• Senate Confirms Intelligence Chief : Votes, 77–17, to make Florida representative Porter Goss director of the CIA.

• U.S. to Release Enemy Combatant : Acting on recent Supreme Court decision, Justice Department agrees to release Yaser Hamdi, a U.S. citizen held at Guantánamo Bay for nearly three years. He was captured in Afghanistan and accused of having ties to al-Qaeda.

• Congress Extends Tax Cuts : House votes, 339–65, to extend several tax cuts that were to expire at the end of 2005. Cost of cuts totals about $146 billion over 10 years. Senate passes legislation, 92–3.

• Justice Department Report Critical of FBI : Investigation reveals that FBI linguists far behind in translating audio recordings that could be useful in war on terror and that outdated computers have erased some of the recordings.

• Judge Invalidates Part of Patriot Act: Federal judge rules that national security letter, a type of subpoena that requires Internet service providers to reveal information about subscribers, violates constitutional protection against unreasonable searches.

• Bryant Case Dismissed : Prosecution drops rape charges against the Los Angeles Lakers basketball star when his accuser says she will no longer cooperate.

• Jobless Rate Drops : Unemployment rate declines to 5.4% from 5.5%, and 144,000 jobs added to the economy in August.

• Florida Hit Again by Hurricane: Enormous, slow-moving hurricane Frances pounds east coast of state.  Frances pounds most of state, causing about $40 billion in damage.

• Clinton Has Heart Procedure : Former president undergoes quadruple coronary bypass surgery to clear four blocked arteries. Full recovery expected.

• Space Probe Crashes : Capsule containing samples of the Sun crash when its parachutes fail to open.

• Airline Files for Bankruptcy : US Airways seeks bankruptcy protection for the second time as its employees decide against $800 million in cost cuts.

• Advisory Panel Recommends Warning for Antidepressants : Group advising the FDA urges drug manufacturers to strongly warn parents and doctors that prescribing antidepressants to teenagers and children may increase suicidal behavior and that the most of the drugs have not been successful in curing depression.

• Hurricanes Pound South : Ivan hits Alabama and Florida, causing tornadoes and more than 2 million people to evacuate. Nearly 100 people died in the hurricane: 70 in the Caribbean and 27 in the U.S.  Jeanne hits Florida, causing five deaths and severe flooding. Florida's fourth hurricane in season.

• Fed Raises Rates : Federal Reserve raises short-term interest rates a quarter of a percentage point. Third consecutive increase.

• Hundreds Killed in Haiti : Floods and mudslides caused by tropical storm Jeanne claim more than 550.

• Expos to Move to Capital : Major League Baseball announces the Montreal team will relocate to Washington, DC, for the 2005 season.

END