ABC Top Stories

With new unemployment figures out this month showing an increase in the jobless rate to 9.6, many Republicans disagree with President Obama that the so-called recovery summer is over.



Barack Obama - Unemployment - United States - President - History

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona has gained national attention for his relentless pursuit of illegal immigrants, but now the hard-line lawman is in the sights of the U.S. Justice Department, which has charged him with obstructing an investigation into whether he is breaking civil rights laws.



Arizona - Joe Arpaio - United States Justice Department - Maricopa County Arizona - Civil and political rights

A weakened Hurricane Earl continued moving toward New England as officials in North Carolina and Virginia said they had dodged disaster. Although the Category 1 storm is expected to continue weakening, it still could bring dangerous, hurricane-force winds to Cape Cod and other coastal communities by late Friday.



East Coast of the United States - Tropical cyclone - Earth Sciences - Atmospheric Sciences - Meteorology

Powerful 7.1 quake rocks New Zealand; buildings collapse, 2 injured but no deaths reported



New Zealand - South Island - Earthquake - Oceania - Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Report: Blackwater created 30 shell companies to get gov't work after Iraq shootings



Iraq - Blackwater Worldwide - Central Intelligence Agency - New York Times - Middle East

After sideswiping NC's Outer Banks, weakened Earl hits outer reaches of Mass. with rain, wind



Outer Banks - North Carolina - United States - Massachusetts - East Coast of the United States

Temple Grandin stole the spotlight at the Emmys. She's not a movie star, but an HBO biopic about her life has thrust her into the spotlight. She is a renowned scientist, credited with single-handedly improving the lives of cattle. She's also autistic.



HBO - Temple Grandin - Emmy Award - Biographical film - Cattle

Fox: Songwriter Kara DioGuardi departs 'American Idol' as judge, adding another vacancy.



American Idol - Kara DioGuardi - Fox Broadcasting Company - Television - Reality-Based

A nurse was reunited with the father she had never met after a chance bedside encounter at a New York hospital for the terminally ill.



Family - father - Parenting - Home - Health

Two former egg farm workers say their complaints about safety were ignored by USDA officials who were on site.



United States Department of Agriculture - Business - United States - Meat and Seafood - Food and Related Products

Arne Duncan, Randi Weingarten and Michelle Rhee discuss education reform.



Education reform - Arne Duncan - Education - United States - Randi Weingarten

Authorities rule arson caused fire at Tennessee mosque site, offer $20K reward for information



Arson - Tennessee - United States - Islam - Arts

Murder - Easter - United States - Nebraska - Holidays

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, along with the Coast Guard exchange, has made a decision not to allow the sale of the new 'Medal of Honor' video game in its stores or online site over concerns that players can assume the role of Taliban fighters and kill U.S. soldiers.



Medal of Honor - Taliban - Video game - United States armed forces - United States Army

Lego, the old favorite toymaker, is offering new movie- and video-game-based products to help boost sales.



Lego - Toys - Video game - Recreation - Collecting

UPS cargo plane with 2 crew members on board crashes near Dubai airport.



Dubai - United Arab Emirates - Dubai International Airport - United Parcel Service - Middle East

Thomas Butler, the passenger who triggered alert at Miami International Airport, spent two years in prison for illegally transporting bubonic plague pathogens. He was found to be innocent of any offense in the aiport scare, however.



Miami International Airport - Aviation - Airports - Business - Transportation and Logistics

An Indonesian toddler who smoked up to two packs a day quits cold turkey.



Indonesia - Asia - Cigarette - Government - South Sumatra

President says report is 'positive news' and calls on Congress to pass jobs bill.



United States Congress - President of the United States - United States - Barack Obama - Congress

California teen allegedly killed opossum, posted video on Facebook.



Facebook - Online Communities - Social Networking - Business - People