Nation in brief: Palin’s ‘Going Rogue’ will be in stores soon

NEW YORK – Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, has finished her memoir just four months after the book deal was announced, and the release date has been moved up from the spring to Nov. 17, her publisher said.

Palin’s book, titled “Going Rogue: An American Life,” will be 400 pages, said Jonathan Burnham, publisher of Harper.

Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, has commissioned a first printing of 1.5 million copies.

Facebook removes Obama murder poll

WASHINGTON – Social networking Web site Facebook moved quickly Monday to take down a reader’s poll that asked: “Should Obama be killed?” but only after 730 responses were submitted.

The poll listed four possible answers: Yes. Maybe. If he cuts my health care. No.

A spokesman for Facebook said the Palo Alto, Calif., company was not aware of the poll until Monday and did not know who posted it or who responded to it.

The Secret Service has launched an investigation of the Facebook poll to learn who was behind it and to determine the intentions.

Hot dog thief given 18-month prison term

WORCESTER, Mass. – A Massachusetts man who stole a hot dog from another man sitting under a tree in a park has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Antonio Judd pleaded guilty Monday in Worcester Central District Court to charges including larceny from a person.

Police say Judd grabbed the hot dog in August after flashing what appeared to be a gun in Elm Park in Worcester.

Police reports say Judd began to devour the hot dog, spilling mustard all over his shirt. He was carrying a pellet gun and a pocket knife when he was arrested, records say.