Oil slips on thwarted terror plot

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Oil slipped more than $1 to below $76 a barrel on Thursday after Britain said it had thwarted a plot to blow up an aircraft in trans-Atlantic flight, triggering falls in stock markets and a rise in safe haven bonds.

'Frank & Ernest' creator dead at 81

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Bob Thaves, whose nationally syndicated comic strip "Frank & Ernest" amused newspaper readers for decades with its quirky observations on life, has died of respiratory failure. He was 81.

U.S. raises airline threat level after terror plot foiled

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States on Thursday raised its terror threat level after British police said they had arrested more than 20 suspects in a major terrorist plot to blow up passenger jets flying between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Police: Kids stole jewelry on orders from mom

BEDFORD, New Hampshire (AP) -- A woman turned herself in to police Wednesday after a store surveillance video captured footage of two children sneaking behind display cases to steal thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, allegedly on instructions from their mother and grandmother.

Oil field shutdown prompts Alaska hiring freeze

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- Gov. Frank Murkowski instituted a state hiring freeze Wednesday because of the millions of dollars Alaska is losing in tax revenue and royalties due to the Prudhoe Bay oil field shutdown.

Sources: Sailor suspected of spying for Russia

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A sailor facing espionage and desertion charges has been held at a Norfolk, Virginia, brig since March, the U.S. Navy said Wednesday.

Egyptian student in custody; 10 remain missing

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One of the 11 Egyptian students who failed to show up at a Montana university last month was taken into custody Wednesday.

Green door led to Carroll kidnap lair

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- One glance at an unusual door to a house west of Falluja launched U.S. troops on a hunt that led to the capture of four men suspected of kidnapping Jill Carroll, the U.S. military said on Wednesday.

New charges for Phoenix shooting suspects

PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- Two men accused in a string of shootings in the Phoenix metropolitan area have been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Jerry Lewis sues over movie remake

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Comedian Jerry Lewis filed a $2.3 million lawsuit against two entertainment companies, claiming he is owed money over a proposed remake of his 1961 movie "The Errand Boy."

Wildfires destroy homes, force evacuations

VALLEY, Washington (AP) -- -- Dozens of residents were evacuated Tuesday and more were warned to be ready to leave as a wildfire north of Spokane grew quickly to 300 acres, destroying seven homes, authorities said.

Lieberman concedes, vows to run in November

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Sen. Joseph Lieberman conceded to anti-war cable executive Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary for the Connecticut Senate nomination Tuesday night but vowed to run as an "independent Democrat" this fall.

Former Ohio State star Clarett arrested again

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Maurice Clarett was arrested early Wednesday after a highway chase that ended with police using Mace on the former Ohio State running back and finding four loaded guns in his truck, a police spokesman said.

McKinney beaten but unbowed

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney is controversial and outspoken, independent and unrepentant, all of which have endeared her to a dedicated corps of loyal supporters in her metro Atlanta district -- but not to a majority of her fellow Democrats who turned out in Tuesday's primary runoff.

Shooting victim: 'I was trying to save the baby'

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dayna Klein was writing thank you notes and making telephone calls in her office at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle when she heard what sounded like bubble wrap popping.

Penguins corralled on Texas highway

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) -- Twenty-one penguins were rescued on a hot east Texas highway Tuesday after a truck carrying the wildlife to a temporary home south of Houston overturned, said a state trooper.

Lieberman, McKinney in primary battles

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Voters turned out to pick nominees in two closely watched Democratic congressional races Tuesday, with polls showing Sen. Joseph Lieberman in Connecticut and Rep. Cynthia McKinney in Georgia trailing upstart challengers.

Egyptian students disappear in U.S.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Immigration agents and the FBI are looking for 11 Egyptian students who entered the United States on valid student visas, then failed to show up at a university in Montana, authorities said.

Lieberman blames 'dirty politics'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Officials with U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman's re-election campaign say that "dirty politics" and "Rovian tactics" are to blame for what they call an online attack on their campaign Web site as Connecticut voters headed to the polls Tuesday.

Atlantic hurricane predictions lowered

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season should be slightly less active than originally predicted, but still above long-term averages, federal forecasters said Tuesday as they warned coastal residents not to let their guard down.