Wire Nation/World

US to drop shooting case against Blackwater guard

By MATT APUZZO - Updated: 2:17 pm

The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday.

Regulators shut small Florida bank

The Associated Press - Published: 2:32 pm

Florida banking regulators have shut down Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida, marking the 124th U.S. bank to succumb this year to the struggling economy and rising loan defaults.

Ethics committee: No punishment for Burris

By LARRY MARGASAK - Updated: 2:22 pm

The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Democratic Sen. Roland Burris for misleading investigators about his maneuvering to get Barack Obama's old Senate seat from the governor who was ousted for trying to sell it.

Couple pleads guilty in Cuban spying case

By DEVLIN BARRETT - Updated: 2:22 pm

A retired State Department worker and his wife accused of a three-decade-long plot to spy for Cuba have pleaded guilty in federal court.

FIFA: No replay for France-Ireland WCup qualifier

By STUART CONDIE - Updated: 2:02 pm

There will be no rematch.

National News

Fate of black teacher in Mo. case rests with jury

By JIM SALTER - Published: 2:42 pm

A jury is deliberating the fate of a black school teacher charged with assaulting white police officers in Missouri

Sears Tower plot leader gets 13-year prison term - 2:12pm
Pa. judges in juvenile kickbacks case win immunity - 1:27pm
Murder trial move to LA a setback for transit cop - 1:27pm
Planes ready to leave Brunswick, Maine Navy base - 1:57pm
Lawyer: Ohio's legal injection a human experiment - 1:02pm
Atty: Hospital hearing set for Fort Hood suspect - 12:42pm

World News

McCain urges Obama to speed up Afghan decision

By ROB GILLIES - Published: 2:22 pm

U.S. Sen. John McCain predicted success in the Afghan war effort Friday if President Barack Obama makes a decision quickly to send the reinforcements requested by his top commander there.

Mexican reporter on organized crime goes missing - 1:32pm
Mumbai still vulnerable 1 year after attack - 12:52pm
Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them - 12:42pm
Egyptian soccer fans riot against Algeria - 12:37pm
Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them - 2:22pm
Lesbian US war deserter wins stay of deportation - 2:17pm

Political News

Senate faces crucial vote on health care

By DAVID LIGHTMAN - Published: 2:32 pm

The Senate is poised to approve on Saturday the start of a historic debate over health care legislation aimed at making coverage easier, less expensive to obtain and harder to lose.