News-To-Go Today's Headlines in Print

Weekly jobless claims drop below 500,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a hopeful sign, the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, dropping below 500,000 for the first time since January. And consumers started spending again in October as their incomes grew modestly — another encouraging signal for the budding economic recovery.

New US home sales rise 6.2 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new homes rose last month to the highest level in more than a year as strong activity in the South made up for weakness in the rest of the country. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales rose 6.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 430,000 from an upwardly revised 405,000 in September. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a pace of 410,000.

Americans search for cheaper Thanksgiving trips

CHICAGO (AP) — The Miles family is changing it up this year in the annual American race to make it to the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of booking plane tickets, they opted to take the 1,100-mile trip by train. Airline tickets seemed too pricey, so they paid $800 for the five of them to travel roundtrip by train from their Syracuse, N.Y., home to Omaha, Neb. to see family. Airfare would have totaled more than $2,500, the family said.

Toyota to replace 4M gas pedals that could jam

WASHINGTON (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the United States because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats. As a temporary step, Toyota will have dealers shorten the length of the gas pedals beginning in January while the company develops replacement pedals for their vehicles, the Transportation Department and Toyota said. New pedals will be available beginning in April, and some vehicles will have brake override systems installed as a precaution.

Lou Dobbs weighs Senate run in New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs is seriously considering running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey as "an intermediary step" that could lead to a run for the White House. Dobbs told former Sen. Fred Thompson's radio program on Monday that he had been urged to run for president and would talk to some people about it.

Official: Obama going to Copenhagen climate summit

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will go to Copenhagen next month, a White House official said Wednesday, to participate in a long-anticipated, high-stakes global climate summit. The president will attend the summit on Dec. 9 before heading to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, the official said. Obama's attendance had been in question until now.

Shuttle Atlantis leaves space station, headed home

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station early Wednesday, headed home with one astronaut eager to hold his newborn daughter for the first time and another who's been away from her young son since the summer. The shuttle departed as the spacecraft soared nearly 220 miles above the Pacific, just northeast of New Guinea. Over the past week, the astronauts stockpiled the outpost and performed maintenance that should keep it running for another five to 10 years.

Donny Osmond wins `Dancing with the Stars'

NEW YORK (AP) — Donny Osmond was declared the new champion of "Dancing With Stars" on Tuesday night, taking home the show's mirror ball trophy in the season finale of the ABC contest reality program. Osmond, the former teen pop star of the singing Osmond family, said the show has been a highlight in a career of ups and downs.

Nets fall to 0-14 with 101-87 loss to Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points, Nene added 17 and the Denver Nuggets dealt the New Jersey Nets their 14th straight loss to start the season with a 101-87 win Tuesday night. Arron Afflalo had 15 points, helping the Nuggets win their 16th straight regular-season home game, including all six this season.

Pakistan charges 7 suspects in Mumbai attacks

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan charged seven men on Wednesday in last year's Mumbai terror attacks, its first indictments in a case watched closely by India and the United States to see if Islamabad makes good on promises to punish those responsible. The indictments before an anti-terrorism court came on the eve of the first anniversary of the attacks on hotels, a train station and other targets in the Indian financial center that terrorized the city for three days and killed 166 people.