Rig Explosion In Gulf
NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) - Firefighting vessels are battling the flames from an oil rig that exploded and caught fire today in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast. The Coast Guard says an oil sheen, about 100 feet wide and a
mile long, has been spotted near the platform. The rig is in shallow water -- about 340 feet deep. And responding to any oil spill would be much easier than in deep water. The BP well that spewed oil and gas into the Gulf for three months was in water about 5,000 feet deep. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says he's been told by the platform's owner that there were seven active production wells there, and that they were shut down shortly after the fire broke out. All 13 crew members were rescued. The Coast Guard says one crew member was injured, but the platform's owner says there were no injuries.

Hurricane Bears Down On Carolina Coast
MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Earl is weakening slightly but it's still
packing winds near 125 mph as it blows toward North Carolina's
coast. Earl is now a Category 3 hurricane, and it's expected to pass the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a powerful storm tonight. The Canadian Hurricane Centre has added a hurricane watch for Nova Scotia to the long list of warnings and watches in effect for a huge swath of the U.S. East Coast. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate says residents and tourists can no longer afford to wait on the next forecast to see how close the eye of the storm might get.

Peace Talks Conclude; To Resume In Two Weeks
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's special envoy for
Mideast peace says the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians concluded a productive first round of peace negotiations. Former Sen. George Mitchell told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to convene a second round of talks Sept. 14-15 in the Middle East. And he said they would meet every two weeks thereafter.

Abbas is calling on Israel to end Jewish settlements in the West Bank and other areas that the Palestinians want to be part off their own state. The Palestinian leader spoke at the State Department at the opening of face-to-face peace negotiations with Israel. Abbas says the negotiators face many hurdles. But he says the goals are clear and the path to an enduring peace is known to both sides. He says that means it should be possible to achieve a final agreement within one year, as prescribed by the U.S. Abbas spoke shortly afterNetanyahu stressed that a lasting peace was not possible without security assurances for Israel.

Man Killed At Discovery Channel
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Police in suburban Washington are combing the Discovery Channel's headquarters looking for explosives. This after a man with at least one explosive device strapped to his body took three people hostage in Silver Spring, Md. Police killed the man after officers watching him on building security cameras saw him point a handgun at a hostage. The two employees and a security guard weren't hurt during the four-hour standoff. One official said the gunman has been identified as James J. Lee, a man who had protested in front of Discovery in the past. Police say an explosive device on the gunman's body detonated when he was shot. Authorities also sent in a robot to disarm an explosive on his body.

Police Dog Bites Girl
McKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) - Police say a western Pennsylvania K-9 was likely being protective when he bit a 6-year-old girl and her mother after his handler offered them a ride to school. Police in McKeesport say the dog was likely trying to protect the patrol car when the woman opened the door instead of the officer who handles the dog. The girl was bitten in the abdomen and her mother on the finger. Officer Fran Angert was also bitten while restraining the dog. None of the injuries were serious. The woman who was bitten, Sherry Floris, told WPXI-TV she didn't know why she opened the door herself. She said she didn't want the officer to lose his job. Angert is related to the woman and her daughter. He and the dog have been put on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Wall Street
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks are closing with modest gains after reports on housing, manufacturing and jobs indicated the economy continues to grow, although slowly. Trading was slightly muted Thursday head of a closely watched monthly report on employment that's due out Friday. First-time claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week. According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 50 points, or 0.5 percent, to 10,320. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 9, or 0.9 percent, to 1,090, while the Nasdaq rose 23, or 1.1 percent, to 2,200.
About two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume was light at 930 million shares.

73 Year-Old Busted For Dealing Heroin
Detectives with the Washington County Drug Task Force have arrested a 73-year-old man accused of dealing heroin. Detective Ron Levi says Dave Welch, of Washington, was arrested today near the All-Star convenience store in Canton Township. Police say they found 63 bags of heroin in Welch's truck.
Welch was jailed on 25-thousand-dollars bond.

Murder Suspects Arraigned
The murder case against a pair of men accused of killing a Charleroi woman 33-years ago is moving forward. Robert Irwin and David Davoli, both 53-years-old, went before judge Paul Pozonsky today for their formal arrignments.
Mary Irene Gency was 16 years old when she was beaten to death in 1977.

Big Brush Fire In Hopewell Township
A brush fire in washington county has burned five to ten acres of grass. That's according to firefighters, who spent about two hours putting it out this afternoon. The fire broke out along Hillcrest Lane in Hopewell Township.
Firefighters from Middletown, Avella, and South Strabane were at the scene.

Golf Tournament At Southpointe
Thousands of golf fans are expected to visit Southpointe for the Mylan Nationwide golf tournament that began today. The event ends Sunday and golfers will face a number of weather conditions--hot and humid today with a chance of rain Friday and then much cooler weather Saturday and Sunday. Rocco Mediate, known for his playoff battle a few years ago with Tiger Woods, heads the field. Other local favorites include Trinity graduate Steve Wheatcroft, Waynesburg's Robert Rohanna and Upper St. Clair native Bobby MacWhinnie. Sam Saunders, grandson of golfing legend Arnold Palmer, is also in the field. Palmer is the honorary chairman of the tournament and is expected to be in the crowd at some point to watch his grandson.

Code Enforcement Officer Suspended
City Code Enforcement Officer Michael Behrens has been suspended without pay. Councilman Joe Manning tells WJPA NEWS that Behrens is suspended pending further investigation involving "internal problems that we've been trying to deal with." Manning says residents needing the services of code enforcement should see no disruption, with the fire department handling property and maintenance, a new building code official is in place and the case log before the District Judge is being handled by the city solicitor. Councilman Matt Staniszewski says mayor and council continue reviewing ways to improve the code enforcement office. Council holds an agenda session today and will meet a week from today at which time action may be taken involving Behrens.

Onorato Attacks Corbett Over Gas Drilling
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Dan Onorato says Republican rival Tom Corbett sees only the industry's side in the debate over natural-gas drilling in Pennsylvania. Onorato told reporters yesterday that Corbett's opposition to a new severance tax on drilling over the Marcellus Shale formation underscores the hands-off approach he advocates for dealing with the industry. Onorato favors imposing the tax to shore up funding for
environmental enforcement, maintain local infrastructure and preserve open space. Campaign spokesman Kevin Harley says Corbett views the drilling
rush as a means of generating other economic activity, not as a direct source of revenue. Harley said a new tax might drive the industry out of Pennsylvania.
The Legislature plans to consider a Marcellus Shale tax when it convenes later this month.

Former Steeler To Help Flight 93 Memorial
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former running back Rocky Bleier and other ex-Pittsburgh Steelers are organizing a fundraising dinner to benefit the Flight 93 National Memorial. Bleier announced plans Wednesday for the "40 for 40" dinner that will bring together 40 Steelers alumni with the families of the 40 passengers and crew killed when the plane crashed on September 11, 2001.

World War Two Ship In Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A World War II-era ship that ferried troops to Normandy during the D-Day invasion has arrived in Pittsburgh. The LST 325 Memorial Ship is a museum that will stay docked in Pittsburgh for several days. The ship traveled up the Ohio River and into Pittsburgh yesterday morning and was greeted by a cannon salute from the submarine USS Requin. The sub is permanently docked outside the Carnegie Science Center. The LST 325 was launched Oct. 27, 1942, and commissioned four months later. It made dozens of trips across the English Channel, ferrying troops and equipment to soldiers pushing to break the German stronghold on western Europe. It also helped British and American combat units launch an invasion on Sicily. The ship is now based in Indiana.

Paris Hilton Banned
LAS VEGAS (AP) - She's a celebrity, but Paris Hilton has been banned from two Wynn resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Hilton was arrested Friday for investigation of felony cocaine possession. Her boyfriend, Cy Waits, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence. Charges have not yet been filed.