Discounts spur unexpected gain in retail sales in August: The numbers are providing a sliver of hope for the economic recovery, but worries still remain about the critical holiday season. | AP

New claims for jobless benefits fall slightly, to 472,000: Applications still exceeded the 463,000 average so far this year. | Bloomberg

Direct peace talks between Israel and Palestinians to resume in Washington: Issues in the long-stalled negotiations include Israeli settlements and the future status of Jerusalem. | CNN

Report finds drop in illigal immigrant population in U.S.: After years of growth, the recession and stricter law enforcement led to a decline of almost two-thirds between 2005 and 2009. | Washington Post

Five seek Missouri casino license: Besides two applications for spots near Chain of Rocks, the Gaming Commission got two bids for casinos in Sugar Creek near Kansas City and one for Cape Girardeau. | STLtoday

Alternative energy group makes offer to buy ex-Chrysler plant in Fenton: The identity of the potential buyer was not released by the St. Louis County Economic Council, which made the offer public. | KWMU

Judge allows KKK suit against Missouri to proceed: The group said denial of permission to use a pavilion at a state historic site in southern Missouri violated free speech. | AP/KMOX

Cardinal broadcasts returning to KMOX next season: The station had aired the team's games for 51 years before the action moved to KTRS five years ago. | STLtoday

Breast, ovary removal found to increase cancer survival rates: Even if a patient has already been diagnosed with breast cancer, the surgery can reduce the risk of dying. | Los Angeles Times

Support for health reform has declined over the summer: A recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that support for the new law declined from 50% to 43% from July to August. l Kaiser Health News

Nearly one-third of deliveries in the U.S. are by C-section: Sweden has a C-section rate just under 20% with no compromise in the health of mothers or infants. The cause of the continually-increasing surgical rate is not explained by any single factor. C-sections add to the health risk of the patient and the costs of health care.l Associated Press

Rodents, piles of manure and maggots found in hen houses at Iowa egg farms: Salmonella bacteria was found in the water used to wash all the eggs. l Washington Post

The first performance in the stylus concert series at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, 3716 Washington, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 & 15. Kurtag's Kafka-Fragmente, op. 24 will be performed by soprano Susan Narucki and violinist David Halen. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets, $10-$20, can be purchased through the Symphony .

Have "Coffee with the Presidents" -- Peter Wyse Jackson and Peter H. Raven, that is -- from 9-10:30 a.m., Sept. 25. at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd. www.mobot.org

Arianna String Quartet kicks off 2010-11 concert series at 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at the E. Desmond & Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Touhill with works by Dvoak, Shostakovich and Schubert. $23. www.touhill.org or 314-516-4949.

First-timers break through to win Emmys: Shows like "Glee," "Modern Family" and "Nurse Jackie" garnered awards along with older favorites. | Los Angeles Times

GOP shouldn't start crowing about victories just yet: Generic Republicans may beat generic Democrats in a poll, but candidates run against real opponents, not generic ones. | Susan Estrich/Rasmussen Reports

My name is Glenn Beck, and I need help: Beck is right about many things, but he also is messianic and betrays the grandiosity of the addict. | Kathleen Parker/Washington Post

Spotlighting ineffective teachers, scarlet letter style, breaks their morale: if the purpose is to help teachers improve, then the strategy is totally counterproductive. | Walt Gardner/Education Week

Playing the race card is the last refuge of a liberal: The Democrats are going to get beaten badly in November because a comeuppance is due such arrogant elites. | Charles Krauthammer/Washington Post