Obama raises $150 million in September
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama's campaign set a new monthly fundraising record for the 2012 election, bringing in more than $150 million in September.
The September total far surpasses the $114 million raised in August, which is also the previous record high, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Obama campaign Thursday declined to comment on its September fundraising totals.
The Romney campaign hasn't yet released its September numbers, but it raised $111 million in August.
Parole recommendation for Bruce Davis
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The California Parole Board Thursday recommended parole for Bruce Davis, a convicted killer and former associate of Charles Manson.
The board recommended parole for Davis based on his positive adjustment, lack of recent disciplinary problems and successful completion of educational and self-help programs, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, reported.
Gov. Jerry Brown has 120 days to reverse, modify, affirm or decline to review the decision, the TV station said.
Davis was given two life sentences for the 1969 killings of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea but was not involved in the widely publicized murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others in Los Angeles.
He became an ordained minister and obtained master's degrees in philosophy and religion during his 40-year stay in prison.
The board recommended parole for Davis in 2010, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the decision, citing the "especially heinous" nature of the killings and Davis' attempts to evade responsibility for his actions.
Saudi women may soon appear as lawyers
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Women may soon be allowed to appear in court in Saudi Arabia representing other women, a women's rights activist says.
The country has about 2,000 female lawyers but they cannot represent their clients in court, which limits their professional advancement, Gulf News reported.
Local media reports said about 300 women would be licensed to make court appearances if the government decides to open the courts to them.
Hatoun al-Fassi, a university teacher and women's rights activist, said the move to allow women in courts is overdue.
"Every day, I see it closer than the day earlier," she told Gulf News. "At every stage, the ceiling of expectations becomes higher."
Saudi Arabia has ended some restrictions against women recently. This year, for the first time, there were women representing the country in the Summer Olympics, and women are expected to vote in upcoming municipal elections.
Women still face restrictions on travel, cannot get drivers' licenses and are barred from appearing in public with men under most circumstances.
Indiana priest missing in Greece
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The family of an Indiana priest who went missing in Greece say they believe he is in serious danger or maybe even dead.
Father Christiaan Kappes, of Franklin, Ind., a priest for the Indianapolis Archdiocese, started a doctorate program in Athens, Greece, on behalf of the Vatican three years ago, WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, reported.
Three days ago, Kappes called his family to tell them he was trying to flee the country with his translator, Ioanna Lekakou, who was involved in a heated dispute over her family's inheritance.
"He told my dad on Monday, 'If you don't hear from me in 12 to 24 hours, I'm dead,'" said Nadia Charcap, Kappes' sister.
Earlier, Charcap said Kappes told her Lekakou's family "is out to get the money that she inherited and they are going to stop at nothing to hurt her in order to get this money. I asked him if he thought his life was in danger, if he thought anything was amiss and he was like, 'No they're just a bunch of thugs.'"
Virgil Kappes said he spoke to a priest in Greece who reportedly dropped off his son and Lekakou at the Athens airport.
"He said that he was going to buy plane tickets for both of them to go and leave the country," Virgil Kappes said.
"There's no reason to kill my son," Virgil Kappes said. "If they do they're heartless. They're cowards."
U.S. authorities are looking into the case, but Virgil Kappes said he is not confident they will be able to help his son in time.
