National

• Michigan balloonist survives crash at S.C. event

• Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks

• Chertoff: FEMA taking on more challenges than ever

• Whistle-blowers help US recoup $9.3 billion

• New Orleans largely spared by Hurricane Gustav

  • Gustav revives question: Is New Orleans worth it?

• Recall information

International

• Hurricane Hanna lashes Bahamas, threatens US

• Japan's ruling party reels from PM's resignation

• US probe finds fewer Afghan deaths than UN claimed

• Aid plane crashes in Congo with 17 on board

Election

• John McCain's vetter defends Sarah Palin review

• GOP convention script goes straight to rewrite

ODD & Extraordinary

• Man says he found dead shark in Lake Michigan

• Programmer blends video game proposal into wedding

• Japan police fooled by life-sized doll

• Dead man's visit to doctor scuttles insurance scam

• Antique plane makes soft landing in treetop

• Michigan couple tie the knot at funeral home

Science, Technology & The Environment

• This ain't no jive, particle physics rap is a hit

• Amazon deforestation on the rise

Entertainment, Entertainers, and the Arts

• Lewis telethon raises record $65 million for MDA

• 'Thunder' echoes at No. 1 with $14.3M for weekend

  • 'Dark Knight' swings past $500 million mark

Today

• This day in history

• The nation's weather