Kentucky's Lt. Governor Henry sued
Federal authorities filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, an orthopedic surgeon who plans to run for governor next year, of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid.
( By LORI BURLING, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 11:27 AM PST)

Alien fish may invade Great Lakes
More than 20 fish common in the Caspian and Black Seas could accidentally be introduced into the Great Lakes from ship ballast water and become threats to native species, a study suggests.
( By PAUL RECER, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 11:20 AM PST)

Bush: Homeland Sec. Is Top Priority
President Bush, outlining a legislative agenda after his party captured both the House and the Senate in midterm elections, said Thursday his top priority was legislation to create a new Department of Homeland Security. He said he wanted it this year.
( SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 09:58 AM PST)

US, British jets strike southern Iraq again
American and British warplanes bombed air defenses in southern Iraq for the second straight day on Thursday in response to attempts to shoot down the jets policing a "no-fly" zone, the U.S. military said.
( Reuters, 11/07/2002 09:56 AM PST)

Stocks Pinned Down; Cisco Weighs
Stocks were pinned down early on Thursday afternoon as a warning from tech giant Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO.O) that sales would disappoint stirred doubts over the month-long rally on Wall Street.
( BY HAITHAM HADDADIN, Reuters, 11/07/2002 09:51 AM PST)

Bush to lay out agenda for Republican Congress
President Bush, who avoided gloating the day after midterm elections in which his Republican Party took command of the U.S. Senate, was to break his silence on Thursday to lay out a suddenly reinvigorated agenda.
( By STEVE HOLLAND, Reuters, 11/07/2002 09:49 AM PST)

Yale, Stanford to change admissions
Two collegiate powerhouses, Yale and Stanford, have decided to take some of the stress out of the admissions process by ending their binding early decision programs.
( DIANE SCARPONI, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 09:41 AM PST)

Bishops pick clergy abuse monitor
U.S. Roman Catholic bishops picked the FBI's top-ranking woman to head a new office charged with making sure American church leaders adhere to a recently enacted clerical sex abuse policy.
( By RICHARD N. OSTLING, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 09:32 AM PST)

Inmate Freed After 20 Years
A judge on Thursday ordered the release of a Baltimore man who has spent 20 years in prison for a rape that DNA tests show he didn't commit.
( FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 09:23 AM PST)

Explosive electric razors probed
Electric razors that had been rigged with explosives blew up in the faces of two men, wounding both, authorities say.
( By DAMITA CHAMBERS, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 09:22 AM PST)

Productivity Grows at Brisk Rate
Productivity grew briskly in the summer, consumers splurged in October and fewer Americans filed new claims for jobless benefits last week - a dose of good news for the wobbly economy.
( JEANNINE AVERSA, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 05:51 AM PST)

Colombian Drug Lord Ordered Released
A Colombian court ordered one of the country's former top drug lords released from prison Thursday, as investigators scrambled to find evidence to support further charges, and possibly his extradition to the United States.
( JUAN PABLO TORO, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 05:32 AM PST)

Rare white rhinos face starvation in Zambia
Zambia's five rare white rhinos are facing starvation due to a drought that has nearly destroyed grazing pastures in the famine-threatened southern African country, officials said.
( Reuters, 11/07/2002 04:57 AM PST)

Break called in port labor talks
A federal mediator has called for a one-week break in contract talks between shipping lines and West Coast dockworkers after the two sides failed to agree on a pension package.
( Associated Press, 11/07/2002 04:40 AM PST)

Economists: Cut may not be enough
After the Federal Reserve tried boosting the wheezing economy with an interest rate cut for the first time this year, private economists offered mixed opinions on whether more may be needed.
( JEANNINE AVERSA, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 04:38 AM PST)

Sniper suspects being transfered
With another set of state indictments returned against the sniper suspects, officials dismissed a federal criminal complaint Thursday against John Muhammad.
( By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 04:07 AM PST)

Netanyahu on offensive in bid against Sharon
New Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the offensive in his bid to become prime minister, said in an interview published that Ariel Sharon's leadership had left Israel in "dire straits."
( BY JEFFREY HELLER, Reuters, 11/07/2002 04:02 AM PST)

New York couple likely have bubonic plague
Two tourists were hospitalized in New York City after they likely contracted bubonic plague in their home state of New Mexico, health officials said.
( ERIN McCLAM, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:54 AM PST)

Butler: Diana Clashed With Family
Princess Diana longed for a loving family, but was rejected by her brother, fell out with one of her sisters and, six months before she died, cut off all contact with her mother, former royal butler Paul Burrell was quoted as saying Thursday.
( ED JOHNSON, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:44 AM PST)

12 people dead in France train fire
A fire on an overnight train in eastern France filled a sleeping car with deadly smoke, killing 12 people - including five Americans from the same family - and driving panicked passengers to smash windows and jump to safety.
( MARIE-FRANCE BEZZINA, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:42 AM PST)

U.S.: Minor changes in Iraq draft OK
The United States said Thursday it was open to minor changes in its Iraq resolution for tough new weapons inspections, to be backed by threats of force if Saddam Hussein continues to skirt his disarmament obligations.
( By DAFNA LINZER, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:36 AM PST)

Cleric could be next Pakistan leader
He won big in last month's elections on an anti-American ticket, has called Osama bin Laden a holy warrior and counts Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar among his friends - and he could be Pakistan's next prime minister.
( By KATHY GANNON, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:34 AM PST)

S.Korea Warns North on Nuclear Issue
South Korea warned Thursday that inter-Korean economic projects could be hurt unless North Korea resolves a dispute over its nuclear program promptly, South Korean pool reports said.
( PAUL SHIN, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:25 AM PST)

Suspect Admits Role in Bali Bombing
In the first major break in the inquiry into the Bali nightclub bombings, Indonesia's police chief said Thursday that a suspect in custody has admitted to taking part in the attack that killed nearly 200 people.
( SLOBODAN LEKIC, Associated Press, 11/07/2002 03:11 AM PST)