NYT: Republicans are on track to do particularly well in Midwest swing states in the Nov. 2 election, according to the FiveThirtyEight gubernatorial forecasting model. Republican - FiveThirtyEight.com - United States - Politics - Swing state

Rescue teams were searching for trapped people after a major earthquake struck Christchurch. New Zealand - South Island - Christchurch - Oceania - Travel and Tourism

Earl is downgraded to a tropical storm as it swipes Nantucket and heads toward Cape Cod.  North Carolina beckons tourists to return. North Carolina - Hurricane Earl - United States - Time Warner Cable - Tropical cyclone

Nine people were killed when a small plane belonging to a skydiving company crashed on New Zealands South Island, police and medical officials say. New Zealand - Oceania - Earthquake - Christchurch - Government

If Kendrick Meek gets almost every one of Floridas Democrats, he can win the Senate race. But will that happen in a year in which polls show a GOP edge in voter enthusiasm? Florida - Kendrick Meek - Democratic - United States Senate - United States

FOX reality show has yet to announce a new lineup, but  Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Elton John are among  the reported front-runners. The show returns to the air in January. Steven Tyler - Kara DioGuardi - American Idol - Jennifer Lopez - Tele...

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who gained fame defending the states immigration law and warning of border violence, says her claim that headless bodies were turning up in state was an error. Jan Brewer - Arizona - United States - Law - Immigration

Several relatives of 104-year-old reclusive heiress Huguette Clark went to court Friday, asking for a guardian to protect her. Msnbc.coms Bill Dedman reports. Bill Dedman - United States - Msnbc.com - Huguette Clark - California

Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg had reconstructive elbow surgery Friday that could keep him out of the starting rotation until the 2012 season. Stephen Strasburg - Tommy John surgery - Washington Nationals - Surgery - Medicine

The piece of equipment at the center of the investigation into the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill was being retrieved from a mile below the sea, BP announced Friday. Deepwater Horizon - BP - Oil spill - Environment - Energy

Emergency calls placed minutes after a gunman entered the Discovery Channels headquarters include descriptions of the propane tanks strapped to his body and a blinking device in his left hand. Discovery Channel - Propane - Television - Silver Sprin...

Federal investigators have decided a suspicious fire that damaged construction equipment at the site of a future mosque in Tennessee was arson. Construction - Arson - Tennessee - Islam - Business

Google has settled a lawsuit alleging privacy violations in connection with its Buzz social networking service, according to a court document filed on Friday. Google - Social network service - Search - Lawsuit - Search Engines

It happened at the mobile home on 14071 N. Cessna Street just after noon, according to dispatchers. Aviation accidents and incidents - Aviator - Aviation - Aircraft - Fixed Wing

Tiger Woods shoots a 1-over 72, while Zach Johnson and Jason Day beat up on the TPC Boston and beat the rain to share the lead at 8 under in the Deutsche Bank Championship on Friday. Tiger Woods - Deutsche Bank Championship - TPC Boston - FedEx Cup...

The first outbreak linked to a rare strain of E. coli in ground beef is prompting a fresh look at tougher regulations to protect the nations meat supply. Meat - Escherichia coli - Beef mince - Beef - Business

The family at the center of the balloon boy hoax has moved out of the house where the fateful trip began, leaving Colorado for Florida. Colorado - Florida - Balloon boy hoax - United States - Arts

A scientist detained at Miamis airport because of a suspicious item in his luggage had once been charged with illegally transporting bubonic plague, a senior law enforcement official said. Miami - Law - Law Enforcement - Miami International Airport...

“He’s doing things dead babies don’t do — you might want to come see this!” Kate Ogg told doctors who had declared her premature baby dead. After the Australian mom held him to her body for two hours in a method called “kangaroo care,” the infant sti...

While the two accidents dont do much to help the image of offshore drilling, they appear to have little in common. The BP disaster took place on a drilling rig that was on the very cutting edge of oil exploration. The rig had previously drilled to th...

A spending bonanza before the tournament made it look as though the government cares about glitzy showmanship more than its workers. This week their frustration boiled over. South Africa - World Cup - Newsweek - Sport - Soccer

Private employers hired more workers than expected in August, lifting hopes for the weak U.S. economy, but the nation’s unemployment rate rose for the first time in four months. United States - Employment - Business and Economy - Business - Economy

Employment - United States - Business - Business and Economy - Canada

A UPS 747 cargo plane with two crew aboard crashed in Dubai shortly after takeoff Friday, the company said. Dubai - United Arab Emirates - United States - Middle East - Business and Economy

Ben Roethlisberger is getting time off for good behavior. Roger Goodell - National Football League - Ben Roethlisberger - sport - Pittsburgh Steelers

So stressed out you feel like pulling out your hair?  Save a few strands for the doctor. It could end up saving your life. Sleep - Health - Sleep disorder - Conditions and Diseases - United States

It wasnt what you would call a casual get-together.  A popular New York blogger attended a brunch with fellow frazzled moms. They took in tips from a style expert and listened to a nurse extol the virtues of Mirena, a birth control device sold by Bay...

A suicide bomber struck a rally in the Pakistani city of Quetta on Friday, killing at least 54 people in the second major attack this week. Pakistan - Quetta - Asia - Balochistan - Government