Man shot by police at downtown apartment building
A man was shot this afternoon by Kansas City police who were responding to a disturbance at a downtown apartment building.
( By CHRISTINE VENDEL, The Kansas City Star, 10/08/2003 02:40 PM CDT)

Kearney, Mosby fire investigations continue
Separate fires that ravaged two family-owned lumber businesses in Clay County continued to burn Wednesday as state and federal fire officials began their investigation.
( By GLENN E. RICE, The Kansas City Star, 10/08/2003 02:30 PM CDT)

Minority student numbers increase, but percentages lag
The gap between the percentage of young whites and young blacks and Hispanics enrolled in college has widened in the past 20 years, a new report shows.
( By LYNN FRANEY, The Kansas City Star, 10/08/2003 01:50 PM CDT)

Teen killed in Overland Park wreck
An 18-year-old man died early this morning when the car he was riding in struck a tree in an Overland Park neighborhood.
( By RICHARD ESPINOZA, The Kansas City Star, 10/08/2003 12:35 PM CDT)

Missouri health care costs rising above U.S. average
A study released Wednesday by a nonprofit health foundation started with a question. How much is Missouri spending each year on health care?
( CHERYL WITTENAUER, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 12:01 PM CDT)

Bill Allows Injured Troops Free Meals
Military troops hospitalized as a result of combat-related injuries would no longer be charged $8.10 a day for food under a bill that passed the House unanimously Wednesday.
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:30 PM EDT)

Lawmen: FBI Planted Bug in Mayor's Office
Federal law enforcement officials on Wednesday confirmed that listening devices found in the offices of Mayor John F. Street were planted by the FBI - a discovery that touched off a political furor just weeks before Election Day.
( DAVID B. CARUSO, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:29 PM EDT)

U.S. Alters Proposed Resolution on Iraq
The United States is reworking a proposed U.N. resolution designed to attract more peacekeeping troops to Iraq but probably will abandon the effort if language expanding the U.N. role fails to secure a clear Security Council majority.
( BARRY SCHWEID, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:28 PM EDT)

Bomb Kills 6 at Colombia Shopping Area
A car bomb exploded Wednesday in a black-market shopping district in downtown Bogota, killing at least six people and wounding 12 as employees were arriving for the start of the workday.
( CESAR GARCIA, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:28 PM EDT)

Iraqi Leaders Don't Want Turkish Troops
Iraq's interim leaders told U.S. officials Wednesday they don't want peacekeepers from Turkey or other neighboring countries but are willing to soften their opposition to avoid a confrontation with the U.S.-led coalition.
( HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:26 PM EDT)

Down Syndrome Test Combo Shows Promise
A new combination of blood tests and ultrasound can detect fetuses with Down syndrome sooner and more accurately than standard U.S. screening tests, offering mothers-to-be more peace of mind and more time to decide whether to end a pregnancy, researchers say.
( LINDA A. JOHNSON, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:22 PM EDT)

Do-Not-Call-List to Sign Up New Numbers
The national do-not-call list will resume accepting phone numbers Thursday from people who do not want to be bothered by telemarketers.
( DAVID HO, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:22 PM EDT)

Chronology of Fight Over Do-Not-Call List
A chronology of the legal battle over the national do-not-call list:
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:21 PM EDT)

New Program for Domestic Violence Victims
The Justice Department will start a new program in 12 communities to help domestic violence victims by providing them with a broad range of services in a single location.
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:08 PM EDT)

Major Developments in Breats Implants
A chronology of major developments in breast implants:
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:07 PM EDT)

House Panel OKs Bill for Syria Sanctions
House members on Wednesday imposed weapons sanctions and other penalties on Syria after fresh allegations that the country sponsors terrorists.
( JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:05 PM EDT)

The Nation's Weather
Rain clouds drizzled over parts of the South, while some Midwestern states were treated to sunny skies.
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:03 PM EDT)

Paint Brush May Aid in Repair of Shuttle
A simple foam paint brush that costs only pennies at hardware stores could be an essential tool in returning the space shuttle to orbit, NASA's administrator said Wednesday.
( PAUL RECER, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:02 PM EDT)

Moroccan Suspect Presses for Testimony
Lawyers for a Moroccan man accused of aiding the Hamburg cell of Sept. 11 hijackers appealed Wednesday for a court to press U.S. authorities for the testimony of top al-Qaida suspect Ramzi Binalshibh.
( LISA ARNS, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:02 PM EDT)

Doctor: Horn Can Communicate, Move Hands
Droves of people visit illusionist Roy Horn's makeshift shrine in front of The Mirage hotel-casino every day. So many have visited the "Siegfried & Roy" Web site that it has crashed.
( CHRISTINA ALMEIDA, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 05:00 PM EDT)

Parents Told About Apparent Suicide Pact
Parents of nine high school students were awakened before dawn by police officers sent to warn them of a suspected suicide pact involving their children, a week after a classmate hanged himself.
( AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 04:58 PM EDT)

U.S. to Present Iraqi Privatization Plan
The U.S.-led administration in Iraq will present a plan to privatize the country's state-owned industries by the spring, the official in charge of the effort said Wednesday.
( MATT KELLEY, Associated Press, 10/08/2003 04:56 PM EDT)

FBI's top counterterrorism official retiring
The FBI's top counterterrorism official, Larry Mefford, is retiring after only three months on the job.
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 04:56 PM EDT)

Prison Escapee Recaptured in Philippines
A suspected Muslim rebel who escaped with Indonesian terror suspect Fathur Al-Ghozi from a maximum security jail nearly three months ago was captured Wednesday, the military said.
( Associated Press, 10/08/2003 04:55 PM EDT)