Earl's center passing just east of Outer Banks
Hurricane Earl was downgraded to Category 2 today, but forecasters warned it was still "large and strong." Rain bands have moved onto the coast of North Carolina.

What chance do Mideast talks have?
The latest round of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians is starting off much like similar endeavors in the past, but the Obama administration hopes that this time, the outcome will be different.

Hamas, 10 groups vow to target Israelis
"Resistance operations" will continue against Israelis despite the arrests of Hamas activists in the West Bank, a Hamas official said Thursday.

Convicted killer spared death penalty
An Ohio death row inmate who has repeatedly claimed his innocence was spared execution, after the state's governor Thursday noted "legitimate questions" about evidence used to convict the man.

Workers rescued after oil platform fire
A fire on an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico is out and there is no indication of an oil sheen, the Coast Guard said. There were no serious injuries.

BP removes cap from ruptured well
Thad Allen, the government's point man on the oil disaster, said crews are expected to begin efforts Thursday to remove the blowout preventer on BP's ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico.

Bonnie Blue actress from 'GWTW' dies
Cammie King Conlon, who played the ill-fated Bonnie Blue Butler in "Gone With the Wind," used to joke "that I peaked at age 5."

President to aides: Find economic spark
After a week mostly focused on Iraq and Mideast diplomacy, it's back to the economy for President Barack Obama, who will deliver remarks Friday on the August unemployment numbers.

Opinion: School reform takes courage
It's back-to-school time, which means some in the media have gone back to asking: "What's wrong with our schools? And how can we fix it?"

Massacre survivor recounts experience
A survivor of a massacre in Mexico that left 72 dead advised other would-be migrants to stay at home to avoid a fate like the one he and his companions met.