State

•  Ill. jury convicts former police sgt. of 4 rapes

National

• Small towns suffer big losses as rivers rise

• CDC counts 383 salmonella cases from tomatoes

• House to vote on war funds, unemployment benefits

• Congress to add to $1.8 billion Bush request for flood aid

• Ex-Bear Stearns managers surrender in NYC

• 2 longtime survivors meet in the Capitol

International

• Iraq nears 1st major oil service deals

• China earthquake region braces for rainstorms

• Gaza truce takes hold; skepticism abounds

• Shell shuts down Nigerian oil field after attack

• South Korean president: No older US beef

• Rice stresses inspections in North Korea

Election

• Michelle Obama grateful for first lady's defense

• Obama says bin Laden must not be a martyr

• Obama opts out of public campaign finance system

• McCain calls for building 45 new nuclear reactors

ODD & Extraordinary

• Skunks under Ohio family's home reek havoc

• Barge floats 2-story home from Wash. to Canada

• Students move out, but leave human skull behind

• Gerbil's escape from cage blamed for accident

• Ex-parking meter worker charged with stealing $30K

• Norway arrests woman for carrying cocaine in wig

• Bear strolls into McDonald's drive-through in N.J.

Entertainment, Entertainers & The Arts

• 'Rembrandt Laughing' is self-portrait

• Harry Potter devotees put wizard tales to music

• 'That Was the Week That Was'

Science

• Mars lander loses day of work after data glitch

Today

• This day in history

• The nation's weather