The pastor of City of Refuge on Thursday announced the kickoff of a 45-day effort to raise $600,000 to purchase a Joplin church building and convert into a shelter for the homeless.

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo shares have surged as brightening investor sentiment boosted banks and exporters after a long weekend. Electronics shares rallied Tuesday on reports that Panasonic Corp. may acquire rival Sanyo Electric Co.

CHICAGO (AP) — Best Buy Co. Inc. plans to add a dozen vending kiosks inside major airports across the country as part of a new pilot program called "Best Buy Express," company executives said.

When Robert Smigel needed inspiration to co-write "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" with Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow, he recalled an Israeli counselor at a Jewish summer camp he attended in the 1970s -- Camp Moden in Maine.

TOKYO (AP) — Sony Corp. says its April-June profit plunged to $327 million (34.98 billion yen) — about half what the Japanese electronics and entertainment company recorded the previous year.