SelectPlusAP Top StoriesAP Top StoriesThe Associated PressHere's the latest news for Thursday, July 24th: Dolly downgraded to tropical storm; U.S. House passes housing rescue bill; Florida tomato growers seek government compensation for losses; New Orleans oil spill closes Mississippi River.DOLLY HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM IN SOUTH TEXAS.IT HAD SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 70 MILES PER HOUR LATE WEDNESDAY EVENING AND FORECASTERS SAY IT WILL KEEP WEAKENING AS IT MOVES FARTHER INLAND.--------------------------------------------HOUSE LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON HAVE SAID YES TO A HOUSING RESCUE BILL.THE LEGISLATION AIMS TO HELP HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE -- AND KEEP MORTGAGE GIANTS FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC FROM COLLAPSING. ----------------------------------------FLORIDA TOMATO GROWERS WANT COMPENSATION FOR BIG LOSSES DUE TO THE SALMONELLA OUTBREAK AND THE GOVERNMENT'S ORIGINAL FOCUS ON RAW TOMATOES. THE F-D-A WAS NEVER ABLE TO PINPOINT THE ORIGIN OF THE OUTBREAK --- NOW GROWERS WILL LOBBY CONGRESS FOR MONEY, ----------------------------------------- A BIG STRETCH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AROUND NEW ORLEANS COULD BE CLOSED FOR DAYS AS CREWS TRY TO CLEAN UP A GIANT OIL SPILL.THE COAST GUARDS SAYS THE SPILL WAS CAUSED WHEN A BARGE LADEN WITH FUEL OIL COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VESSEL AND SPLIT IN TWO. ___ ___, The Associated Press with AP NewsMinute. Author: AssociatedPress Keywords: minuteworld ap Added: July 24, 2008
