Update on the latest news, sports, business and entertainment:

OBAMA-DOCTORS Surrounded by doctors, Obama pitches overhaul

Washington (AP) President Barack Obama says the people who know the health care system the best doctors and nurses are supporting his overhaul effort because they've seen firsthand what is wrong with how Americans receive care.

Obama made his latest although familiar pitch in support of a health care overhaul on Monday, surrounded by doctors wearing white medical coats. The president says medical professionals support his proposals and the American people should follow their lead.

The last of five separate health care bills made its way out of congressional committee early Friday morning. Obama says the country has heard all sides of the debate over the last few months and the time to act is now.

PAKISTAN UN to keep helping refugees in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) The U.N. plans to keep providing humanitarian assistance to Pakistani refugees, although it's temporarily closing its offices there.

This, after a suicide bomb attack killed five people at the U.N.

food agency's Pakistan headquarters. The Taliban had vowed to carry out new assaults in Pakistan.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the attack was "unjustifiable" and called it a "heinous crime." Militants have carried out scores of suicide attacks in Pakistan over the past 2 1/2 years, several of them targeting foreigners and their interests.

US-GATES-Afghanistan Gates: Military will fall in line on Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S.

military will not hesitate in carrying out whatever mission President Barack Obama decides on in Afghanistan.

Gates said Monday that the president's military and civilian policy advisers need to give Obama candid but private advice until that decision is made.

Gates' comments to the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army came as the Obama administration debates whether to continue fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan or shift focus to destroying al-Qaida terrorists in Pakistan using unmanned drones and special forces.

Top military officials want to continue fighting the Taliban with as many as an additional 40,000 troops, as the U.S. and NATO commander in Kabul has recommended.

Iraq At least 6 dead in Iraq suicide blast

BAGHDAD (AP) An Iraqi police official says at least six people are dead after a suicide bomber struck a funeral in western Iraq.

The official says the bomber detonated an explosive belt Monday inside a tent for mourners in the mostly Sunni area of Haditha, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad. At least 15 people are injured.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.

The funeral was for a member of the al-Daghaytha tribe, which includes members of the police and army.

Haditha is located in Anbar province, which was once a stronghold for the Sunni insurgency but became a key battleground for U.S.-led forces after many tribes turned against al-Qaida in Iraq and other groups.

WALL STREET UPDATE: Stocks rise as service industry activity improves

NEW YORK (AP) A report that the service sector grew for the first time in more than a year is giving investors a confidence boost.

Financial stocks are helping pull the market higher following a banking industry upgrade from Goldman Sachs.

The Institute for Supply Management's service index rose to 50.9 in September from 48.4 in August. A reading above 50 signals growth. The index hasn't grown since August 2008.

Stocks have fallen for two weeks as reports on areas like and consumer sentiment have fallen short of expectations.

Supreme Court-NEW TERM UPDATE: Court begins with argument over lawyer request

WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court began its new term trying to decide how long a suspect's request for a lawyer is valid.

The justices heard their first arguments of the 2009 term Monday morning. The court will have to decide whether to throw out a prisoner's sexual abuse conviction because he asked a police officer for a lawyer two years and seven months before he confessed to another police officer.

The court has a new look this term. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court's first Hispanic justice, replaced retired Justice David Souter.

Although she's the newest justice, Sotomayor peppered the arguing lawyers with as many questions as her eight more experienced colleagues.

SUPREME COURT-PLEDGE Court won't review Fla. Pledge of Allegiance law

WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to review a Florida law that requires public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day unless they have their parents' written permission excusing them.

The justices declined Monday an appeal filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida on behalf of a high school student removed from his math Class Because he remained seated during the pledge.

A federal appeals court upheld most of the law. The ACLU said that ruling, if left undisturbed, would undermine the Supreme Court's 1943 ruling that schoolchildren could not be forced to salute the flag and say the pledge.

Florida argued that the law, by giving parents the right to have their children excused, does not violate the First Amendment.

death penalty-OHIO Court halts Ohio execution, cites injection flaws

CINCINNATI (AP) A federal appeals court has halted the execution of a man who strangled his 67-year-old neighbor, citing last month's failed attempt to execute another inmate in Ohio.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 Monday to delay the execution of 43-year-old Lawrence Reynolds until a federal judge has time to hear arguments over problems with the Sept. 15 injection process. Reynolds had been scheduled to die Thursday.

Gov. Ted Strickland stopped the planned execution of Romell Broom after executioners tried for two hours to find a usable vein.

Broom's execution also is on hold while his attorneys prepare for a federal court hearing Nov. 30. They argue that an unprecedented second execution attempt on Broom violates a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

WILDFIRES Crews expect gains today against destructive blaze

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (AP) Fire crews are expecting to get a lot done today while battling a destructive wildfire burning near a popular resort town in Southern California.

San Bernardino National Forest spokeswoman Robin Prince says as long as the winds cooperate, crews are expecting to get more of the 12-square-mile blaze contained. Crews already have the blaze 20 percent surrounded.

The fire has destroyed three homes, but with temperatures dipping into the high 50s firefighters are hoping to keep it from blackening the town of Wrightwood. As many as 6,000 residents have been ordered to leave their homes, and 10 schools are closed today.

In Arizona, some residents in Williams were kept from returning to their homes yesterday after a prescribed burn raced out of control, forcing evacuations. That blaze is 10 percent contained.

MAULED BY PET BEAR Exotic pet dealer had expired license

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) A northeastern Pennsylvania dealer of exotic pets was operating with an expired license when his wife was killed by a captive black bear as she cleaned its cage.

Tim Conway of the state Game Commission says Michael Walz' license expired in June 2008. He'd had the license to keep and sell exotic animals since 1994.

State police say 37-year-old Kelly Ann Walz was mauled to death Sunday night by the 350-pound bear.

Police say the Walzes kept the bear inside a cage near their house about 20 miles northeast of Allentown.

Officials say Kelly Ann Walz threw a shovelful of dog food to one side of the cage to distract the bear while she cleaned the other side. At some point the bear turned on her and attacked.

A neighbor shot and killed the bear.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-05-09 1125CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list