NEWS@jcutrer.com

Texas Democrats say this could be their November

Seven key races across the state could turn the House back to Democratic control

Democrats and Libertarians find common ground in their grudge against Republicans

News briefs from Austin, the region, and elsewhere

Autumn temperatures in the Arctic are at record levels, the Arctic Ocean is getting warmer and less salty as sea ice melts, and ...

Two new IRS computer systems that will eventually cost taxpayers almost $2 billion are being put into service despite known security ...

Will the first Google phone become the apple of your eye? We'll have an inkling in six days when the much-anticipated T-Mobile ...

If you're thinking about buying that expensive big-screen TV well, that's probably about as far as you're going to get.

BERLIN (AP) Google has appealed two court decisions that could ban it and other search engines from operating image searches ...

A group of 22 Asian sailors has been released after more than a month of captivity since their cargo ship was hijacked by pirates ...

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday he was encouraged by the positive developments in relations between Lebanon and Syria, ...

A television news channel in Venezuela could face fines after a talk show guest suggested that President Hugo Chavez could be ...

The "Gringo in Mexico," as Robert Alexander is known, has a hit TV show that is half travelogue, half food fest and 100% enthusiasm ...

For Americans, the 1983 suicide bombing of Marine barracks in Beirut was a seminal moment on a timeline that led to the 9/11 ...

Both presidential candidates have proposed temporary tax cuts designed to help Americans cope with the financial crisis, which ...

Wall Street stocks turned in another stunning finish Thursday and extended its unprecedented streak of volatility this time, ...

Buying a new car? Bring some extra cash. Tighter credit standards are forcing many car buyers to put down more cash up front ...

Speaking at a tech industry conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Thursday said a deal with Yahoo may still make economic ...

With the economy in turmoil, retailers are working harder to get your business. They're making it easier to shop, or at least ...

Whew. It's Friday: • Before U.S. markets open, President Bush will say a few words about the economy to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. • More economic grist for Wall Street's mill: September housing starts and building permits, plus the initial read on consumer sentiment this month. • Health an. […]

NASA engineers bypassed a balky computer on the Hubble Space Telescope and revived an 18-year-old spare module powered by a relatively antique Intel 486 processor. The Hubble is in the final stages of recovery after the overnight operation. The computer collects and processes data from science instr. […]

The Pentagon has canceled the Army's $6 billion reconnaissance helicopter program, which was grossly over-budget and behind schedule. Instead of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, the Army will buy replacements for the existing Kiowa aircraft. Both are built by Bell Helicopter. The initial price t. […]

Further hard proof of the credit situation: Commercial banks borrowed a record daily average of $99.7 billion from the Federal Reserve during the past week. That 25% more than the previous week's record $75 billion. Just yesterday alone banks asked for $101.9 billion — another record-breaker. Inve. […]

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has struck southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake, in the Pacific off Chiapas state, was about 22 miles deep. It was felt in Guatemala City, 125 miles south, where residents ran from homes and buildings. No reports of damage o. […]

Stevens became the first sitting senator in 27 years to testify in his defense at a criminal trial.

It turns out "Joe" owes back taxes and would likely get a tax cut under the Obama plan.

A group of 22 Asian sailors has been released after more than a month of captivity since their cargo ship was hijacked by pirates ...

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday he was encouraged by the positive developments in relations between Lebanon and Syria, ...

A television news channel in Venezuela could face fines after a talk show guest suggested that President Hugo Chavez could be ...

Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Investors should buy the British pound against the euro as the Bank of England will cut interest rates faster that the European Central Bank to battle slowing growth, RBC Capital Markets analysts said.

New York TimesSpain, the New BrazilNew York Times, United States - 3 hours agoAll that evaporated when it reached the final of Euro 2008 and beat Germany. After that, cranky old coach Luis Aragones walked away to manage Fenerbahçe SK ...Teams jostling for position as World Cup soccer qualifiers c. […]

RTT NewsWhy the Buck Has PluckTIME - 3 hours agoThere's certainly nothing mysterious about the dollar's recent strength against the euro. Between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2008, the dollar lost 19% ...Euro May Slide to 120 Yen by Year End on Crunch, Citigroup Says BloombergEuro Slightly Lower Versu. […]

Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar rose against the euro as crude oil weakened below $70 a barrel for the first time since August 2007 on concern the global rescue of banks won't be enough to prevent a recession.

Accor: Resilient Performance in the First Nine Months of 2008MarketWatch - 4 hours agoA 2.1% negative currency effect resulting from the euro's appreciation against the dollar, the pound and most South American currencies. ...

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Republicans launched an enormous wave of phone calls Thursday blasting Sen. Barack Obama for "having worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers," party sources said.

Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, has a chance of doing something this year that neither of his predecessors could during the past two elections. The Illinois senator has a shot at winning a state in the South.

Sen. John McCain likes to say he enjoys being the underdog. After all, this is the relentless candidate who somehow managed to capture his party's nomination after the political world left him for dead in the summer of 2007.

Sen. Ted Stevens took the stand in his corruption trial Thursday afternoon and denied that he filed false financial forms with the Senate.

Republicans launched an enormous wave of phone calls Thursday blasting Sen. Barack Obama for "having worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers," party sources said.

An Illinois sheriff said Thursday he'll soon resume evictions at foreclosed properties after reaching a deal that he says will keep "innocent tenants" from being victimized.

A week ago he was a little-known plumber quietly practicing his trade in northwestern Ohio. Now Joe Wurzelbacher is a talking point in the race for the White House.

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A controversial technology is being adapted to help ferret out people and drugs crossing the U.S. border illegally.