Florida pastor calls off Koran burning, claims mosque deal (AFP)

AFP - A Florida pastor called off Thursday a Koran-burning ceremony scheduled for this weekend, claiming he had secured a deal to move a planned mosque in New York away from Ground Zero.

Fla. minister cancels burning of Qurans on 9/11 (AP)

AP - The minister of a Florida church said he has canceled plans to burn copies of the Quran because the leader of a much-opposed plan to build an Islamic Center near ground zero has agreed to move its location. The agreement couldn't be immediately confirmed.

Iran to free female American for holiday clemency (AP)

AP - Iran said Thursday it will free Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans jailed for more than 13 months, as an act of clemency to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Residents assess damage caused by Detroit fires (AP)

AP - Toni Booker considered herself fortunate on Thursday as she inspected the damage to her wooden bungalow caused by urban wildfires that swept through Detroit this week, destroying dozens of homes.

UN soldier shot and robbed outside Haitian bank (AP)

AP - The United Nations mission in Haiti says one of its peacekeepers and a civilian woman have been shot by robbers outside a bank in the capital.

Fla. minister cancels burning of Qurans on 9/11 (AP)

AP - A Christian minister in Florida is canceling plans to burn Qurans on Sept. 11, heeding an international outcry that drew criticism from President Barack Obama and religious and political leaders across the Muslim world.

Trump offers to buy out investor in NY mosque site (AP)

AP - Donald Trump is offering to buy out one of the major investors in the real estate partnership that controls the site near ground zero where a Muslim group wants to build a 13-story Islamic center and mosque.

City offers reward in fatal shooting of barber

The City of Toledo is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people involved in the shooting death of Racole Hill, who was fatally shot on Fernwood Avenue late Monday evening. "This was a senseless death that has left a void in the community," said Mayor Michael P. Bell. "My condolences go out to Ms. Hill's children and family and I hope that someone ...

Suicide car bombing in southern Russia kills 17 (AP)

AP - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin blamed extremists "without souls, without hearts" for a suicide car bombing that killed 17 people Thursday in the crowded central market of a city in the North Caucasus.

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

AP - Consumers curious — or concerned — about the chemicals in household cleaning products will get detailed rundowns under state plans to require manufacturers to detail their products' contents.

Jail sentence extended for Austrian right-winger (AP)

AP - A jailed right-wing Austrian author has been found guilty of violating a prohibition on glorifying Nazi ideology and sentenced to an additional two years in prison.

Swimmers, motorists missing after Texas flooding (AP)

AP - The death toll from flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine could increase after authorities near San Antonio acknowledged Thursday that hopes were dim of finding alive two missing swimmers swept away by floodwaters.

U.S. Marines take back pirate-held ship off Somalia (AP)

AP - U.S. Marine commandos stormed a pirate-held cargo ship off the Somalia coast Thursday, reclaiming control and taking nine prisoners without firing a shot in the first such boarding raid by the international anti-piracy flotilla, U.S. Navy officials said.

Air India bomb perjury trial starts in Canada (Reuters)

Reuters - A Canadian man's own actions will prove he lied to a court about having no knowledge of the conspiracy that led to the deadly bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, prosecutors said at the start of a perjury trial on Thursday.

High winds mean Colo. fire evacuees can't return (AP)

AP - Winds expected to reach 60 mph Thursday are forcing authorities to call off plans for residents to return to their homes after they fled a wildfire that has destroyed at least 169 houses near Boulder.

Defense: Deal discussed in Detroit plane attack (AP)

AP - Lawyers for a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a plane near Detroit on Christmas said Thursday they've talked to prosecutors about resolving the case with a deal.

Nigerian forces free two Russian hostages in delta (Reuters)

Reuters - Nigerian security forces have freed two Russian sailors who were abducted from their vessel in the oil-producing Niger Delta a month ago, a senior security officer said on Thursday.

No need for California IOUs this month: controller (Reuters)

Reuters - California's revenue in August came in at $264.6 million, or 3.9 percent, above the forecast in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's state budget proposal so the state will not need to issue IOUs this month, State Controller John Chiang said in a statement on Thursday.

New report: more grandparents raising grandkids (AP)

AP - The number of U.S. children being raised by their grandparents rose sharply as the recession began, according to a new analysis of census data. The reasons, while somber, were not all economic.

Summary Box: Gold slips on economic news (AP)

AP - RISK APPETITE: Gold prices slipped after reassuring reports on the U.S. jobs market and trade created some optimism about the economy. The development spawned more appetite among investors for assets viewed as riskier than gold.

Gold slides on reassuring jobs, trade reports (AP)

AP - Gold prices slid Thursday after reassuring reports on the U.S. jobs market and trade created some optimism about the economy.

Vt.: Log Cabin All Natural Syrup not the real deal (AP)

AP - A new Log Cabin syrup touted as "all natural" looks a lot like the pure, 100 percent maple product that's the pride of Vermont, right down to its packaging in a plastic beige jug.

Fears of a second recession ease, at least for now (AP)

AP - No, the economy isn't roaring ahead. And no, companies aren't making lots of job offers. But a fresh batch of economic data Thursday at least eased summertime fears that the economy might be on the brink of another recession.

Israel's Military on the Spot in Hearing Over Activist Rachel Corrie's Death (Time.com)

Time.com - The family of a young American activist killed by an Israeli army bulldozer she was trying to block from demolishing a Palestinian home are fighting a civil suit in Israel's courts, forcing the authorities reveal details of her death

Has Pakistan's Military Lost Ground to the Floods? (Time.com)

Time.com - For Pakistan's powerful military, the unprecedented floods have been a mixed blessing

City to take utility to court

The Rainsville City Council moved to start the process of suing DeKalb-Cherokee Gas District. According to city attorney Jayson Carroll, DC Gas hasn’t paid business license privilege fees required by a 1964 city ordinance since that time.

Patriots QB Brady unhurt in wreck near Boston home (AP)

AP - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in a two-car accident near his home Thursday morning, but was unhurt and hours later practiced as usual with his team just days before the season opener.

Oil gives back early gains, settles lower (AP)

AP - Oil prices fell back on Thursday, after getting an early boost from lower jobless claims and crude inventories.

Somali refugees tell of hellish scene in Mogadishu (AP)

AP - Terrified Somalis fleeing an offensive by Islamist insurgents in their capital described a hellish scene of putrefying corpses, graves hastily dug in gardens and neighborhoods flattened by mortars.

(AP)

AP - Iran says female American held for more than year will be released.

A look at economic developments around the globe (AP)

AP - LONDON — A leading international economic body said the global economy will recover slower than expected, but that a double-dip recession remains unlikely. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cautioned governments around the world against hurting the economic recovery by reducing spending too much and too soon.

Gulf oil dilemma: accept payout from BP or sue (AP)

AP - Alabama seafood market owner David Scott faces a difficult decision as he tries to rejuvenate his business after the Gulf oil spill: He can accept a piece of BP's $20 billion claims fund — relatively fast, easy money — or sue the oil giant for a bigger payday, wait years and risk ending up with nothing.

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.

Four escape U.S. custody at Iraq prison that held Saddam (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - BAGHDAD — Four prisoners escaped a maximum-security U.S. military facility housing al Qaida in Iraq suspects and former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, officials said Thursday, in an embarrassing development for American forces as they hand over security operations in Iraq.

Wis. reaches deal on military, overseas voting (AP)

AP - Wisconsin election officials and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement on how the state will comply with a new law designed to ensure all military and overseas voters have their ballots counted.

Obama: Minister must cancel Quran-burning 'stunt' (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama implored a Florida minister to call off his Quran-burning "stunt," saying it would jeopardize U.S. troops abroad.

City gears up for 2011 budget

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

City of Greenfield to see housing rehabs

The City of Greenfield has been awarded more than $350,000 through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and it is passing along that money to city residents.

(AP)

AP - Appeals court allowing federal funding of stem cell research to proceed temporarily.

Irish bonds rebound, banks hold ground after Anglo (AP)

AP - Investors welcomed Ireland's plan to split up its most debt-crippled bank, Anglo Irish, by bidding strongly Thursday for government bonds. Ireland's battered bank shares also held their ground.

Merkel: economic upswing should benefit workers (AP)

AP - German chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday the current economic upswing should benefit workers who were hit by the economic and financial crisis.

Report: LA 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.

Data shows economic recovery still on track (Reuters)

Reuters - New U.S. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.