WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Michigan says consumers are feeling more confident this month.

The university’s index of consumer sentiment rose to 90 after dropping to 87.2 in September from 91.9 in August. Richard Curtin, chief economist for the university’s consumer surveys, says the entire gain came from better spirits among lower-income households. Wealthier consumers were a bit less confident, worried about gyrations in financial markets that reflect deteriorating economic conditions overseas.

Curtin says consumers are spending healthily but still want to see discounts when they go shopping. In its report on third-quarter economic growth Thursday, the Commerce Department said consumer spending rose at a robust 3.2 percent annual pace from July through September.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer spending cooled in September, posting the smallest gain in eight months. Income growth inched up by the smallest amount in four months.

The Commerce Department says spending rose 0.1 percent in September, the weakest showing since spending fell in January when harsh winter weather kept shoppers from stores.

Income increased 0.1 percent, with wages and salaries flat following two months of big gains.

Consumer spending is closely watched because it accounts for 70 percent of economic activity.

The overall economy slowed sharply in the July-September quarter. But that was mainly because businesses trimmed their stockpiles. Consumer spending was solid. Economists expect consumer spending to remain strong for the rest of this year, helping support a rebound in overall growth.

LOGAN, W.Va. (AP) — An assistant prosecutor in West Virginia has been suspended after pulling a gun and threatening to shoot fake spiders scattered around the office as Halloween decorations.

Prosecuting Attorney John Bennett tells media outlets that Chris White informed other employees that he is “deathly afraid of spiders” before threatening to shoot. Bennett says he was out of the office at the time but was told about the incident by shaken employees.

He says White assured him the gun wasn’t loaded. Bennett suspended White on Wednesday, several weeks after the incident, because employees were still upset.

The spider decorations have been removed, and Bennett has barred anyone other than the agency’s investigator from carrying guns in the office.

Neither the media outlets nor The Associated Press could reach White for comment.

ST. PETERS, Mo. (AP) — Juli Whitehead of St. Peters is a newlywed, and now she’s a millionaire, too.

The Missouri Lottery says Whitehead got a card for her 32nd birthday earlier this month but didn’t scratch off the numbers until Oct. 19, after returning from her honeymoon. It turned out she won $1 million in the Millionaire Riches scratch-off game.

Whitehead is a special education teacher at a middle school. She hasn’t decided whether to take a $700,000 lump sum or the $1 million, which would be spread out over 20 years.

FARMINGTON, Mo. (AP) — A former southeast Missouri prison worker accused of abusing an inmate has been found not guilty.

The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Missouri reports that a St. Francois County jury deliberated for just 45 minutes Thursday before ruling on behalf of 37-year-old David Shipley of Farmington.

Shipley, formerly a corrections officer at the state prison in Bonne Terre, was charged by the Missouri Attorney General’s office in 2014. He was accused of using excessive force after an inmate had to be restrained.

Shipley’s attorney, Jason Tilley, says Shipley’s actions were consistent with the law and policies of the Missouri Department of Corrections.

NEW MADRID, Mo. (AP) — A southeastern Missouri man has been ordered to spend two decades in prison in connection with his 2013 baseball bat attack that killed his father and critically injured his mother.

The Daily American Republic of Poplar Bluff reports that 29-year-old Matthew Dale Jenkins’ sentence mirrored the recommendation of Butler County prosecutors.

Jenkins pleaded guilty in September to second-degree murder. Prosecutors dropped related charges of felony assault and two counts of armed criminal action.

Authorities say Jenkins attacked 56-year-old Carl Don Jenkins and 62-year-old Vicki Jenkins in their Poplar Bluff home in January 2013. Carl Jenkins died 15 days later, and Vicki Jenkins died last October.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A suspect has been arrested in a string of fires at seven St. Louis-area churches, most of them with black congregations. The blazes are being investigated as possible hate crimes.

St. Louis police spokeswoman Schron Jackson says a 35-year-old man was taken into custody Thursday.

As of midday Friday, the man has not been charged in St. Louis, where five of fires occurred, or in St. Louis County, the site of the other two.

The fires broke out from Oct. 8 to Oct. 22.

Five of the churches have predominantly black congregations. Jackson says the suspect is black.

A motive has not been disclosed.

In every case, a church door was ignited and in most cases the building was unoccupied. No one was hurt.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — First National Bank of Omaha is reissuing debit cards to some of its customers in seven states in because of a data breach at an unidentified national firm.

Bank spokesman Kevin Langin declined to identify the business that experienced the breach because the problem is still being investigated by authorities.  Langin says the extent of the data breach hasn’t been determined.

Langin refused to say how many new cards the bank has issued to its customers in Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Texas.