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Top Stories


Democratic National Convention starts roll call of states (AP)

AP - Democratic National Convention delegates have started a roll call of states, a procedural necessity in a history-making process that will end in Barack Obama's coronation as the party's presidential choice.

Officials may evacuate New Orleans as storm nears (AP)

AP - On the eve of Hurricane Katrina's third anniversary, a nervous New Orleans watched Wednesday as another storm threatened to test everything the city has rebuilt, and officials made preliminary plans to evacuate people, pets and hospitals in an attempt to avoid a Katrina-style chaos.

Western nations warn Russia to `change course' (AP)

AP - Western leaders warned Russia on Wednesday to "change course," hoping to keep a conflict that already threatens a key nuclear pact and could even raise U.S. chicken prices from blossoming into a new Cold War.

U.S. military to hand over Iraq's Anbar province next week (AP)

AP - Conditions in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, where a brutal insurgency once ruled, have improved so dramatically that the United States is handing over responsibility for security in the Sunni stronghold to Iraq within days. Troops freed up in Iraq could shift to Afghanistan.

Death for man who kidnapped, murdered Idaho boy (AP)

AP - A longtime sex offender was sentenced to death Wednesday for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old northern Idaho boy after federal jurors who watched video of some of the brutality deliberated just three hours.

Cells change identity in promising breakthrough (AP)
AP - Talk about an extreme makeover: Scientists have transformed one type of cell into another in living mice, a big step toward the goal of growing replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases.

Microsoft's newest browser may block ads (AP)
AP - The next version of Microsoft Corp.'s Web browser makes it easier for people to surf the Internet without leaving a trace.

Stocks rise following gain in durable goods orders (AP)

AP - Wall Street posted a sizable advance Wednesday after the government reported a larger-than-expected increase in orders for big-ticket manufactured goods that indicated the economy could be stronger than some investors thought.

'Suge' Knight arrested in Vegas drug, assault case (AP)

AP - Police say rap music mogul Marion "Suge" Knight is in a Las Vegas jail on drug and assault charges after he was accused of beating his girlfriend while brandishing a knife.

Jankovic guts out tough 2nd round win at US Open (AP)

AP - Jelena Jankovic's leg cramped so badly, she couldn't take another step. Luckily for the No. 2 seed in the U.S. Open, the agony occurred during her post-match run on the treadmill. Anyone who watched could clearly see she left about everything she had out on the court.

Obama set to be nominated as Democrats' candidate (Reuters)

Reuters - Barack Obama was set to be nominated on Wednesday as the Democrats' presidential candidate, a historic first for a black American, and Bill and Hillary Clinton marked their last day in the Denver spotlight.

New Orleans considers evacuation as Gustav looms (Reuters)

Reuters - Three years after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana coast, New Orleans residents on Wednesday again faced the prospect of an evacuation as Tropical Storm Gustav loomed.

Top U.S. Marine sees shift from Iraq to Afghanistan (Reuters)

Reuters - The top U.S. Marine officer said on Wednesday he could reduce his 25,000-strong force in the former al Qaeda stronghold of Iraq's Anbar province to reinforce military operations against a growing Taliban threat in Afghanistan.

U.S. assessing possible military aid to Georgia (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. military planners have begun pondering the thorny question of how Georgia's shattered armed forces might be rebuilt without provoking a Russian backlash that could risk direct confrontation with Moscow.

Corporate America taking longer to collect: study (Reuters)

Reuters - Corporate America is having the hardest time getting its customers to pay their bills since the last U.S. recession in 2001, according to a study released on Wednesday.