Top headlines:
Great pumpkin is 1,900 lbs.: Steve Connolly hopes his Beast from the East will smash the current world record of 1,689 pounds. The problem is getting it to the weighing: Lifting it at this time of the year is a tough thing. Ill have a fork truck come in." ›15:10 6 Oct, Mon
Venezuela shuts down nearly all McDonalds: The Venezuelan government has ordered nearly all McDonald's restaurants in the country closed for 48 hours for what it calls irregularities in the fast-food chain's financial books. ›18:58 10 Oct, Fri
Breast cancer saved my life: A breast cancer diagnosis became a blessing in disguise for Kathy Brinkman when further tests revealed stage 4 lung cancer. She defied the odds to become the second winner in TODAYs Everyone Has a Story contest. ›17:27 9 Oct, Thu
After Shepard, no federal hate crime law: Matthew Shepard's mother still mourns lost opportunities to battle hate crimes and promote a greater tolerance of gays in the 10 years since her 21-year-old son was beaten, tied to a wooden fence and left for dead in a frigid Wyoming pasture. ›20:57 10 Oct, Fri
Will cheap gas bring return of gas-guzzling?: Prices at the pump are dropping fast, and gas could fall below $3 a gallon in a matter of weeks, if not sooner. Does that mean Americans will return to their gas-guzzling ways? ›21:16 10 Oct, Fri
Coward skydives over Mount Everest: When a reporter for a Scottish television station got the opportunity to become the first woman from her country to skydive from above the worlds highest mountain, she jumped at the chance literally. "But I don't think I'd like to do it again." ›13:58 8 Oct, Wed
USA Today price rising to $1: USA Today said it will raise its newsstand price by 25 cents to $1. The increase, which hits Dec. 8, will not affect home delivery rates or distribution agreements with hotels. ›19:46 10 Oct, Fri
Fearless Predictions for Week 7: On a normal weekend, LSU-Florida would be the top game. It'll still be one you don't want to miss. Fearless Predictions breaks it down. ›22:51 10 Oct, Fri
Woods subbing diaper bingo for golf: Recovering from reconstructive knee surgery actually feels good, the worlds greatest golfer said, because its given him time to spend with his 15-month-old daughter, Sam, whom he's already teaching the game. Shes daddys girl. ›16:37 10 Oct, Fri
Anti-Obama anger erupts at McCain events: Some of the anger is getting raw at Republican rallies as supporters of John McCain see his presidential campaign lag, and John McCain is mostly letting that rage flare. ›22:44 10 Oct, Fri
Does prison loom for mortgage execs?: Walt Pavlo is a one-time senior manager at MCI who ended up in prison and he predicts that investment bank executives involved in the subprime mortgage mess will too: People are going to go to jail for covering up stuff as it started to go south. ›12:53 8 Oct, Wed
U.S. trade deficit down slightly in August: The U.S. trade deficit edged down in August, reflecting a drop in foreign oil. But the deficit with China increased as imports from that country hit an all-time high. ›16:29 10 Oct, Fri
Reinvent your style on a tiny budget: How often have you yelled, "I have nothing to wear," when staring directly at an overflowing closet? With the economy wrecking havoc on budgets all across America, TODAY Style editor Bobbie Thomas explains how you can save money without sacrificing your stylish edge. ›15:02 9 Oct, Thu
Marias diabetes-friendly lentil soup: TODAY correspondent Maria Menounos' father has been battling diabetes for more than 40 years. Here, she shares one of her family's favorite recipes for a delicious and healthy meal that has helped keep her dad on track. ›14:53 10 Oct, Fri
Bush: We can solve this crisis and we will: President George W. Bush said Friday that the U.S. government's financial rescue plan was aggressive enough and big enough to work, but would take time to fully kick in. ›15:12 10 Oct, Fri
Is Angelina breastfeeding on W mag cover?: Jolie appears in a sleeveless top, which has been opened to reveal part of her left breast and a tiny hand ostensibly belonging to one of her twins. ›23:03 9 Oct, Thu
Say cheese! 15 ways to whiter teeth: Have you toyed with the idea of whitening your teeth, but don't know what your options are? Brush up on the latest techniques including some natural, no-peroxide options from Women's Health magazine. ›14:38 8 Oct, Wed
Homeless man dies after being set ablaze: A homeless man died after being doused with gasoline and set on fire on a street where he had lived for many years and was a familiar face to residents of Koreatown, police and local merchants said Friday. ›07:46
U.S. will buy stock in banks, Paulson says: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Friday that the Bush administration will move ahead with a plan to buy stock in financial institutions. ›00:00
After scandal, China tightens dairy regulations: Chinas State Council tightened quality control regulations for the dairy industry Friday, as authorities in Macau and Hong Kong reported several children had kidney stones blamed on Chinese tainted milk. ›18:16 10 Oct, Fri
A pork belly burger? 3 unique recipes: Is your palate ready for an unusual take on an American classic? Here, three renowned chefs Dasiy May BBQ's Adam Perry Lang, Market Table's Mikey Price, and Craft's Tom Colicchio offer their creative interpretations. ›15:00 9 Oct, Thu
Man, 88, fatally shoots ill wife at hospital: An elderly man fatally shot his ailing wife in her hospital bed Friday in New Jersey and was in critical condition after shooting himself, an official said. ›22:31 10 Oct, Fri
Google's latest possibly an iPhone killer: The long-awaited Google Phone could actually out-Apple Apple with its simple-to-use cell phone operating system that encourages users to enhance its workings by developing new interfaces and software. ›19:59 7 Oct, Tue
Small banks court depositors amid crisis: As consumer confidence in big banks larded with distressed mortgage assets weakens, smaller community banks are trying to win the hearts and deposits of consumers. ›20:58 10 Oct, Fri
