NUMBER OF AMERICANS APPLYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DROPPED BY 23,000 **

APPLICATIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AID DECLINED TO A SEASONALLY ADJUSTED 340,000 **

THAT'S DOWN FROM 363,000 THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND A LEVEL CONSISTENT WITH **

FRIENDS AND FAMILY GATHER FOR THE FIRST OF FUNERAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF **

TODAY'S SERVICE IS FOR 9-YR-OLD ANTONIA CANDELARIA, ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN **

TEN OF THE VICTIMS WERE CHILDREN **

SECOND JEWELRY THEFT REPORTED AT THE CANNES FILM FEST **

POLICE SAYS A "HIGH VALUE" NECKLACE WAS NABBED OVERNIGHT FROM THE RESORT **

NO OTHER INFO WAS RELEASED **

LAST WK, THIEVES STOLE ABOUT $1 MIL WORTH OF JEWELS FROM A HOTEL SAFE IN **

CAP D'ANTIBES IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM CANNES AND CONSIDERED EVEN MORE **

GUNMEN KILL AT LEAST SEVEN SOLDIERS IN CENTRAL IRAQ **

MILITANTS ATTACKED AN ARMY CHECKPOINT IN THE TOWN OF TAJI, KILLING FOUR **

ANOTHER GROUP OF MILITANTS EXCHANGED GUNFIRE WITH MILITARY FORCES IN THE **

THREE SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND 18 WOUNDED IN THAT ASSAULT **

STATE INVESTIGATORS SAY AT LEAST ONE BAR IN NJ MIXED FOOD DYE WITH RUBBING **

OFFICIALS DID NOT IDENTIFY THE BAR, BUT SAY NO HEALTH ISSUES WERE REPORTED **

MEANWHILE, 29 BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN THE STATE ARE ACCUSED OF PUTTING **

TWO MEN ACCUSED OF BEHEADING A BRITISH SOLDIER HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN **

IT'S UNCLEAR HOW RECENT THE PROBES WERE OR WHETHER THE MEN WERE TIED TO **

MEANWHILE, AUTHORITIES HAVE INCREASED SECURITY AT MILITARY BARRACKS AND **