Track-It ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO — Several current and former gang members say an initiative by Chicago's police chief is unfairly targeting them for the city's violence. Read more

WASHINGTON — The number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase previously occupied homes increased in July but remained well below last year's levels, a sign that demand for housing remains weak. Read more

BUXTON, N.C. — Hurricane Earl packed winds near 140 mph as it blew toward North Carolina on Thursday, putting the Eastern Seaboard up to Maine on alert for a Labor Day weekend pounding by waves, gales and rain. Read more

NEW ORLEANS, La. — An offshore petroleum platform exploded and was burning Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico about 100 miles off the Louisiana coast, west of the site where BP's undersea well spilled after a rig explosion. Read more

NEW YORK — Stocks edged higher Thursday after reports on housing, manufacturing and jobs indicated the economy continues to grow, albeit slowly. Read more

WASHINGTON — Israeli and Palestinian leaders sat down for their first direct peace talks in two years on Thursday, pledging to overcome deep skepticism and disappointment with past U.S.-brokered attempts to resolve the long-running... Read more

LONDON — BlackBerry's Canadian manufacturer should give law enforcement agencies around the world access to its customer data, the U.N. telecommunications chief said, adding that governments have legitimate security concerns that should... Read more

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Activists trying to stop mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia are furious over a Nike Inc. promotional ad for a new West Virginia football uniform designed in tribute to the 29 victims of the Upper Big Branch... Read more

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a panel investigating the financial crisis that regulators must be ready to shutter the largest institutions if they threaten to bring down the financial system. Read more

ISTANBUL — Eric Gordon scored 21 points and the United States pulled away from Tunisia after sleepwalking through the first half, winning 92-57 on Thursday in its final game of pool play at the world championship. Read more