news

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  House narrowly passes landmark health care bill

  In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

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  Suspect told 'There's something wrong with you'

  There was the classroom presentation that justified suicide bombings. Comments to colleagues about a climate of persecution faced by Muslims in the military. Conversations with a mosque leader that became incoherent.

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  Afghan ministry: NATO strike kills Afghan forces

  U.S. and Afghan authorities investigated Saturday whether a botched NATO airstrike was to blame for the death of Afghan soldiers and police during a search for two American paratroopers missing in a Taliban-infested area of the country's west.

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  Holiday airfares close to last year and climbing

  If holiday travelers on the same plane compare what they paid to fly, they're likely to find quite a spread, depending on when they bought their tickets.

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  2010 elections: Democratic fears, Republican hopes

  Oh, how the tables have turned.

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  High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

  Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

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  Ida hurricane watch for Mexico's Caribbean coast

  Officials readied storm shelters along Mexico's Caribbean coast Saturday and told fishermen and tour operators to pull in their boats amid warnings that Tropical Storm Ida could become a hurricane as it neared the resort city of Cancun.

• Hopper: All's 'good right now' despite cancer

  Prostate cancer couldn't keep Dennis Hopper away from the Breeders' Cup on Saturday.

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  Collaros, No. 4 Cincy stay perfect with 47-45 win

  Zach Collaros kept No. 4 Cincinnati unbeaten with the second-best passing performance in school history, one that will make it tough to send him back to the bench.

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  Zenyatta, a mare, wins Breeders' Cup Classic

  What a gal!

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  House passes sweeping healthcare overhaul

  The House of Representatives approved a sweeping healthcare reform bill on Saturday, backing the biggest health policy changes in four decades and handing President Barack Obama a crucial victory.

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  Obama wraps up Afghan review, eyes final options

  President Barack Obama is wrapping up deliberations on war strategy in Afghanistan and is considering final Pentagon options that include sending about 30,000 more troops, officials said on Saturday.

• House backs anti-abortion amendment

  The House of Representatives voted on Saturday to tighten a ban against using federal funds to finance abortions under the proposed Democratic healthcare reform legislation.

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  UK floats bank levy

  Britain pressed the G20 on Saturday to come up with a plan to make banks pay for any future bailouts but one idea of imposing a global financial transactions tax was immediately shot down by the United States.

• Afghans killed during search for missing U.S. troops

  NATO forces mistakenly killed seven Afghan soldiers and police in an air strike during a battle while searching for two missing American soldiers in Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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  Obamas to attend Fort Hood memorial Tuesday

  President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, will attend a memorial service in Fort Hood, Texas, on Tuesday for victims of a mass shooting.

• Ida becomes hurricane again in northwest Caribbean

  Tropical Storm Ida became a Category 1 hurricane again late on Saturday in the northwestern Caribbean off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

• Iran says over 100 people detained at anti-U.S. rally

  Iranian police detained more than 100 people for "disturbing public order" during a rally this week to mark the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. embassy, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

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  Honduran rivals signal new bid to solve crisis

  Honduras' ousted president and de facto leader gave signs they would try again on Saturday to form a unity government to guide the country out of a four-month crisis after the process collapsed a day earlier.

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  U.S. Army gunman's act "impossible": grandfather

  The grandfather of a U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of shooting dead 13 people and wounding 30 others at a base in Texas said on Saturday he found it impossible to believe his grandson had committed the act.

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  House narrowly passes health care bill

  In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

• Funeral services held for slain New Mexico nun

  A slain Catholic nun who lived and worked on the Navajo Indian reservation was remembered Saturday for her passion for the poor at funeral services.

• Police: 1 killed, 2 injured in shooting near Vail

  The police chief in Vail says one person has been killed and two injured in a shooting at a bar near the Colorado ski resort town.

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  Suspect told 'There's something wrong with you'

  There was the classroom presentation that justified suicide bombings. Comments to colleagues about a climate of persecution faced by Muslims in the military. Conversations with a mosque leader that became incoherent.

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  Ground broken for Flight 93 memorial in Pa.

  With the words "Let's roll" — the command issued by United Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer to lead the passenger revolt — U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and 39 victims' relatives and dignitaries turned shovels of dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for a permanent national memorial.

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  Alleged Ohio serial killer rare among mass killers

  Authorities say Anthony Sowell lured women into his home in a busy neighborhood, killed them — most by strangulation — and scattered their remains throughout the inside and buried some in the backyard.

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  Fort victims had different reasons for enlisting

  The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, included several people who shared the same profession as the alleged shooter, a father of three with ties to Laos whose family had a history of military service, a civilian who had returned to work a week after suffering a heart attack, and a psychiatric nurse who arrived at Fort Hood a d...

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  Army: Shooting suspect taken off ventilator

  A U.S. Army spokesman says the man authorities say went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood has been taken off a ventilator but still remains in intensive care at a military hospital.

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  Brother: Shooting suspect is a peaceful person

  A brother of the man authorities say went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood says the Army psychiatrist is peaceful person — and hopes he will be treated fairly by the legal system.

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  House votes strict ban on abortion subsidies

  A bipartisan House coalition voted Saturday to prohibit coverage of abortions in a new government-run health care plan that Democrats would establish to compete with private insurers.

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  Afghan ministry: NATO strike kills Afghan forces

  U.S. and Afghan authorities investigated Saturday whether a botched NATO airstrike was to blame for the death of Afghan soldiers and police during a search for two American paratroopers missing in a Taliban-infested area of the country's west.

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  Japan says no base deal during Obama visit

  Japan's foreign minister said Sunday that no deal on relocating U.S. troops on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa can be expected during President Barack Obama's visit this week, saying the issue needs more time to resolve.

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  Ida becomes hurricane as it nears Cancun, Mexico

  Ida has strengthened to a hurricane over the Caribbean as it nears Cancun, Mexico.

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  Giant dominoes form tribute to Berlin Wall's fall

  Massive colorful dominoes painted by German students were placed Saturday along the former path of the Berlin Wall to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the barrier that divided the city for nearly three decades.

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  G-20 finance officials: Too early to end stimulus

  Finance officials from rich and developing countries have pledged to maintain emergency support for their economies until recovery is assured, but failed to reach a clear agreement to bear the cost of fighting climate change.

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  Afghanistan hits back at U.N. and foreign criticism

  Afghanistan accused the United Nations on Saturday of intervening in the formation of President Hamid Karzai's next cabinet, less than a week into his new term.

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  Honduran rivals signal new bid to solve crisis

  Honduras' ousted president and de facto leader gave signs they would try again on Saturday to form a unity government to guide the country out of a four-month crisis after the process collapsed a day earlier.

• Afghans killed during search for missing U.S. troops

  NATO forces mistakenly killed seven Afghan soldiers and police in an air strike during a battle while searching for two missing American soldiers in Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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  Study shows high cost of German reunification: report

  As Germany prepares to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a new study shows that some 1.3 trillion euros ($1.9 trillion) have been transferred from the west to rebuild the east, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

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  Lebanon's Hariri set to form government with Hezbollah

  Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri will announce a new national unity government to include Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah in the next few days, politicians said on Saturday.

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• 
  House narrowly passes landmark health care bill

  In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

• 
  2010 elections: Democratic fears, Republican hopes

  Oh, how the tables have turned.

• 
  House votes strict ban on abortion subsidies

  A bipartisan House coalition voted Saturday to prohibit coverage of abortions in a new government-run health care plan that Democrats would establish to compete with private insurers.

• House kills Republican health overhaul bill

  The House has used a near party line vote to reject a Republican health overhaul bill.

• High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

  Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

• 
  House passes sweeping healthcare overhaul

  The House of Representatives approved a sweeping healthcare reform bill on Saturday, backing the biggest health policy changes in four decades and handing President Barack Obama a crucial victory.

• Obama "absolutely confident" on Senate health bill

  President Barack Obama said on Saturday he was "absolutely confident" the Senate would follow the lead of the House of Representatives in passing legislation to overhaul the healthcare system.

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  U.S. OKs two more import probes versus China

  A U.S. trade panel on Friday approved two new investigations into charges of unfair trade practices by China, but rejected another one week ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to Asia.

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  Obama weighs steps to spur jobs, wary on deficit

  U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday listed a range of fresh options being considered by the White House to spur growth after "sobering" news that unemployment spiked to a 26 1/2-year peak last month.

• Obama will push economic rebalancing on China trip

  U.S. President Barack Obama will seek to reinforce the U.S. desire for more balanced global growth during his trip to Asia this month, administration officials said on Friday.

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• 
  House narrowly passes landmark health care bill

  In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

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  Alaska island village hit by suspected swine flu

  Suspected swine flu is sweeping a traditional Eskimo whaling village on a remote Alaska island — prompting an urgent medical mission to deliver help.

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  In Europe, most swine flu shots by invitation only

  In Britain, there are no long lines of people seeking swine flu vaccine. Doctor's offices aren't swamped with desperate calls. And there are no cries of injustice that the vaccine is going to wealthy corporations or healthy people who don't really need it.

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  Poll: One-third able to get swine flu vaccine

  Only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it, according to a new national poll released Friday.

• FDA warns Web companies not to sell flavored cigs

  The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it has warned several companies to stop selling banned flavored cigarettes to U.S. consumers online.

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  Goldman Sachs, Citigroup got swine flu vaccine

  Some of New York's biggest companies, including Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, received doses of swine flu vaccine for at-risk employees, drawing criticism that the hard-to-find vaccine is going first to the privileged.

• New gene therapy halts 2 boys' rare brain disease

  French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence. The surprise ingredient: They disabled the HIV virus so it couldn't cause AIDS, and then used it to carry in the healthy new gene.

• WHO: Swine flu virus is top strain worldwide

  The World Health Organization's flu chief said the swine flu virus has now become the predominant flu strain worldwide.

• Old method of heart bypass better than 'off-pump'

  It seemed like a great idea — doing bypass surgery while the heart is still beating, sparing patients the complications that can come from going on a heart-lung machine. Now the first big test of this method has produced a surprise: Bypass has fewer problems and is more successful done the old way.

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  Medical aid group raises alarm about AIDS funding

  The global recession and pressure to divert funds to other health crises are hurting the fight against AIDS, a medical group warned Thursday, with one health worker saying he feared a return to the days when the AIDS virus was a death sentence in Africa.

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  Seattle team wins $900,000 in Space Elevator Games

  A Seattle team has collected a $900,000 prize in a NASA-backed competition to develop the concept of an elevator to space — an idea spurred by science fiction novels.

• Prized mushroom collection returns to China

  A Chinese scholar persecuted during the Cultural Revolution for smuggling a rare collection of mushrooms out of China before World War II was honored Saturday when the collection was returned more than 70 years later.

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  Sea lions killed, but Columbia salmon toll rises

  Killing or removing 25 California sea lions over the past two years has not reduced the toll on salmon at the base of Bonneville Dam in the Columbia River.

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  Genetic tests for UK asylum seekers draw criticism

  Britain is using genetic tests on some African asylum seekers in an effort to catch those who are lying about their nationality, drawing criticism from scientists and provoking outrage from rights groups.

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  World leaders needed at talks to cut climate deal

  After two years of tough U.N. climate talks often pitting the world's rich against the poor, negotiators said Friday a new global agreement now rides on industrial nations pledging profound emissions cuts next month in Copenhagen.

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  Another reason to cover your cough: pets at risk

  People who think they may have H1N1 flu need to stay away from work, avoid sneezing on their spouses and children and now, they have someone else to worry about infecting too -- their pets.

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  Canada to investigate disappearing Pacific salmon

  Canada will launch an investigation into why far fewer sockeye salmon than scientists had predicted returned to the Fraser River on the Pacific Coast this summer.

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  Hu says China seeks peaceful use of airspace

  China supports the peaceful exploration and use of space, President Hu Jintao said on Friday, days after its top air force officials sparked concerns with talk of a "Great Wall of steel in the blue sky."

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  WHO says pandemic flu on rise in China, Japan

  H1N1 swine flu is on the rise in China and Japan after triggering an unusually early start to the winter influenza season in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

• Company sequences whole human genome for $1,700

  Want to know your entire DNA sequence? A California company has done it for as little as $1,700.

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• Fla. police: Graffiti artist left work incomplete

  Police in Florida say a graffiti artist who apparently ran out of paint midway through a spray-painted creation left a note to potential critics to explain the unfinished work.

• Authorities say man stole car to face theft charge

  The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge.

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  SKorean woman passes driver's exam on 950th try

  A woman in South Korea who tried to pass the written exam for a driver's license with near-daily attempts since April 2005 has finally succeeded on her 950th time. The aspiring driver spent more than 5 million won ($4,200) in application fees, but until now had failed to score the minimum 60 out ofa possible 100 points needed to get behind the wheel for a driving test.

• Oregon man charged with DUI after 911 call

  Oregon police have charged a man with drunken driving after he called 911 to report his marijuana as stolen but the dispatcher couldn't understand him because he was vomiting while on the road.

• NZ lawmaker sculpted in cow manure

  A sculpture of a New Zealand government minister crafted from cow manure sold for New Zealand dollars 3,080 ($2,220) on an auction Web site. The bust of New Zealand Environment Minister Nick Smith, sculpted as a protest by artist Sam Mahon, attracted 112 bids before being picked up by an anonymous uyer on Friday.

• Pa. prostitution case tossed over gov't-funded sex

  An appeals court has ruled Pennsylvania State Police botched a prostitution investigation in which troopers gave an informant money to pay for sex four times at a massage parlor, along with a total of $180 for the man's trouble.

• Sleepwalker beaten after men find him in apartment

  Charges have been filed against three men accused of beating a man who sleepwalks after they found him asleep in one of the men's apartment. Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said the 21-year-old victim who was not identified, suffered injuries over most of his body. Kelsay said the man's injuries did not appear to require hospitalization, but the victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatme...

• Developer: Proposed wind farm site is too windy

  A wind-power company says a western Maine site it's been looking at is too windy for turbines. First Wind's Matthew Kearns told a public meeting in Rumford on Thursday that its proposed Longfellow wind farm on Black Mountain and North and South Twin mountains may not be viable.

• Wyoming hunter bags deer, then hungry lion

  Retired orthopedic surgeon Chris Smith thought his hunt was over when he bagged a white tail deer with a bow and arrow near Sheridan. Because the light was fading, he decided to return the next day to recover the deer. But when he returned Wednesday morning, the carcass had been covered by grass an bush — which is what mountain lions typically do.

• Miss. gov's son scores 2 holes-in-one in one round

  A single hole-in-one is a big enough dream for most golfers. But two in one round? That's some luck. Reeves Barbour, the 30-year-old son of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, had two aces in a single round Oct. 25 on a Robert Trent Jones course in Gainesville, Va.

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  Software cos. eye key patent case in Supreme Court

  With the technology industry looking on, the Supreme Court on Monday will explore what types of inventions should be eligible for a patent in a pivotal case that could undermine such legal protections for software.

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  New `Call of Duty' could set entertainment record

  This holiday season's biggest entertainment blockbuster likely will be a sequel to a popular franchise, with jarring depictions of war and an intricate story of good versus evil. It could easily rake in more than last year's record $155 million opening weekend for "The Dark Knight."

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  Deja vu: Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target in DVD price war

  First it was books. Now it's DVDs.

• EBay settles lawsuit filed by Skype founders

  EBay Inc. has settled a legal skirmish with the founders of Skype that threatened to complicate eBay's plans to sell most of the Internet phone service to a group of investors for $2 billion.

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  Review: Motorola's Droid is a serious smart phone

  Since its debut in 2007, millions of people have gravitated toward Apple's iPhone, wooed by its sleek hardware, simple user interface and abundance of applications.

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  Activision posts 3Q profit, backs 2009 outlook

  It's been a rough year for the video game industry, but Activision Blizzard Inc. reported a profit for its third quarter because of lower costs and a good response for games such as "Guitar Hero 5" and "World of Warcraft."

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  No Doubt sues video game maker over 'Band Hero'

  No Doubt has sued video game maker Activision for putting words in band members' mouths.

• Google providing better view of personal data

  Google is offering a new privacy control that will make it easier for people to see some of the information being collected about them.

• EU agrees on new Internet user rights

  EU lawmakers and governments agreed on new rights for Internet users Thursday, aiming to protect them from arbitrary crackdowns on those who illegally download music and movies on the Internet.

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  Microsoft lays off 800 more workers worldwide

  Microsoft Corp. says it is cutting 800 more jobs. That's in addition to the 5,000 layoffs it announced in January.

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  Tide moves into title game with 24-15 win over LSU

  Julio Jones left defenders grasping at his heels and Alabama's defense was typically immovable. The Crimson Tide is riding that combination to the SEC championship game for the second consecutive season.

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  Zenyatta, a mare, wins Breeders' Cup Classic

  What a gal!

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  Northwestern upsets No. 8 Iowa 17-10

  With Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches, No. 8 Iowa ran out of magic.

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  Cal RB Jahvid Best hurt on touchdown

  California tailback Jahvid Best sustained a concussion and was taken to the emergency room after he leapt high into the air, flipped over a defender and landed on the back of his head in the end zone.

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  Hogan's 51-yard FG lifts No. 13 Houston 46-45

  Matt Hogan kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift No. 13 Houston to a 46-45 victory against Tulsa on Saturday night, finishing off another thrilling comeback led by quarterback Case Keenum.

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  No. 12 USC outlasts Arizona State 14-9

  Will Harris returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, Matt Barkley threw a 75-yard pass to Damian Williams for another score, and No. 12 USC held on for a shaky 14-9 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night.

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  Gators struggle on offense again, beat Vandy 27-3

  No. 1 Florida didn't do much to erase all the negative vibes from a rough week for the defending national champions.

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  Gerhart leads Stanford past No. 7 Oregon 51-42

  Toby Gerhart and Stanford did to the Oregon defense what the Ducks did a week ago to Southern California, opening up the Pac-10 race with a program-defining victory.

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  Navy upset Irish for 2nd time in 3 years, 23-21

  Navy's second consecutive victory at Notre Dame Stadium didn't produce the same euphoria for the Midshipmen as the last one.

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