Rebel leaders push for direct talks with Congo gov
GOMA, Congo — With a cease-fire appearing to halt most fighting, a rebel leader said Thursday he wanted direct talks with the Congo government. Envoys from the U.S. and U.N. were sent in to help set up negotiations.

Candidates vie for Myrtle Point council, mayor
Myrtle Point voters are choosing a mayor and city councilors in next week’s election. Three seats are open on the council.

 U.S. Navy checking out Coquille River for training
BANDON — The U.S. Navy’s Fleet Survey Team is taking advantage of the terrain around the mouth of the Coquille River to train its personnel. At the same time the team is collecting data to upgrade nautical charts.

Oregon's fire season on par with decade average
Question: I want to know how bad this year’s fire season was.

 Fright night
The scariest night of the year turns some people's front yards into fright sites.

 Seafood groups OK with two marine reserve sites
NEWPORT - Two of the four seafood commodity commissions have grudgingly agreed to support two of 20 marine reserve - and only marine reserves - proposals.

 County, feds try to get Coquille River gauges working
Farm owners in low-lying sections near the Coquille River are worried their cows may get more than their hooves wet this winter, because the electronic river gauges on the river at Myrtle Point, the North Fork of the river near Myrtle Point and Coquille aren’t working correctly.

Parties drop $15 million on Smith-Merkley race
WASHINGTON — The Democratic and Republican campaign committees together have spent more than $15 million on Oregon’s Senate race so far — the most the two party committees have spent on any Senate race in the country.

Dungeness crab season on schedule, prospects are meaty
WARRENTON (AP) — Test crabs have proven plump enough to give Oregon crews hope that the lucrative Dungeness crab season will begin on the traditional date, Dec. 1.

AP poll: Some voters still persuadable
WASHINGTON — Patrick Campbell worries Barack Obama will raise his taxes but thinks John McCain will send people off to war. He says that leaves him leaning toward Obama ... maybe.

Suspected U.S. missile strike kills 15 in Pakistan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — Intelligence officials say a suspected US missile strike has killed 15 people in northwest Pakistan.

Japan's Nikkei falls despite rate cut
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Asian markets were mixed today as Japanese stocks fell despite the first rate cut in seven years while shares in India soared to catch up with a previous day’s global market rally after a holiday there. European markets opened lower.

NYC increases the heat on city’s rats
NEW YORK  — The city wants to make sure rats have no place to hide, at least online.

New Zealand PM finds her 'Joe the Plumber'
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Prime Minister Helen Clark found New Zealand’s “Joe the Plumber” on the campaign trail today.

Banks look to forgive credit card debts
WASHINGTON  — With defaults on credit card debt spiraling amid a global financial downturn, banks already reeling from the mortgage crisis are losing billions more from unpaid credit card bills.

Rabin's assassin punished for interviews
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli prison officials have punished Yitzhak Rabin’s assassin for giving his first interviews to the news media since his 1995 murder of Israel’s prime minister.