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The Indo-European root of the words peculiar and pecuniary lead, surprisingly, back to herds of cattle and the earliest references to money. The word stem has always been used in reference to wealth. Before money, this was expressed in heads of cattle. The stem adapted to new circumstances as wealth began to be expressed in terms of gold and money.

The National Academies releases its report on whether the Environmental Protection Agency is allowing unsafe levels of fluoride in America's drinking water.

Camps in Kenya house 140,000 refugees from civil war and deprivation in Somalia. There is fear that extremist Islamist groups will find recruits amid the stagnant life in the camps.

General Motors and Delphi, its former subsidiary, will offer early retirement and buy-out packages to more than 100,000 workers. In a deal negotiated with the United Auto Workers union, GM will offer incentives ranging from $35,000 to $140,000 each. While some workers said they were waiting to see the details, many said they doubted the package was attractive enough to induce them to retire. Jerome Vaughn of Detroit Public Radio reports.

The Bush administration is considering a requirement that some of the biggest SUVs meet fuel economy standards for the first time. Vehicles weighing between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds have been exempt from the standards. If regulators change the rules, automakers would likely have until 2011 to meet the new targets.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine strongly defeats Republican challenger Jerry Kilgore in Virginia's gubernatorial election. President Bush made a last-minute campaign appearance on behalf of Kilgore, but it wasn't enough.

Bombs rock three hotels in the downtown area of Jordan's capital, Amman. More than 50 deaths have been reported and more than 100 have been wounded after the near-simultaneous blasts at the Grand Hyatt, the Radisson SAS Hotel and the Days Inn.

Daoud Kuttab, columnist for the Jordan Times, provides more details and analysis on the bombings in Jordan.

Powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff has reached a deal with federal prosecutors investigating his wide-ranging influence on Capitol Hill. Abramoff pleaded guilty to criminal charges involving the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats in Florida, and is also cooperating in federal investigations of lawmakers who allegedly received favors from him or his clients.

On the eve of the Israeli pullout from Gaza, Palestinian school principal Khalil Bashir hoped merely to visit the roof of his home, which the Israeli army had occupied for five years. He made it. Now he'd like the soldiers to return, but as civilians... and as his guests.