Breaking through the bubble

Presidential race down to last debate

As President Bush and Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry prepare for their final debate in Tempe., Ariz., on Wednesday, their race appears to be on the edge. Victory on Nov. 2 is in sight for both men, but the decisive states are too close to call. Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado are still neck and neck. A recent Gallop poll said both candidates are tied at 49 percent among likely voters.

Justices to revisit church-state separation

The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will take up the constitutionality of having Ten Commandments displays on government land and buildings, a surprise announcement that puts justices in the middle of a politically sensitive issue. Since 1980, the court has refused to revisit the issue. Cases in both Kentucky and Texas will hear an appeal early next year.

Former teacher and student plan to wed

Mary Kay Letourneau says she and her former student, Vili Fualaau, plan to get married. No plans have been made at the moment. Letourneau was just released from prison on Aug. 5 after serving seven years for child rape. Fualaau is now 21 years old. Letourneau is 42.

U.S. forces go after Sunni insurgents

U.S. forces stepped up operations Tuesday across the Sunni insurgent strongholds northwest of the capital, pounding targets in two cities from the air and supporting Iraqi troops in raids on mosques suspected of harboring insurgents. The increased military activity coincided with the approach of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and appeared intended to avoid a repeat of the upsurge in attacks that took place last year. U.S. warplanes struck twice in Fallujah, destroying a popular restaurant and a house, which the U.S. command said were used by members of Iraq’s most feared terrorist organization. At least five people were killed and two wounded.

Human remains found in mob graveyard

Authorities discovered part of a human skeleton in a vacant lot believed for years to be a graveyard for people ordered killed by the late mob boss John Gotti and other gangsters.

FBI spokesman James Margolin said the bones discovered Monday in Queens, NY included a pelvic bone, a piece of a jawbone, ribs and leg bones. Also found were a watch and a pair of glasses. A forensic anthropologist was to examine the bones Tuesday.

Homeland security big concern for next president

Homeland security promises to be a rocky issue regardless of who wins the election in November. And the biggest headaches facing the next president in this area could well involve bureaucracy, not terrorism.

-Compiled by Sarah Moser from http://www.msnbc.com