My County Paper - National News

Earl lashes N.C. coast, officials survey damage
Hurricane Earl's winds and driving rains churned over the North Carolina in the dark of night, leaving residents and officials to wait for daybreak to assess the damage.
Shooting in southwest Chicago leaves 4 men dead
Four men have been killed in a shooting in southwest Chicago.
U.S. court backs 'Ladies Night' promotions
Teen accidentally texts sheriff to buy pot
General rule of thumb: when looking to buy marijuana, don't text the sheriff. Authorities said a Helena teen sent out a text message last week in search of pot, but instead of contacting the drug dealer, he hit a wrong number and inadvertently sent the message to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.
70-year-old scientist sparks airport bomb scare
A 70-year-old scientist sparked a bomb scare at Miami airport Thursday evening when screeners found a metal canister in his luggage that looked like a pipe bomb, a government official said.

Obama: Economy's Moving In Right Direction, But Not Fast Enough
The president pushed again for action on legislation aimed at giving small businesses more incentives to hire.
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Tax Breaks; New Poll On NYC Islamic Center; New Attack In Pakistan
'The Washington Post' reports the Obama administration is considering a package of tax breaks aimed at encouraging businesses to add workers -- and to combat GOP charges that the Democrats are anti-business.
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Brace Yourself: August Jobs Report Due Shortly
Most economists expect the Bureau of Labor Statistics will say that the employment picture didn't get any better last month.
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Miami Airport Reopens After Suspicious Item Found
A government official says a scientist has been detained in Miami after screeners found a metal canister in his luggage that looked like a pipe bomb.
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Earl Weakens But Packs Punch As It Heads North
Powerful gusts and driving rains churned over North Carolina's Outer Banks and were being felt in southeastern Virginia as the storm moves up the coast. Experts say Earl likely will continue to weaken but is expected to remain a large hurricane as it approaches southern New England.
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Senators: Cyber self-defense can help U.S. security
Recently, we completed an intensive, bipartisan six-month study on cybersecurity and presented it to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Texas lawmaker admits mistake in scholarship scandal
A veteran House representative from Texas said she made a mistake when she awarded charitable scholarships to her family members instead of students in her district.
Army finishes initial review of McChrystal affair
The Army's inspector general has completed an initial review into the circumstances surrounding comments by former Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his staff that appeared in Rolling Stone magazine, Army spokesman Col. Tom Collins told CNN.
Judge rejects Obama testifying at 'birther' colonel's trial
A judge on Thursday denied a request for President Barack Obama to testify at a court martial for a U.S. Army flight surgeon who refused to deploy to Afghanistan until he saw proof that Obama was born in the United States.
Gates arrives in Afghanistan
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan Thursday to consult with political and military officials.

Slideshow: Aug. 26 - Sept. 2
Restaurant workers toss snowballs in Poland, fire reduces homes to stilts in the Philippines, a girl water-skis behind a dogsled team in Alaska and more eye-grabbing photos from around the world.
Slideshow: Aug. 20 - 26
A soldier’s teary homecoming in Connecticut, a California firefighter tries to save a cat, wildebeests run wild in Kenya, flood survivors vie for aid in Pakistan and more photos from around the world.
Slideshow: Aug. 12 - 20
A quest for water in Congo, a farm in Pakistan becomes an island, catfish swarm in India, a bull bows out in Spain, sunflowers shine in Germany and more eye-catching photos from around the globe.
Slideshow: Aug. 5 - 12
Young Chinese gymnasts cling to a high bar, desperate flood victims grasp for aid in Pakistan, a couple in love hold onto each other in Los Angeles and more gripping images from around the world.
Slideshow: July 29 - Aug. 5
Dive-by dining in Italy, coal-digging on a train in China, destruction in flood-ravaged Pakistan, a wildfire-scarred garden in Russia and more dramatic images from around the world.

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Long Island, Cape Cod get ready for Earl
Residents of New York and New England braced for a potential onslaught Friday from Hurricane Earl, which earlier lashed the Carolina coastline with 35-foot waves. North Carolina's governor said her state had "dodged the bullet."
Oil workers rescued after fire
A fire on a well connected to an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday is out and there is no indication of an oil sheen, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Airport scare caused by metal canister in luggage
Bomb squad investigators were at Miami International Airport on Friday after a suspicious item was spotted in a baggage screening area, authorities said.
Toshiba recalls 41,000 computers over risk of burns
Toshiba has announced the voluntary recall of about 41,000 notebook computers worldwide at risk of overheating and burning users.
BP removes cap from ruptured well
Crews removed the cap from BP's ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well late Thursday afternoon, a company spokeswoman said.
Actress who played Bonnie Blue Butler in 'GWTW' dies at 76
Cammie King Conlon, who played the ill-fated Bonnie Blue Butler in "Gone With the Wind," used to joke "that I peaked at age 5."
Hostage taker smuggled illegal
The gunman who held three people hostage at the Discovery Channel headquarters was once convicted of smuggling an illegal immigrant into the country from Mexico.