The main indexes turned up abruptly at noon and drove higher, taking back every stitch of lost ground and closing with gains. The NYSE and Nasdaq both ended up 0.8%. The S&P 500 was up 0.6% and the Dow 0.5%. The small-cap S&P 600 jumped 1.6%, based on preliminary figures. Volume rose across the board, the first time the major indexes rose on higher volume since Wednesday. Oil prices also turned sharply near midday, settling down 14 cents at $90.49 a barrel, after rising as high...

December 31, 2007 —

SAN FRANCISCO - Two brothers who were injured when a tiger attacked them at the San Francisco Zoo had slingshots on them at the time, a source said.

An empty vodka bottle was also found in a car used by Amritpal Dhaliwal, 19, and his brother, Kulbir, 23, on the day of the mauling, which left 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. dead, according to the source.

The discoveries could be an indication that the brothers may have taunted the 350-pound Siberian tiger before it leapt from its grotto.

San Francisco cops have said since the Christmas Day incident that there was no indication the tiger was provoked.

The brothers have not commented since they left a hospital Saturday.

When the zoo opens tomorrow, the tigers will not be on display, as officials work to ensure that their enclosure is safe.

Meanwhile, an unidentified couple was allowed to hold their wedding at the zoo last night under tight security. Guests had to clear special checkpoints.

(12-31) 21:15 PST Portland, Maine (AP) — Maureen Lafferty is anti-fur. Anti-fur in her tub. Anti-fur on her towels. And anti-fur in the drain. That’s why she and the one big ball of fur she does love, Jackson, a yellow Labrador retriever, are patrons of the Portland Dog Wash. “This is why I don’t do this at home,” Lafferty said, pointing to big clumps of fur at the bottom of the stainless steel basin. In a country whose residents spare...