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AP Top News at 9:07 a.m. EST - November 26

Tight economy forces some to stay home for holiday

CHICAGO (AP) - There's still family, turkey and football, but one Thanksgiving tradition is taking a hit this year. Millions of Americans are spending the holiday at home, saying the poor economy has made it unaffordable to hit the road or board a plane. "It's too expensive," said Benita Hall, 24, a nurse's aide who can't afford to travel from Cincinnati to Atlanta to see her mother and siblings. "It's depressing because you want to be with your family for the holidays."

New Macy's Parade route means no cutting corners

NEW YORK (AP) - It won't be just the balloons, marching bands and floats on display in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The laws of physics will also be on parade. For the first time in its more than 80-year history, the parade route is bypassing Broadway, which cuts a diagonal slice through Manhattan, as it makes its way south from the Upper West Side to the finish at Macy's flagship store in Herald Square.

Obama and GOP differ over recipe for jobs, economy

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama and a top House Republican acknowledged in holiday messages Thursday the economic struggles facing Americans this Thanksgiving but offered starkly different recipes for relief. Obama and Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., singled out U.S. service members at home and abroad for special thanks before saying what they think should be done to fix the economy.

Stores look to basics to draw in holiday shoppers

NEW YORK (AP) - As stores prepare for hordes of Black Friday shoppers and mark down high-definition TVs and hot toys, they're also pushing deals on something more mundane - necessities like socks and diapers. Toys R Us, Walmart and clothing stores in malls are responding to tough economic times by luring people who are making it a more practical holiday this year.

Patrols and turkey in Afghan war zone

BARAKI-BARAK, Afghanistan (AP) - Thanksgiving Day for soldiers in this valley ringed by towering snowy peaks began with a 6-mile (10-kilometer) slog to aid village schools without desks and windows, and ended with five, once scrawny local turkeys soldiers have been fattening up for the past month. "Just another day, another mission," several soldiers said as a 25-man patrol from Able Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Squadron set out on a cold morning under brilliantly blue skies.

IAEA chief: Iran investigation at 'dead end'

VIENNA (AP) - The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Thursday that his probe of allegations that Iran tried to make nuclear arms is at "a dead end" because Tehran is not cooperating and warned that confidence in Tehran had shrunk in the wake of its belated revelation of a previously secret nuclear facility. Mohamed ElBaradei also criticized Tehran for not accepting an internationally endorsed plan meant to delay its ability to make such weapons.

Large fire hits SE London; 310 people evacuated

LONDON (AP) - A fierce fire cut through apartment blocks and a construction site in southeast London early Thursday, spreading across a road and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people. More than 125 firefighters spent hours battling the blaze in the area of Peckham, where television footage from early in the morning showed flames bursting through the top floors of a four-story building.

Prime suspect in Philippine massacre surrenders

AMPATUAN, Philippines (AP) - A scion of a powerful pro-government clan suspected in the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan in the southern Philippines turned himself in Thursday amid mounting pressure on the president to crack down on lawlessness and warlords. The dead from Monday's massacre included at least 18 journalists and the wife, family and dozens of supporters of a gubernatorial candidate who wanted to challenge the rival Ampatuan clan, which has ruled Maguindanao province unopposed for years.

Swiss OK Polanski move to house arrest in Alps

GENEVA (AP) - The Swiss government says it will release Roman Polanski on bail and place him under house arrest at his chalet in the Alps. The Justice Ministry says ina statement released Thursday that Polanski will be transferred as soon as possible.

Lions have lost their touch on Thanksgiving

DETROIT (AP) - The Green Bay Packers are hoping to bolster their postseason chances with a win at Detroit on Thanksgiving. Recent history suggests the Lions will be accommodating hosts.

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