• White House: Bush wasn't detached from war review 9/5/2008, 7:18 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday disputed an assertion in a new book by Bob Woodward that President Bush was slow to react to escalating attacks in Iraq, forcefully arguing that Bush's military buildup was responsible for a sharp drop in the violence.

• Police: Suspect in Illinois bank standoff is dead 9/5/2008, 7:18 p.m. EDT
WHEATON, Ill. (AP) — Police say a man who wrested a gun from a police officer and took a dozen hostages in a bank in suburban Chicago has died after shooting himself in the head.

• McCain, Obama tied in TV audiences 9/5/2008, 7:16 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — As a television draw, John McCain was every bit the equal of Barack Obama.

• McCain, Palin stress that times are tough in US 9/5/2008, 7:16 p.m. EDT
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) — John McCain and Sarah Palin got a rousing welcome Friday to the final two months of the presidential campaign, stressing themes of a strong America and concern about the sinking economy. "Tough times all over America," McCain said.

• Speedy Tropical Storm Hanna charges for Carolinas 9/5/2008, 7:12 p.m. EDT
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Tropical Storm Hanna picked up speed Friday as it cruised toward the Carolinas, promising to deliver gusty winds and heavy rain during a dash up the Eastern Seaboard that could wash out the weekend for millions of people.

• Obama: McCain focused on biography over economy 9/5/2008, 7:11 p.m. EDT
DURYEA, Pa. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama called Republican rival John McCain's acceptance speech the final piece of an out-of-touch convention that focused on its nominee's biography instead of the struggles of the middle class.

• AP IMPACT: Afghans fed up with government, US 9/5/2008, 7:10 p.m. EDT
GHANI KHIEL, Afghanistan (AP) — The bearded, turbaned men gather beneath a large, leafy tree in rural eastern Nangarhar province. When Malik Mohammed speaks on their behalf, his voice is soft but his words are harsh. Mohammed makes it clear that the tribal chiefs have lost all faith in both their own government and the foreign soldiers in their country.

• Murder trial opens in Tenn. love triangle case 9/5/2008, 7:10 p.m. EDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A prosecutor described a schoolteacher's husband as a jealous, calculating killer as trial opened Friday on charges he murdered his wife's teenage lover. But a defense lawyer told the jury that the defendant was a victim himself of a spouse who flaunted her infidelity.

• In Fla., those who weathered Andrew eye Ike warily 9/5/2008, 7:09 p.m. EDT
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Ike is still far out in the Atlantic, but it's getting a close look from those who weathered 1992's Andrew, the devastating Category 5 storm against which all other Florida hurricanes are measured.

• ESA spacecraft completes flyby of Steins asteroid 9/5/2008, 6:50 p.m. EDT
DARMSTADT, Germany (AP) — The Rosetta deep space probe successfully passed close to an asteroid 250 million miles from Earth, the European Space Agency said Friday night.

• Suspect in deaths of 3 Wis. teens pleads insanity 9/5/2008, 6:28 p.m. EDT
MARINETTE, Wis. (AP) — A Michigan man accused in a shooting rampage that killed three teenage swimmers at a river on the Wisconsin-Michigan border pleaded insanity to 10 felonies Friday, including new counts that he tried to kill six other teens.

• FAA investigating 11 air carriers on safety issues 9/5/2008, 6:12 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal aviation officials said Friday they are investigating 17 cases in which 11 air carriers did not comply with government safety directives.

• Palin's son's job to guard his commanders in Iraq 9/5/2008, 6:12 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The long and divisive war in Iraq is about to resonate with presidential candidates in a way not seen so far in the campaign: The sons of both vice presidential nominees are assigned to go there soon.

• First aid ship arrives in flooded Haitian city 9/5/2008, 6:05 p.m. EDT
GONAIVES, Haiti (AP) — The first shipload of aid sailed Friday into a crumbling port on the outskirts of this flooded city where tens of thousands have gone for days with little food or water in the wake of Tropical Storm Hanna.

• Politicians with children in war zones 9/5/2008, 5:59 p.m. EDT
(AP) — Other national politicians with children who've served with U.S. military in Iraq or Afghanistan include:

• Guests on Sunday TV news shows 9/5/2008, 5:56 p.m. EDT
(AP) — Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

• Oldest gorilla in captivity dies in Dallas at 55 9/5/2008, 5:46 p.m. EDT
DALLAS (AP) — The oldest gorilla in captivity, a 55-year-old female named Jenny, has died at the Dallas Zoo — her home for more than half a century, a spokesman said Friday.

• Today on the presidential campaign trail 9/5/2008, 5:43 p.m. EDT
(AP) — IN THE HEADLINES

• Man with explosive device detained near US Capitol 9/5/2008, 5:38 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Capitol Police arrested a man Friday after they found a grenade and several weapons in his car several blocks from the Capitol building.

• Jail terms for 4 San Diego men in surfer's death 9/5/2008, 5:35 p.m. EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Four San Diego men have been sentenced to between 90 and 349 days in jail for their roles in the beating death of professional surfer Emery Kauanui (kow-ah-NOO'-ee) last year.

• Transportation Dept. almost out of highway funds 9/5/2008, 5:34 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal highway trust fund will run out of money this month, requiring delays in payments to states for transportation construction projects, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Friday.

• Alaskans to receive state payouts topping $3,200 9/5/2008, 5:30 p.m. EDT
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — It's the season for Alaskans to be rewarded just for living here and this year's take is extra sweet: $3,269, a record share of the state's oil wealth combined with a special cash payout to help with stratospheric energy prices.

• Most Clinton backers say Palin's too far a stretch 9/5/2008, 5:16 p.m. EDT
(AP) — Sandy Goodman was deeply disappointed when Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't get the Democratic nomination, then again when she was bypassed for the VP spot. So Goodman, a longtime Florida Democrat, flirted with thoughts of shunning Barack Obama, and perhaps even voting Republican.

• David Pryor tapped to head Ark. Democratic Party 9/5/2008, 5:11 p.m. EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas governor and U.S. Sen. David Pryor will lead the state Democratic Party after the shooting death of its chairman, Bill Gwatney.

• Review panel criticizes Great Lakes health study 9/5/2008, 5:06 p.m. EDT
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Substandard science has hurt a federal agency's seven-year effort to document possible links between industrial pollution and health problems in the Great Lakes region, an independent review panel said Friday.