AP-9th NewsMinute CORRECTION,290

 Fewer new claims...Katia continues its trek...Another aftershock

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     WASHINGTON (AP) - The latest numbers on new unemployment claims

are lower. It's a sign that the job market may be improving

slightly. The government says new claims fell last week by 12,000

to a seasonally-adjusted 409,000. It's the first decline in three

weeks. There are also reports today from some major retailers that

they saw solid revenue gains for August. But the outlook for

September remains murky, thanks partly to Hurricane Irene.

     WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's chief spokesman says

Americans "are sick and tired" of partisan bickering. He argues

that Obama wants to focus on "things we can do" to spur the

economy. Press secretary Jay Carney tells MSNBC the dust-up with

House Republicans over the timing of Obama's economic speech to

Congress dramatizes why "people are fed up" with Washington.

     MIAMI (AP) - Forecasters say East Coast residents should

concentrate on recovering from Irene, because it's way too early

for predictions about the latest storm. Hurricane Katia is

continuing its trek across the Atlantic with little change in

strength and winds at 75 miles an hour. It could become a major

hurricane, but it's too far away to predict a direction.

     MINERAL, Va. (AP) - Another aftershock from last week's East

Coast earthquake has rattled Central Virginia. The U.S. Geological

Survey reports a 3.4 magnitude aftershock this morning. The

epicenter was 4 miles south-southeast of Mineral, which was the

epicenter of last Tuesday's 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

     LOS ANGELES (AP) - The still-plucky Mars rover Opportunity has

ended a three-year, 14-mile trek to a new destination. The

solar-powered, six-wheel rover has beamed back pictures of the

horizon, soil and nearby rocks. Opportunity's twin Spirit gave up

the ghost in late May, living well beyond its expected shelf-life.

      TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Hillsborough County State Attorney says

the 17-year-old who is charged with plotting to blow up his high

school will be tried as an adult.

     Jared Cano was arrested earlier this month.

     Police say they found bomb-making materials and a "manifesto"

outlining Cano's plans in his home.

LARGO, Fla. (AP) - The defense attorney for a teen accused of

killing a St. Petersburg police officer wants the boy's confession

thrown out.

     During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, Dyril Flanagan says he's

filed a motion to suppress the taped confession 16-year-old

Nicholas Lindsey gave police as he was questioned about the

shooting of Officer David S. Crawford.

     Police say Crawford was shot and killed Feb. 21 after he stopped

the teen while investigating reports of a suspicious person.

     Flanagan says the teen asked police whether he needed a lawyer.

He also says one of Lindsey's parents asked to speak to the boy

before he was interviewed by police, and the parent asked for an

attorney.

ESTERO, Fla. (AP) - Authorities believe a "good Samaritan"

took the purse of a South Florida woman who had just won a $30,000

jackpot at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.

     The Fort Myers News-Press (http://bit.ly/nNp4iH ) reports the

incident happened Tuesday afternoon outside the Miromar Outlets in

Estero.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A man accused of hacking his girlfriend to

death with a machete told his attorney he's hearing voices, putting

an abrupt end to his murder trial.

     Hillsborough Circuit Judge William Fuente declared a mistrial

Wednesday after Alexander Cote Ferre told his public defender he

was hearing voices.

     The attorney reported it to Fuente, who under Florida law was

compelled to order a mental evaluation before the trial could

proceed.