Doctors: No hamsters or exotic pets for young kids (AP)
AP - Warning: young children should not keep hedgehogs as pets — or hamsters, baby chicks, lizards and turtles, for that matter — because of risks for disease.
Wall Street tumbles amid global sell-off (AP)
AP - Wall Street is plunging, with the Dow Jones industrials down more than 500 points amid growing fears that the credit crisis is spreading around the world.
Obama Leading McCain in New Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota Polls (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg - Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) — Democrat Barack Obama leads Republican presidential nominee John McCain in battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, according to new polls.
Economists say shaky economy may last for a while (AP)
AP - A growing number of economists believe the country is on the brink of — or already in — its first recession since 2001 and that it will be longer lasting.
McCain, Obama camps trade barbs on negative ads (AP)
AP - The McCain and Obama presidential campaigns traded accusations of mudslinging Monday in the wake of new ads dredging up infamous events from 20, 30, even 40 years ago. Santa Ana - Maltese Puppies
Ford feature will let parents set limits for teens (AP)
AP - So you think junior is a little too lead-footed when he drives the family car? Starting next year, Ford Motor Co. will give you the power to do something about it.
Scientists: 1 in 4 mammals faces extinction (AP)
AP - Conservationists have taken the first detailed look at the world’s mammals in more than a decade, and the news isn’t good.
EBay to cut 1,000 jobs, will buy Bill Me Later (AP)
AP - EBay Inc. said on Monday it will cut about 1,000 employees, reducing its work force by about 10 percent.
OJ Simpson jury says witness testimony not trusted (AP)
AP - Jurors who found O.J. Simpson guilty in his armed robbery trial say secret audio tapes and surveillance video swayed them more than witness accounts.
Court term to hear tobacco, TV dirty words cases (Reuters)
Reuters - Amid a presidential race that may decide its future direction, the Supreme Court begins a new term on Monday with cases about tobacco company lawsuits, protecting whales from Navy sonar and a government crackdown on dirty words on television.
Divorced But Not Really (Dear Margo)
Dear Margo - DEAR MARGO: My husband and I have been married for a year and together for four.
Miley Cyrus celebrates Sweet 16 at Disneyland (AP)
AP - Miley Cyrus’ 16th birthday party was more boisterous than sweet. Cyrus celebrated the hallmark birthday at an over-the-top Disneyland celebration Sunday — even though she doesn’t actually turn 16 until Nov. 23. The theme park was closed for the supersized soiree, which included a four-song performance by the teen queen and a fireworks display above Sleeping Beauty Castle and 16 giant inflatable candles.
Analysis: Palin’s words may backfire on McCain (AP)
AP - And though she may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret.
AP Exclusive: FBI file details Knievel’s dark side (AP)
AP - Evel Knievel never denied his scrapes with the law — the late motorcycle daredevil often reveled in them. But even he objected to a 1970s FBI investigation of whether he was involved in a string of beatings.
Earthquake kills at least 72 in Kyrgyzstan (AP)
AP - A powerful earthquake struck the mountains of Central Asia, destroying a village in Kyrgyzstan and killing at least 72 people, emergency officials said Monday.