, gifted and wise beyond his years. There is no finer person on this earth."

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also expressed shock at his death.

"It is tragic that we have lost one of our nation's finest actors in the prime of his life," Rudd said in a statement.

"Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor."

Shocked: Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett have all paid tribute to Heath Ledger

Grief stricken: Lindsay Lohan, who was romantically linked to Ledger, sobs uncontrollably in Hollywood today after learning of his death

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Police: Boy safe after abduction by drug dealers

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Parents press states for autism insurance laws AP
Some investors grow leery of stocks in grim market AP - Sun Oct 19,

Amid meltdown, cities slash sports, health, cops AP -
King siblings say family court fight was necessary AP

Obama wins Powell endorsement and record cash haul

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (AFP) - Barack Obama basked Sunday in the endorsement of former secretary of state Colin Powell and a huge cash haul that left the Democrat set fair for the epic White House campaign's final fortnight.

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Top Iraqi leaders to discuss US-Iraq security pact Sun Oct 19, 11:12 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq's top leaders were to meet late on Sunday to review a controversial security pact with the US that will determine American troop deployments beyond this year, a parliamentary official told AFP.

Zimbabwe deal 'can't be imposed': Mugabe aide Sun Oct 19, 9:35 AM ET

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe's top lieutenant fired a warning shot on Sunday against any bid by southern African leaders involved in an ailing power-sharing deal, to impose a solution on rival parties.

Nine Chinese oil workers kidnapped in Sudan Sun Oct 19, 11:05 AM ET

KHARTOUM (AFP) - Nine Chinese oil workers have been kidnapped near Sudan's disputed central oil district of Abyei, the Chinese embassy said on Sunday, with a Sudanese driver also feared missing.

Russia confirms third death in Caucasus ambush Sun Oct 19, 12:03 PM ET

MOSCOW (AFP) - A third Russian soldier has died after a troop column was ambushed in the volatile North Caucasus region, an official said on Sunday, while unconfirmed reports said clashes had killed around 50 Russian soldiers.

'Important' NKorea announcement could come Monday: report Sun Oct 19, 3:36 AM ET

TOKYO (AFP) - North Korea may make an "important" announcement on Monday, amid rumours that reclusive leader Kim Jong-Il has fallen seriously ill, a Japanese media report said.

40 militants said killed in Pakistan as US diplomat visits Sun Oct 19, 7:27 AM ET

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) - Pakistani forces killed about 40 Taliban militants on Sunday, security officials said, as the top US diplomat for South Asia visited the volatile country for talks.

Kurds clash with Turkish police over Ocalan Sun Oct 19, 11:43 AM ET

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AFP) - Kurds angry at alleged abuses against jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan clashed with police for a second day running Sunday despite a Turkish government pledge he had not been mistreated.

Taliban hijack Afghan bus, dozens feared dead: officials Sun Oct 19, 11:08 AM ET

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - Taliban militants hijacked a bus in southern Afghanistan last week and killed as many as 40 passengers, authorities said, although only six beheaded bodies had been recovered by Sunday.

Israel's Livni to ask for more time to form govt 2 hours, 1 minute ago

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will ask President Shimon Peres to extend her time to form a government in her bid to become Israel's second woman prime minister, a senior aide said on Sunday.

Russian troops attacked, report claims 50 killed Sat Oct 18, 2:55 PM ET

MOSCOW (AFP) - A Russian troop convoy was attacked Saturday in the volatile Caucasus province of Ingushetia and an opposition website said around 50 soldiers had been killed, though officials confirmed only two dead.

Obama tells 100,000 supporters: change is coming Sat Oct 18, 4:37 PM ET

ST LOUIS, Missouri (AFP) - Addressing a sea of 100,000 supporters Saturday, Democrat Barack Obama fired back against White House rival John McCain on taxes and toxic campaign messages 17 days out from election day.

IMF launches probe into director's affair with employee Sat Oct 18, 1:55 PM ET

NEW YORK (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund has opened an investigation of its director Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his intimate ties to a subordinate employee -- an affair that echoes the scandal that ousted Paul Wolfowitz from the World Bank last year.

Turkish police hold scores in Kurdish demos Sat Oct 18, 1:42 PM ET

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AFP) - Kurds demonstrating in support of jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan clashed with police in Istanbul and other Turkish cities following allegations of his mistreatment in prison, media reported Saturday.

Tsvangirai says Mugabe intransigent as rivals seek help Sat Oct 18, 12:04 PM ET

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP) - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday President Robert Mugabe had been totally intransigent on power-sharing proposals, after the two rivals asked neighbouring nations to help break their deadlock.

Immigration debate intensifies as European economy falters Sat Oct 18, 4:49 PM ET

PARIS (AFP) - Several thousand people took to the streets of France's capital to protest against sweeping new immigration guidelines agreed by EU leaders as the British government warned of tougher entry restrictions owing to the financial downturn.

Czech premier's party suffers heavy losses in regional poll Sat Oct 18, 6:07 PM ET

PRAGUE (AFP) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's party suffered heavy losses to the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) in regional elections, official results showed Saturday.

Spanish conservatives lash judge over Franco-era probe Sat Oct 18, 3:46 PM ET

MADRID (AFP) - Spanish conservatives reacted angrily Saturday to a judge's decision to order a probe into the disappearances of tens of thousands of people during the 1936-39 civil war and the ensuing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.

Bolivia's president suspends activities Sat Oct 18, 7:56 PM ET

LA PAZ (AFP) - Bolivian President Evo Morales has suspended official activities on doctor's orders, government spokesman Ivan Canelas told AFP.

Jews' objections slow Pius XII's path to sainthood: advocate Sat Oct 18, 4:42 PM ET

ROME (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI is hesitating over approving the first step towards sainthood for his Nazi-era predecessor Pius XII out of concern for maintaining "good relations" with Jews, the priest in charge of the dossier said Saturday.

Obama: Democrats could still 'snatch defeat' Fri Oct 17, 3:42 PM ET

ROANOKE, Virginia (AFP) - Barack Obama hunted deep on Republican turf Friday as he campaigned to seal the deal with voters 18 days from election day, while warning Democrats of their historic ability to "snatch defeat" from victory.

Zimbabwe asks neighbours to help save power-sharing deal Fri Oct 17, 7:15 PM ET

HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed Friday to agree on who should control powerful ministries, and turned to neighbouring countries to help break the impasse.

Japan wins seat at UN Security Council; Iran fails Fri Oct 17, 5:26 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Japan was elected Friday to a seat at the UN Security Council for 2009-2010, displacing a bid by Iran for a place at the head table of international diplomacy.

China extends Olympic media freedoms for foreign press: govt Fri Oct 17, 2:00 PM ET

BEIJING (AFP) - China on Friday announced it had extended rules introduced for the Olympics allowing foreign reporters greater freedoms, but there was no easing of restrictions for domestic press.

NKorea revives nuclear disablement: US Fri Oct 17, 2:21 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Friday that North Korea has broadly resumed disabling its weapons-grade nuclear program, all within days of a deal that revived the troubled negotiations.

Pakistan airstrikes kill 60 militants, hostage escapes: officials Fri Oct 17, 3:06 PM ET

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Airstrikes by Pakistani jets killed 60 pro-Taliban fighters in the restive northwest while a Chinese engineer seized seven weeks ago escaped from his kidnappers, security officials said Friday.

Kurdish rebels say four die in Turkish air attack Fri Oct 17, 2:35 PM ET

ANKARA (AFP) - Four Kurdish rebels died Friday when Turkish warplanes attacked their positions in the north of Iraq, the Kurdish news agency Firat News reported.

Nord-Kivu officials defect to Congo rebel Nkunda Fri Oct 17, 3:33 PM ET

BUNAGANA, DR Congo (AFP) - Two lawmakers from DR Congo's provincial Nord-Kivu government and dozens of other local leaders defected to renegade general Laurent Nkunda at an official ceremony Friday.

Financial crisis threatening international aid: UN humanitarian chief Fri Oct 17, 

OSLO (AFP) - As wealthy countries fall victim to the global financial crisis they must resist pressure to cut their desperately needed international aid,

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

Calif. gay marriage ban becomes big money race AP -
States find a can of worms in bottle deposit laws AP
Other woes makes foreclosure crisis hard to break AP - Sun Oct 26
Ex-Pa. officer guilty of sex crimes while on duty AP - Sun Oct 26

Congressman skeptical of NTSB on bridge collapse AP - 57 minutes ago

MINNEAPOLIS - The chairman of the House Transportation Committee criticized federal investigators Sunday after a published report said they have determined an original design flaw is the most likely reason for the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Tributes pour in after Arkansas TV anchor's death AP - 12 minutes ago

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Flowers and candles piled up Sunday outside the home where a TV anchorwoman was found brutally beaten, as tributes poured into the Web site of the Little Rock station where her colleagues mourned her death.

Jennifer Hudson asks public to help find nephew AP - 2 hours, 23 minutes ago

CHICAGO - Jennifer Hudson appealed Sunday for the public's help in finding her 7-year-old nephew, missing since the shooting deaths of her mother and brother.

Growing Asian-American vote sheds passive past AP - 18 minutes ago

LORTON, Va. - For a long time, says Loc Pfeiffer, his fellow Asian-Americans were passive participants in American politics. But things are changing.

Pair of quakes strike off Northern Calif. coast AP - Sun Oct 26, 6:59 AM ET

EUREKA, Calif. - A pair of minor-to-moderate offshore earthquakes have struck the northern California coast, but there are no reports of any damage or injury.

AIDS treatment should start sooner, study finds AP - Sun Oct 26, 2:07 PM ET

WASHINGTON - People who have the AIDS virus should start drug treatments sooner than current guidelines recommend, suggests a large new study that could change the care of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Heart device maker recalls implant AP - Sun Oct 26, 10:11 AM ET

PLEASANTON, Calif. - A medical device company has ordered the recall of certain batches of a small mechanical heart pump, saying five people have died while using the device.

SUV collides with car in Tenn. crash, killing 5 AP - Sun Oct 26, 4:27 AM ET

HUNTSVILLE, Tenn. - A rural East Tennessee community was grieving Saturday for four high school cheerleaders who died in a fiery car crash hours after they had been cheering on their football team.

At service, activists decry Texas dragging death AP - Sun Oct 26, 4:23 AM ET

PARIS, Texas - Members of the Nation of Islam, the New Black Panthers and the NAACP on Saturday promised protests to bring more attention to the killing of an east Texas man whose death recalls, for some, a notorious decade-old hate crime.

'High School Musical' commences at No. 1 with $42M AP - 2 hours, 5 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - The crazed killer Jigsaw has been done in by a bunch of singing and dancing teens.

Californians float a plan: Return of the zeppelin AP - Sat Oct 25, 10:10 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO - Zeppelins, the giant floating airships used to carry passengers and drop bombs until the 1930s, haven't been seen in American skies for more than 70 years.

Sharpton calls for inquiry in alleged NYPD assault AP - Sat Oct 25, 3:33 PM ET

NEW YORK - Saying that police brutality is not an issue of color, the Rev. Al Sharpton on Saturday joined the cause of a white man who claims that a group of officers sodomized him with a walkie-talkie.

Ohio home explodes from gas leak AP - Sun Oct 26, 1:15 AM ET

MANSFIELD, Ohio - A gas leak ignited an explosion that destroyed a northern Ohio home while its owner was out running errands.

Utah residents make polygamy forefront of AG race AP - Sat Oct 25, 3:19 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY - Polygamy is never far from the minds of Utah residents — even when it occurs in another state.

Crimes and Trials News

• Screen set up at trial nixes assault conviction AP - Fri Oct 24, 6:53 PM ET

  LINCOLN, Neb. - A sexual assault conviction was overturned by the Nebraska Supreme Court because of a screen that had been set up in the trial courtroom to prevent the defendant's 11-year-old accuser from having to see him when she testified.

Fla. jury begins cash suitcase deliberations AP - Fri Oct 24, 4:24 PM ET

MIAMI - A federal jury began deliberations Friday in the trial of a wealthy Venezuelan businessman accused in a conspiracy to hide the source and destination of a suitcase stuffed with $800,000 in cash.

NY prosecutors investigate police sodomy allegation Reuters - Fri Oct 24, 4:13 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York prosecutors are investigating allegations that a man was beaten and sodomized by police officers in a Brooklyn subway station last week, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office said on Friday.

ALBANY, N.Y. - Bankers and brokers looking to escape the financial meltdown are scrambling to relocate their families, possessions and rarified talent far from Wall Street to places such as Florida, Chicago, Milwaukee, Virginia and Asia.

• Saint Bono and the angels of St Tropez: But what will his wife say about him partying with two teenage girls? U2 singer carouses at a beach bar

Zara Phillips breaks her collarbone as horror fall kills favourite horse The royal was 'in pain and upset' after riding accident claims life of Tsunami

English beauty dies in roof plunge after her marriage split from John Huston's son Death of English model Katie Jane Evans stuns actor Danny Huston

Jennifer Hudson identifies her mother and brother's bodies after they were shot dead at her house FBI are looking for the star's kidnapped nephew

X Factor: Scott sent home after Daniel wows tearful judges with song in memory of his wife On Big Band night, Daniel gets suited... while Scott is booted off

• LIZ JONES: The sharks are feeding on Kerry... I just hope she makes it to dry land Our writer spends a day in the company of troubled Kerry Katona
• Curse of Strictly claims another victim as model Jodie Kidd breaks her rib She doesn't let a hairline fracture stop her from dancing
• Is 'broody' Chelsy ready to call time on her student days? Prince Harry's girlfriend may quit studying for her law degree as the workload is so intense
• We're all Old Bill! The amazing host of stars whose careers began on ITV's 25-year-old police series Sun Hill saw the likes of a young Keira Knightley
• Too much exercise wore my bones away when I split with husband Nicky Clarke Lesley Clarke hit the gym when she broke up with the celebrity hairdresser
• A baby brother for boy whose three mothers are sisters (who swear they will NEVER go through that again) Introducing Oliver, the miracle baby
• Jealousy, passion and fury: An Olympic horseman and his partner tell how their lives were ruined by the showjumping stalker The crisis of Ben Maher

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Red Sox beat Rays to force championship deciderSun Oct 19,ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox beat Tampa Bay 4-2 on Saturday to force a deciding seventh game for the American League championship and a spot in the World Series.

Boy being questioned by Las Vegas police

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Flags Mark One-Year Anniversary of Deadly Wildfires

Some 1,100 flags flew in Rancho Bernardo

Obama wins Powell endorsment and massive cash haul
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama won the coveted endorsement of former secretary of state Colin Powell Sunday as he entered the final fortnight before election day flush with cash to unleash against Republican John McCain.

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Tide of voters could swamp US electoral system WASHINGTON (AFP) - As millions of Americans gear to vote in the thrilling 2008 White House race, experts are warning that the expected huge turnout could strain the voting system, triggering an electoral meltdown.

FBI lacks agents to probe financial crimes: report Sun Oct 19,
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Federal Bureau of Investigation lacks agents and resources to investigate white-collar financial crime because of personnel cuts and a shift in the agency's focus on terrorism, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Economic pain in the 'rustbelt' could swing US election 

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AFP) - The giant, crumbling steel mills sit dark and idle, their smashed windows a silent reminder of the broken dream that ordinary Americans could earn a good life working a blue-collar job.

It's Palin v Palin in comedy TV double-take Sun Oct 19, 1:29 AM ET

NEW YORK, (AFP) - It was Sarah Palin versus Sarah Palin late Saturday in a bizarre comedy double-take that saw the Republican vice presidential candidate join her own television mimic.

NASA sends probe to study edge of solar system Oct 19,

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - The US space agency was on Sunday to launch a space probe that will go into orbit high above earth to study the distant edge of the solar system where hot solar winds crash into the cold outer space.

US house prices face long fall to bottom: analysts

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The falling US housing market, the trigger for the global financial crisis, is still far from reaching the bottom, promising more pain for consumers and more bad debt for banks, analysts say.

Red Sox beat Rays, force one-game duel for World Series Sun Oct 19

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, (AFP) - Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek each hit home runs to lift Boston past Tampa Bay 4-2 Saturday and level their Major League Baseball playoff series for a berth in the World Series.

Golf: DiMarco fires 63 to lurk one off lead at Vegas PGA shootout Sun Oct 19,
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, (AFP) - Chris DiMarco, seeking his first PGA title since 2002, fired a nine-under par 63 Saturday to move within one stroke of leader Marc Turnesa after the third round of the Shriners Hospital Open.

Venus to face Pennetta in Zurich final Sat Oct 18,


ZURICH (AFP) - Venus Williams is just one match away from reclaiming the title she last won in 1999 after beating second seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final of the Zurich Open.

Obama tells 100,000 supporters: change is coming Sat Oct 18,

ST LOUIS, Missouri (AFP) - Addressing a sea of 100,000 supporters Saturday, Democrat Barack Obama fired back against White House rival John McCain on taxes and toxic campaign messages 17 days out from election day.

Bush assures US economy will rebound Sat Oct 18,

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush reassured Americans on Saturday about the long-term health of the economy, insisting that the United States is still "the best place in the world to start and run a business."

Cindy McCain releases 2007 tax return Sat Oct 18,

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and heiress of a multimillion dollar company, released her belated personal tax filings for 2007, showing she had an income of more than four million dollars.

John McCain telephones "Joe the Plumber" Oct 17

MELBOURNE, Florida (AFP) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain told a campaign rally in this Florida city that he spoke with the now famous "Joe the Plumber" for the first time on Friday.

Nancy Reagan leaves hospital after fall: spokeswoman Fri Oct 17, 

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Former US first lady Nancy Reagan has left a Los Angeles hospital where she had been treated after breaking her pelvis in a fall at her home, her spokeswoman said Friday.

China's sovereign fund increases Blackstone stake: state media Sat Oct 18,

BEIJING (AFP) - China's sovereign wealth fund has increased its stake in the US private equity firm Blackstone Group to more than 10 percent, according to state media.

Wall Street ponders whether rebound is for real Sat Oct 18,

NEW YORK (AFP) - A strong rally that lifted Wall Street from last week's multiyear lows has investors pondering whether the worst is now over for the stock market battered by its worst bear market in decades.

NBA eyes joint league, opportunities in ChinaOct 18

BEIJING (AFP) - The NBA said Saturday it hoped to help run a professional basketball league in China, as it pursued an aggressive plan to tap into a growing market in the world's most populous nation.

Britney Spears trial jury end deliberations, will resume Monday Sat Oct 18, 2:10

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The jury in Britney Spears' trial for driving without a valid license ended their first day of deliberations on Friday without reaching a verdict, according to court officials.

Obama: Democrats could still 'snatch defeat'  Oct 17

ROANOKE, Virginia (AFP) - Barack Obama hunted deep on Republican turf Friday as he campaigned to seal the deal with voters 18 days from election day, while warning Democrats of their historic ability to "snatch defeat" from victory.

Washington Post, LA Times endorse Obama for president Fri Oct 17
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, two of the most influential US newspapers, backed Barack Obama on Friday to become the next US president, praising his leadership abilities despite his relative inexperience.

Palin to appear on TV show that made her mimic famous: campaign Oct 17

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will appear this weekend on the late-night television show which has made her mimic, comedian Tina Fey, a household name, a campaign official said Friday.

Nike sues Wal-mart over alleged sports shoe copy: court document Fri Oct 17,

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US sports equipment maker Nike has started legal proceedings against giant retailer Wal-Mart over an alleged copy of its "Shox" sports shoe, court documents showed Friday.

GM, Chrysler merger talks heat up: sources Fri Oct 17,

DETROIT, Michigan (AFP) - General Motors and Chrysler Corp. have stepped up talks on a possible merger between the two ailing US automakers, sources close to the negotiations said Friday.

Red Sox rally from seven-run deficit to stay alive
 Fri Oct 17,\

BOSTON (AFP) - JD Drew hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth propelling the Boston Red Sox to an improbable 8-7 come-from-behind win over Tampa in game five of the American League Championship series Thursday.

NBA Wizards lose center Haywood for four to six months Fri Oct 17,

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood will miss the next four to six months after right wrist surgery in New York, the National Basketball Association club announced Friday.

Record 67 films enter Oscars foreign film race Fri Oct 17,

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A record 67-strong field has lined up for the Oscars' Foreign Language Film award, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Friday, with Jordan entering the race for the first time.

Republicans fear bloodbath in Congress Sun Oct 19, 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republicans always feared a pounding in this year's congressional elections, but the shockwaves of the Wall Street crisis may inflict a bloodbath on President George W. Bush's demoralized party.

Obama wins Colin Powell's vote Sun Oct 19, 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former secretary of state and military supremo Colin Powell Sunday endorsed Democrat Barack Obama's White House bid, in a stinging rebuff to Republican candidate John McCain

Halperin: How the Powell Endorsement Boosts Obama

Analysis: In a stunning symbolic and tactical move, the Republican fixture throws his support to the Democratic nominee. What the General brings the Candidate

Market Volatility Shuts Two Hedge Funds NPR - Thu Oct 16, 5:23 PM ET

Highland Capital has said it is shutting down two hedge funds amid what it called unprecedented market volatility. In a day of major fluctuations, the Dow has jumped more than 400 points. The rise can be attributed to bargain hunters.

Ahead Of Election, GOP Senate Seats Vulnerable NPR - Thu Oct 16, 4:41 PM ET

There are a growing number of Republican Senate seats that appear vulnerable this November. Amy Walter, editor in chief of Hotline, says Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi are in play and winning one of these states will allow Democrats to hold 60 seats in the Senate.

Paulson's Handling Of Crisis Draws Mixed Reviews NPR - Thu Oct 16, 4:39 PM ET

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has received mixed reviews for his performance during the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. He gets high marks for being adaptive and flexible, but many question his decision to let Lehman Brothers go bankrupt.

FDIC Chief Calls For Help For Homeowners NPR - Thu Oct 16, 4:36 PM ET

Sheila Bair, chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., says more needs to be done to help homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgages. She says rising foreclosures are at the root of the problem in the financial markets and that existing programs aren't doing enough.

Man Behind 'Casino' Dies NPR - Thu Oct 16, 4:30 PM ET

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who died this week, was a critical player in bringing the business of sports betting to Las Vegas. His life was the basis for the character played by Robert DeNiro in the movie Casino. Nicholas Pileggi, who wrote Casino, says at his peak Rosenthal set the odds in Las Vegas.

Amid Meltdown, Retirement Ads Stay On Message NPR - Thu Oct 16, 4:27 PM ET

There's one place where it seems the financial crisis has not hit: TV ads for retirement investment. Retirees still seem to be taking misty walks on the beach. Why aren't retirement investment funds running ads that tout their ability to help you beat the market fluctuations?

Obama Tax May Not Hit 'Joe The Plumber' Hard NPR - Thu Oct 16, 4:00 PM ET

An Ohio plumber named Joe Wurzelbacher has been cited by the McCain campaign as the type of person who could be hurt by Barack Obama's tax plans. Wurzelbacher is hoping to buy a plumbing company he works for and that could put his income above $250,000. But he could make many business deductions before reaching that threshold and even if he exceeds it, he probably wouldn't face a major tax bite.

Snapshot Of The Economic Crisis From Ohio NPR - Thu Oct 16, 3:54 PM ET

Residents of Chillicothe, Ohio, have seen better days financially. The mayor, workers at the local paper mill and others say they're seeing the effects of the Wall Street economic crisis trickle down to all aspects of small city life.

Are We Teetering On The Edge Of Depression 2.0? NPR - Thu Oct 16, 3:27 PM ET

Some compare our decade's reliance on easy credit to the 1920s and say history is repeating itself. Others say this time is different. And still others claim that those may be the most dangerous words of all.

How Chicago Politics Shaped Obama NPR - Thu Oct 16, 2:58 PM ET

Chicago residents who knew Barack Obama long before he became a political star say he has always had a warrior instinct. And as a student of the city's politics, he picked up key lessons

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Tragic Ending

Anchorwoman Anne Pressly dies after vicious attack

View: Headlines Only | Include Summaries | Include Photos

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Extended Interview: Seth Greenberg WRAL Raleigh - Sun Oct 26, 2:06 PM ET

Virginia Tech Head Coach Seth Greenberg says last years failure to make the NCAA tournament was a disappointment, but this is a new year.

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Aid worker killed by Taliban, buried in Kabul AP - Sun Oct 26, 12:25 PM ET

A christian aid worker, killed in Afghanistan, has been buried in Kabul. Gayle Williams was walking to work when she was gunned down. The Taliban have claimed responsibility. (Oct. 26)

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SUV crash kills four cheerleaders AP - Sun Oct 26,

A sport utility vehicle carrying a group of Tennessee cheerleaders collided with an oncoming car late Friday night killing four high school cheerleaders and a passenger in the other car. (Oct. 26)

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Little Rock Anchor Killed ABC News - Sun Oct 26, 11:00 AM ET

News reporter Anne Pressly dies after brutal attack.

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Unemployment blues CNN - Sun Oct 26, 10:46 AM ET

Unemployment is up, and CNN's Kara Finnstrom says finding work isn't easy these days.

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Hudson's nephew still missing after slayings AP - Sun Oct 26, 5:05 AM ET

The 7-year-old nephew of Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson is still missing one day after the shooting deaths of Hudson's mother and brother in their Chicago home. (Oct. 25)

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Ark. anchorwoman dies following beating AP - Sun Oct 26, 2:33 AM ET

An Arkansas television anchorwoman died Saturday, several days after she didn't answer her wake-up call and was found beaten in her home, hospital officials said. (Oct. 26)

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Woman Blames Prop. 8 Opponents For Slashing Her Tires News 8 San Diego - Sat Oct 25, 10:20 PM ET

A woman in Bay Park woke up Saturday morning and found someone slashed two tires on her minivan. She says it's because she supports Prop 8 - the anti-gay marriage initiative. It happened on Hartford Street.

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Taiwanese protest president CNN - Sat Oct 25, 9:15 PM ET

iReporter Keith Perron reports on the nearly 1 million protestors upset with their president's stance on China.

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Wounded Warrior FOX News - Sat Oct 25, 5:02 PM ET

Injured Iraq war veteran on running Marine Corps Marathon

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All Eyes on Sunshine State FOX News - Sat Oct 25, 5:01 PM ET

Are we in for another Florida 2000 redux? Doug Chapin from The Pew Center on the States weighs in

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Free Esha FOX News - Sat Oct 25, 5:01 PM ET

Fight is on to free Iranian-American student jailed in Iran

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Kentucky man charged in triple murder, rape AP - Sat Oct 25, 11:30 AM ET

Police charged 35-year-old Kevin Dunlap with killing three children, attacking their mother and setting the family's home on fire. (Oct. 25)

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Bush urges patience in economic crisis AP - Sat Oct 25, 11:16 AM ET

President Bush says the government's $700 billion plan to buy up bad assets and enhance federal deposit guarantees will pay off in the long run, but warns it will take time for the full impact to be felt. (Oct. 25)

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Dragging death stirs race tensions in Texas town AP - Sat Oct 25, 8:20 AM ET

In a gruesome case with powerful echoes of the dragging death of James Byrd a decade ago, a black man was killed underneath a pickup truck in East Texas and two white men have been charged with murder. (Oct. 25)

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Execution delayed for convict in '89 Ga. killing AP - Sat Oct 25, 5:20 AM ET

A federal appeals court has given a last-minute reprieve to Troy Davis, a Georgia man set to be executed for the 1989 killing of an off-duty Savannah, Georgia, police officer. (Oct. 24)

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Suspect caught in Hudson family killings AP - Sat Oct 25, 4:02 AM ET

Published reports say a man suspected in the shooting deaths of the mother and brother of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson is in custody, but the singer's missing nephew has not been located. (Oct. 25)

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Prop 8 Signs Cause A Stir In Local Neighborhood WCCO Minneapolis - Sat Oct 25, 2:28 AM ET

Proposition 8 would change the state constitution to ban gay marriage. The passion its igniting on both sides is turning into a game of one-upmanship in a local Natomas neighborhood

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HIV scare puts Mo. school in uncertain territory AP - Sat Oct 25, 12:57 AM ET

Students at a suburban St. Louis high school are being tested for HIV after an infected person told health officials as many as 50 teenagers might have been exposed to the virus that causes AIDS. (Oct. 24)

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Life after war CNN - Fri Oct 24, 11:01 PM ET

CNN's Michael Ware revisits a soldier with whom he was embedded in the infamous battle of Fallujah.

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Jennifer Hudson's mother found dead Reuters - Fri Oct 24, 10:02 PM ET

Two people were found dead in a Chicago home owned by actress Jennifer Hudson and her mother. U.S media reported the two victims were Hudson's brother and mother

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Stocks fall on belief global recession is near AP - Fri Oct 24, 9:59 PM ET

Wall Street has ended the week with another sharp loss, joining stock markets around the world that fell on the growing belief that a punishing economic recession is at hand. (Oct. 24)

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Palin Discusses Disabilities on Pa. Campaign Stop ABC News - Fri Oct 24, 9:30 PM ET

GOP VP candidate talks about special needs kids.

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Chrysler to cut 25 percent of salaried workers AP - Fri Oct 24, 9:25 PM ET

Chrysler says it will cut 25 percent of its salaried work force starting next month, and the automaker warned that it will make more restructuring announcements in the near future. (Oct. 24)

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Ringmaster Named Person of the Week ABC News - Fri Oct 24, 9:00 PM ET

Paul Binder revolutionized the circus, infusing performances with compassion.

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UW researchers find holes in new border security features KING5 Seattle - Fri Oct 24, 8:56 PM ET

State and federal officials are reviewing a report by University of Washington researchers. They found gaping holes in one of the new security features that's being deployed at the border. KING 5's Chris Ingalls reports.

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Boy killed on the way to school 11 News Houston - Fri Oct 24, 6:47 PM ET

A 6-year-old boy was killed Friday when he and his mother were hit by a car near the Galleria.

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Suffolk celebrates Driver Days 13 News, WVEC Hampton Roads - Fri Oct 24, 6:06 PM ET

Six months after a tornado ripped through Suffolk, the Driver community is ready to celebrate a sort of re-birth with this weekend's Driver Days.

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Parents' Plea FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 6:01 PM ET

Christina 'Paige' Alley's parents on latest search efforts for missing daughter

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Raw video: NYSE closing bell AP - Fri Oct 24, 4:30 PM ET

Stocks began the day with steep declines on Wall Street, following the lead of overseas markets. By the closing bell Friday, the key averages remained off their lows. (Oct. 24)

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Market lashed as recession fears gel AP - Fri Oct 24, 4:06 PM ET

Wall Street joins world markets in a massive sell-off, with investors dumping stocks, fueled by fears the global economy is on the verge of a punishing recession. So investors sell, watch and wait. (Oct. 24)

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Billionaire Branson abandons trans-Atlantic race AP - Fri Oct 24, 4:02 PM ET

Severe weather forced billionaire adventurer Sir Richard Branson to halt his attempt to break the trans-Atlantic speed record. He and his crew hope to hit land sometime on Friday. (Oct. 24)

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San Francisco to vote on Prostitution AP - Fri Oct 24, 2:47 PM ET

San Francisco would become the first major U.S. city to decriminalize prostitution if voters next month approve Proposition K, a measure that forbids local authorities to investigate, arrest or prosecute anyone for selling sex. (Oct. 24)

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'Jock Itch' Defense FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 2:03 PM ET

Cop accused of sexual harassment blames medical condition. Did the defense work?

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Greta Live Wire: 10/23 FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 2:03 PM ET

Go behind the scenes as Greta prepares for Thursday's 'On the Record'

Thanks, Mom FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 2:03 PM ET

Company rents drug-sniffing dogs to worried parents

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Political Attack? FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 2:03 PM ET

Polygraph tests yield 'inconsistencies' in McCain volunteer's story

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Caylee Case Update FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 2:03 PM ET

Cops: Evidence of decay found in Casey Anthony's car

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New Clues FOX News - Fri Oct 24, 2:02 PM ET

Beaten anchorwoman's credit card used at gas station