All city employees and appointees will get a pay raise in 2011, as only one elected official takes one in the same year, Shelbyville City Council members unanimously approved Wednesday.

City officials face some very tough choices in the coming weeks as they grapple with a significantly larger proposed budget for 2011.

City Seeks Residents To Serve On Boards

The city is seeking volunteers to serve on various board and commissions.

US to fight early release of ex-Ill. gov. Ryan (AP)

AP - Federal prosecutors say they will oppose former Illinois Gov. George Ryan's attempts to be released early from prison.

City Working to Put an End to Graffiti

The City of El Paso's "Make a Difference - Report Graffiti" campaign is underway in an effort to stop tagging in the Sun City.

City striker Balotelli to have operation

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is to undergo a knee operation which will rule him out of action for up to six weeks.

169 homes destroyed in Colorado wildfire (AP)

AP - Authorities say that a wildfire burning in the foothills near Boulder has destroyed at least 169 houses.

Appeals court blocks Pa. town's immigration law (AP)

AP - A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hazleton, Pa., may not enforce its crackdown on illegal immigrants, dealing another blow to 4-year-old regulations that inspired similar measures around the country, including Arizona.

Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1950 (AP)

AP - Traffic deaths have plummeted across the United States to levels not seen in more than a half century, spurred by technology, more safety-conscious drivers and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws.

Backers of NYC mosque appear divided, regretful (AP)

AP - The backers of a proposed Islamic center near ground zero are expressing regrets about creating a firestorm with a plan they thought would be simple and noncontroversial.

Patriots: Brady attends practice after 2-car wreck (AP)

AP - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in a two-car accident near his home on Thursday morning but was unhurt and attended a walk-through practice later in the day.

Storm that killed 2 in Texas continues north (AP)

AP - The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine trekked northward after forcing more than 100 high-water rescues in Texas, swamping streets, producing several tornadoes and killing at least two people.

APNewsBreak: NY to seek info on cleanser contents (AP)

AP - Consumers will get a newly detailed look at exactly what's in common household cleansers, as regulators plan to start enforcing a nearly 40-year-old state law that would force manufacturers to reveal their products' contents.

Jobless claims, trade gap brighten outlook (Reuters)

Reuters - New claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to a two-month low, while the trade deficit narrowed sharply in July, hopeful signs for the stuttering economic recovery.

City crews hustle to respond to storm damage calls

City officials say they are still trying to respond to 250 calls from people reporting downed trees blocking roadways.

Obama better on war than economy: poll (AFP)

AFP - US President Barack Obama gets better marks for his wartime leadership than his stewardship of the sluggish economic recovery, a new opinion poll found Thursday.

Global recession unlikely, OECD says (AP)

AP - The global economic recovery could be slower than expected but another recession remains unlikely — especially if governments don't overdo their spending cuts, a leading international economic body said Thursday.

US jobless claims drop faster than expected (AFP)

AFP - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell faster than expected last week, extending a three-week decline, government data showed Thursday.

Avg. mortgage rate up to 4.35 pct. off decades-low (AP)

AP - Mortgage rates mostly edged up last week as investors' fears about the economy eased.

Safety concerns for Fla. officials over Quran burn (AP)

AP - As Florida officials worried about public safety surrounding a small church's plan to burn the Quran, President Barack Obama added his voice to the chorus of opposition to the church's intention to burn copies of Islam's holiest text to mark the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

City marks Family Week

THE CITY of Baguio, through the Office of Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), launched the month-long activities for the observance of Family Week i read more

Hopes rise as jobless claims fall, trade gap eases (AP)

AP - The number of people signing up for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest level in two months, an encouraging sign that companies aren't resorting to deeper layoffs even as the economy has lost momentum.

Trade deficit narrows to $42.8 billion in July (AP)

AP - The trade deficit narrowed significantly in July as exports climbed to the highest level in nearly two years, reflecting big gains in sales of U.S.-made airplanes and other manufactured goods while imports declined.

BP oil rig blast: 'We have a potential problem here' (AP)

AP - Something was wrong.

City approves 25 new lots in Yaples Orchard

City leaders approved 25 new lots for development in Yaples Orchard on Wednesday.

Obama adviser nudges Russia on democracy (Reuters)

Reuters - Russia should uphold democratic rights and increase political competition if the Kremlin's plans to modernize its economy are to become reality, President Barack Obama's top adviser on Russia said on Thursday.

US trade deficit narrows sharply in July (AFP)

AFP - The US trade deficit dropped more than expected in July as exports reached their highest level in two years, official data showed Thursday, boosting hopes for the US economic recovery.

City considers disposal of properties

City council members approved of the city disposing of certain real estate during the council meeting on Aug. 23.

Trade gap narrows more than expected in July (Reuters)

Reuters - The trade deficit narrowed more than expected in July, as imports retreated and exports shot to their highest since August 2008, according to a government report on Thursday that could lift hopes for third-quarter economic growth.

(AP)

AP - Trade deficit narrows sharply in July as exports rise to the highest level in nearly two years.

Obama implores minister to call off Quran burning (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is exhorting a Florida minister to "listen to those better angels" and call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend.

Bank of England holds rates at 0.5 percent (Reuters)

Reuters - The Bank of England kept interest rates at 0.5 percent for the 18th month in a row and announced no new quantitative easing purchases, in a widely expected decision on Thursday.

US loses ground in competitiveness report (AP)

AP - The U.S. has slipped down the ranks of competitive economies, falling behind Sweden and Singapore due to huge deficits and pessimism about government, a global economic group said Thursday.

Bank of England keeps rates at record low (AP)

AP - The Bank of England says it is holding interest rates steady at a record low of 0.5 percent for the 18th consecutive month amid growing fears about a double-dip recession.

A whole different Playboy channel for the blind (AP)

AP - Suzi Hanks reads Playboy magazine for the articles. And the jokes. And the letters and cartoons.

Global stocks rise, dollar steady (AFP)

AFP - Global equities rose and the dollar steadied against the euro on Thursday amid renewed confidence in the economy and as markets awaited US jobs data and a British interest rate decision.

Laura Bush to speak at 9/11 memorial fundraiser (AP)

AP - Former first lady Laura Bush will speak at a National Park Service fundraiser in Pittsburgh on Friday, a day before joining Michelle Obama in rural Pennsylvania to remember the victims of Flight 93, which crashed there in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Report: officer involved in previous shootings (AP)

AP - The police officer who shot and killed a knife-wielding man whose death has sparked three days of violent protests in Los Angeles had been involved in two previous shootings while on duty, according to a media report.

Soldier's father: Army was warned of Afghan murder plot (AP)

AP - The father of a U.S. soldier serving in Afghanistan says he tried nearly a half dozen times to pass an urgent message from his son to the Army: Troops in his unit had murdered an Afghan civilian, planned more killings and threatened him to keep quiet about it.

OECD says recovery slowing, urges policy caution (Reuters)

Reuters - Global recovery looks to be slowing more than expected as growth weakens in rich economies, and stimulus should be extended or stepped up if the slowdown endures, the OECD said on Thursday.