10 Things to Know for Today

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

photo In this Oct. 15, 2011 file photo, "Darth Vader" accepts the Ultimate Villain award from "Star Wars" creator George Lucas during the 2011 Scream Awards, in Los Angeles. A decade after George Lucas said "Star Wars" was finished on the big screen, a new trilogy is destined for theaters after The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, that it was buying Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today:

1. SAFETY TOPS LIST OF CONCERNS IN DARKENED NEW YORK

Used to a life powered by the 24-hour deli, New Yorkers are grappling with security in streets and apartments without power.

2. HOW CON ED'S PLANNING BIG WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH

New York's electricity provider fell victim to a plethora of circumstances that led to massive power loss in Sandy's wake.

3. OBAMA AND ROMNEY TREAD CAREFULLY IN STORM'S WAKE

The President visits victims of Sandy in N.J. while his challenger plans three full-blown campaign events.

4. WHO THE MOST GENEROUS DONORS ARE

The AP examined over 3.9 million campaign contributions to determine who gave the most money this season.

5. CHINESE GOVERNMENT THINK TANK URGES END TO ONE-CHILD POLICY

In a daring move, a research center calls on Beijing to scrap birth limits by 2020.

6. SOUTH DAKOTA EXECUTES SECOND CONVICT IN A MONTH

A murderer and rapist gets lethal injection as the mother of his 9-year-old victim watches.

7. WHY THE FORCE IS WITH DISNEY

The entertainment conglomerate is buying Lucasfilm Ltd., creators of "Star Wars," and it says that it'll keep the sci-fi movie franchise alive.

8. WIND POWER PITS INDIANS AGAINST MULTINATIONALS IN MEXICO

Indigenous residents of one of the windiest spots in the world are fighting wind farms which are expanding fast in their areas.

9. JOURNALISTS' STRIKE IS BAD NEWS FOR GREECE

Broadcasts go off air and newspapers will not be published in Athens as journalists protest austerity measures.

10. THE NBA IS UP AND RUNNING

Champion Heat get rings and win over Celtics, while Lakers' new stars flop in loss to Mavericks on opening night.