Homes on fire after explosion reported in Calif. (AP)

AP - Firefighters are battling a large fire burning on a hillside in the San Bruno area, near San Francisco.

Pastor cancels Quran-burning, then reconsiders (AP)

AP - An anti-Islamic preacher backed off and then threatened to reconsider burning the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, angrily accusing a Muslim leader of lying to him Thursday with a promise to move an Islamic center and mosque away from New York's ground zero. The imam planning the center denied there was ever such a deal.

Judge: Military's ban on gays is unconstitutional (AP)

AP - A federal judge in Southern California on Thursday declared the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment rights of gay and lesbians.

Islamic charity co-founder convicted on tax charge (AP)

AP - A federal jury convicted the co-founder of an Islamic charity chapter Thursday on charges he helped smuggle $150,000 to Muslim fighters in Chechnya.

City to honor fallen Fallon soldier on 9/11

The City of Fallon and a variety of local officials will unveil a new memorial and remember those who were died nine years ago during Saturday's 9/11 Memorial Service at 11 a.m., behind Fallon City Hall.

City rejects Merida recall; petitioners will resubmit Friday

Denver city officials today rejected the recall effort against Denver school board member Andrea Merida for mostly clerical reasons.

Wildfire sets sights on Boulder as wind picks up (AP)

AP - A Colorado wildfire that already has destroyed 170 homes showed no signs of relenting Thursday as wind gusts of up to 60 mph threatened to drive the flames from the foothills to the west and into the heart of Boulder, where some residents were warned to be ready to flee.

LA residents: Police harassment spawned outrage (AP)

AP - A city all too familiar with civil unrest was caught by surprise with the level of outrage over the fatal police shooting of an illegal immigrant from Guatemala who was menacing officers with a knife.

NY mosque investor declines Trump's buyout offer (AP)

AP - Donald Trump offered Thursday to buy out a major investor in the real estate partnership that controls the site near ground zero where a Muslim group wants to build a 13-story Islamic center and mosque.

Death toll rises from Hermine flooding (AP)

AP - The death toll from flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine climbed Thursday after Texas authorities recovered the body of a missing swimmer and an Oklahoma driver drowned trying to cross a swollen creek.

City Council Signs $900 Thousand Loan to Firefly Energy

The Peoria city council has approved an agreement to spend $883,000 dollars to pay off the loans to the Firefly battery company which the city backed.

U.S. chipmakers' outlooks stoke economy concerns (Reuters)

Reuters - Chip makers National Semiconductor and Texas Instruments Inc on Thursday issued quarterly financial targets that stoked investors' worries about a sluggish economy.

Soldier's father: Army was warned of murder plot (AP)

AP - The father of a U.S. soldier serving in Afghanistan says he tried nearly a half dozen times to pass an urgent message from his son to the Army: Troops in his unit had murdered an Afghan civilian, planned more killings and threatened him to keep quiet about it.

City offers reward in fatal shooting of barber

The City of Toledo is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people involved in the shooting death of Racole Hill, who was fatally shot on Fernwood Avenue late Tuesday evening.

APNewsBreak: NY to seek info on cleanser contents (AP)

AP - Consumers curious — or concerned — about the chemicals in household cleaning products will get detailed rundowns under state plans to require manufacturers to detail their products' contents.

City celebrates park renovations

City officials and community members gathered Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking for renovations to one of the city's oldest parks.

City Considering Wheelchair Accesible Apartments

MASON CITY, IA-- The city of Mason City is considering a project that would provide apartments for people with physical disabilities. They're considering constructing a ten unit building with wheelchair accessible apartments.

In a wired world, the crises come instantly (AP)

AP - "Advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant," one book counsels. Advises the other, "Be gentle towards all, ... forbearing."

Emanuel would be best-known mayoral candidate (AP)

AP - If Rahm Emanuel decides to run for Chicago mayor, the White House chief of staff would easily be the best-known figure in the race, with national name recognition that few others could match and invaluable experience from helping engineer the Democrats' takeover of the House in 2006.

Patriots QB Brady unhurt in wreck near Boston home (AP)

AP - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in a two-vehicle accident near his home Thursday morning but was unhurt and hours later practiced as usual with his team just days before the season opener.

U.N. goals to slash poverty, hunger achievable: draft (Reuters)

Reuters - A set of U.N. goals aimed at drastically reducing poverty and hunger worldwide by 2015 are achievable, despite setbacks caused by the global financial and economic crises, a draft document said.

EPA wants to know chemicals used in gas drilling (AP)

AP - The Environmental Protection Agency asked nine natural gas companies Thursday to voluntarily disclose the chemical components used in a drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing.

Accused abortion doctor has notorious reputation (AP)

AP - In early August, three women, each of them more than four months pregnant, sought abortions from Dr. Steven Brigham at his clinic in New Jersey. Instead of turning them down, authorities said Brigham used a novel scheme to take advantage of the disparities in state abortion laws.

Summary Box: Jobless claims drop, trade gap falls (AP)

AP - JOBLESS CLAIMS: The number of people signing up for unemployment benefits dropped by 27,000 last week to 451,000, the lowest level in two months.

City National Sells Notes

City National Corp. has sold $300 million worth of senior notes in a public offering, and will use proceeds to buy back higher interest securities sold last December.

Business Highlights (AP)

AP - Fears of a second recession ease, at least for now

US lawmakers to quiz Geithner on China currency (AFP)

AFP - US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will face a key US House committee's questions on possible new steps to press China over its currency policy, the panel's chairman said Thursday.

Defense: Deal discussed in Detroit plane attack (AP)

AP - Lawyers for a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a plane near Detroit on Christmas said Thursday that they've talked to prosecutors about resolving the case with a deal.

Pa. mayor to take immigration law to Supreme Court (AP)

AP - A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hazleton, Pa., may not enforce its crackdown on illegal immigrants, dealing another blow to 4-year-old regulations that inspired similar measures around the country. The city's mayor pledged to take the case to the Supreme Court.

City may face suit from street preachers

The City of San Antonio may soon have new lawsuit on its hands. Two local men say police have threatened to cite and arrest him for passing out Bible tracts and sharing their faith with people. They say the officers told them they were violating the city ordinance that prohibits the distribution of handbills that promote commercial or business interests in public areas. Thursday the two ...

Atty: Wife of imprisoned ex-Ill. gov. terminal (AP)

AP - The 76-year-old wife of imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan has a terminal lung disease, Ryan's attorney told a judge Thursday as he sought bail for Ryan while the judge considers a request to toss part of his corruption conviction.

California IOUs not needed this month: controller (Reuters)

Reuters - California's August revenue came in above a budget forecast and as a result the state will not need to issue IOUs this month, the state controller said on Thursday.

Analysis: Obama has tenuous grip on Democrats over taxes (Reuters)

Reuters - Democrats in Congress are distancing themselves from President Barack Obama's push to let taxes rise for the wealthiest Americans, fearing it will further harm them in November's mid-term elections.

Geithner urges tax breaks for small businesses (Reuters)

Reuters - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged congressional support for tax breaks for small businesses and said that would help create jobs.

New report: more grandparents raising grandkids (AP)

AP - The number of U.S. children being raised by their grandparents rose sharply as the recession began, according to a new analysis of census data. The reasons, while somber, were not all economic.

Summary Box: Gold slips on economic news (AP)

AP - RISK APPETITE: Gold prices slipped after reassuring reports on the U.S. jobs market and trade created some optimism about the economy. The development spawned more appetite among investors for assets viewed as riskier than gold.

Gold slides on reassuring jobs, trade reports (AP)

AP - Gold prices slid Thursday after reassuring reports on the U.S. jobs market and trade created some optimism about the economy.

Fears of a second recession ease, at least for now (AP)

AP - No, the economy isn't roaring ahead. And no, companies aren't making lots of job offers. But a fresh batch of economic data Thursday at least eased summertime fears that the economy might be on the brink of another recession.

Oil gives back early gains, settles lower (AP)

AP - Oil prices fell back on Thursday, after getting an early boost from lower jobless claims and crude inventories.

A look at economic developments around the globe (AP)

AP - LONDON — A leading international economic body said the global economy will recover slower than expected, but that a double-dip recession remains unlikely. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cautioned governments around the world against hurting the economic recovery by reducing spending too much and too soon.