News in United States

• Scott: 'Historic day' in choice of state Rep. Carroll as running mate
  

  Rick Scott, Republican candidate for governor, introduced running mate Jennifer Carroll to Republicans who were glad to see racial and gender diversity added to their ticket Thursday.

• Federal judge blocks Neb. ban on flag mutilation
  

  A federal judge overturned Nebraska's ban on flag mutilation today, clearing the way for Kansas church protesters to continue trampling on the U.S. flag when they protest at military funerals.

• Gunman shot as Discovery hostages planned escape
  

  As the three hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters appeared ready to make a run for it, police said Thursday that a SWAT team officer quickly shot and killed the increasingly agitated gunman who had explosives strapped to himself, ending the four-hour standoff.

• Little concern for second Obama school speech
  

  Few aware the president is scheduled to speak to students Sept. 14.

• State Senate Democratic leader endorses Crist for U.S. Senate
  

  Florida Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson has snubbed his party's nominee, Kendrick Meek, and endorsed Gov. Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate race.

• Wash. woman in acid attack recounts agonizing pain
  

  A woman splashed acid in the face of Bethany Storro, who stumbled in pain and fell to the ground screaming. She felt agonizing pain as the skin on her face bubbled and sizzled and portions of her blouse disintegrated.

• Cat that was shot, dumped into bay prompts growing reward
  

  The cat, set adrift in the bay in a pet carrier, had 30 BBs in its body.

• Arizona governor stumbles in televised debate
  

  Gov. Jan Brewer calls it the "longest 16 seconds of my life."

• Kendrick Morris guilty of raping day care worker
  

  Kendrick Morris couldn't beat the odds. A state crime analyst testified there was a 1 in 320 quadrillion chance – that's 1 in 320,000,000,000,000,000 – that someone other than the teen could have left the DNA profile found on a 62-year-old rape victim. It was enough for a jury to convict Morris, 19, of the rape and three other charges after almost four hours of deliberation today.

• FHP inspects moped, truck collision
  

  Florida Highway Patrol troopers are investigating a crash involving a moped and a dump truck that occurred Thursday afternoon at Little Road and Embassy Boulevard.

• More Democrats buck plan to let taxes increase for rich
  

  Congress seems increasingly reluctant to let taxes go up, even on wealthier Americans.

• Israel, Palestinians agree to 2nd round of talks
  

  Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed today to keep talking and produce a framework for a permanent peace deal, modest achievements reached amid deep skepticism about success at their first such session in two years.

• Obama to hold news conference next week
  

  President Barack Obama will hold a news conference at the White House on Sept. 10.

• St. Pete man gets life for slaying over safe
  

  A St. Petersburg man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a popular body shop owner.

• White House defends Obama's 'mainstream' religion
  

  White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama is a "committed, mainstream Christian" — contrary to the claims of Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck.

• Temporary cap that stopped oil gusher removed
  

  Engineers removed a temporary cap today that stopped oil from gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from BP's blown-out well in mid-July. No more oil was expected to leak into the sea, but crews were standing by with collection vessels just in case.

• Tampa council nixes request to change sign rules
  

  To some, electronic signs are a blight on the city's visual landscape that create public safety issues. To others, they are simply a high-tech way to attract customers.

• Pasco man accused of hitting neighbor with weed trimmer
  

  A Pasco was arrested after police say he struck his neighbor with a weed trimmer.

• FHP investigates moped, dump truck crash
  

  Florida Highway Patrol troopers are investigating a crash involving a moped and a dump truck that occurred this afternoon at Little Road and Embassy Boulevard.

• Single-game tickets for Lightning on sale Sept. 10
  

  Single-game tickets for the the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2010-11 season go on sale at 9 a.m. Sept. 10, the team announced Thursday.