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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Political campaigns can be relentless and are rarely known for civility. But nothing is more awkward than the death of a candidate in the final weeks of an election. Politicians of all stripes issued condolences when state Senator Mario Gallegos Junior died yesterday. But today the buzz centered on what happens next, since it's too late to replace his name on the ballot.

NEW YORK (AP) A Texas man has pleaded guilty to charges that he plotted to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States. Manssor Arbabsiar entered the plea today in New York City U.S. District Court. He's a U.S. citizen with an Iranian passport. A trial had been scheduled for January. Defense lawyers say Arbabsiar suffers from bipolar disorder.

GEORGETOWN, Texas (AP) Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for a Central Texas man charged in a slaying that wrongly sent the victim's spouse to prison for nearly 25 years. Mark Norwood is charged with capital murder in the 1986 death of Christine Morton. Her husband, Michael Morton, was sentenced to life in prison for the fatal beating before DNA evidence cleared him. Norwood's trial is scheduled for January 7th in San Angelo.

NEW YORK (AP) Nike is severing ties with Austin-based cyclist Lance Armstrong, citing insurmountable evidence that he participated in doping and misled the company for more than a decade. The clothing and footwear company says today that it's terminating Armstrong's contract.