USA

National Guard troops and state police will patrol New Orleans through December, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Saturday at a summit of law-enforcement officials and crime experts called to address the spate of killings marring the recovery from hurricane Katrina. The Guard members and troopers have helped bolster a police department whose membership fell after the storm by more than 200 to about 1,420. Shootings have troubled the city all summer, as residents – and guns – started to return to the New Orleans area.

Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station Sunday, after installing a pair of solar wings that will ultimately generate a quarter of the outpost's power. Atlantis will return to Earth Wednesday morning after 11 days in space. The next construction mission is slated for December.

University of Michigan's No. 11-ranked football team finally put a Big Blue bruising on the second-ranked Fighting Irish in a 47-21 rout Saturday – the most points scored against Notre Dame at home in 46 years. Mario Manningham caught three touchdown passes, and Michigan intercepted Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn three times, likely silencing doubters who questioned Michigan after its 7-5 season last year and two less-than-impressive wins to open this season.

Federal and state officials have agreed to rent about half of Freedom Tower's 2.1 million square feet of office space when it opens in five years at the World Trade Center site, officials announced Sunday. The leases include space for the governor's office and the US Customs and Border Protection office.

Hurricane Helene strengthened to a Category 2 storm in the open Atlantic on Sunday. Scientists said last week that weak El Niño conditions have inhibited hurricane development by bringing higher ocean temperatures that increase crosswinds over the Caribbean. But the season, which lasts until Nov. 30, is still at its traditional peak.