NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices wound up below $75 a barrel Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, unable to follow the stock markets higher.

HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez is close to inking a deal to be an "American Idol" judge, people with knowledge of the negotiations said.

CHICAGO, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Alfonso Soriano and Blake DeWitt each hit three-run home runs Friday in powering the Chicago Cubs to a 7-6 victory over the New York Mets.

OXFORD, Miss., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- The NCAA reversed an earlier decision and will allow former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to play for Mississippi this season, the association said Friday.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A Democratic congressman Friday requested to see compliance documents for the Mariner Energy oil platform that caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico a day earlier.

MIAMI, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Hurricane Earl Friday barreled up the U.S. Eastern Seaboard Friday taking aim at New England en route to an expected landfall in Canada.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Lindsay Lohan allegedly struck a woman pushing a stroller as the actress was turning her vehicle in Hollywood, witnesses said.

NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Curtis Granderson drove in three runs Friday, helping the New York Yankees extend their winning streak to seven games with a 7-3 win over Toronto.