Barack Obama criticized George W. Bush's office of faith-based initiatives and says he would start his own under a new name. [Politico]

The N.R.A. is going to spend $40 million this election, $15 million of it painting Obama as a threat to the Second Amendment. [Political Wire]

Billionaire Tom Golisano is reportedly going announce he will pour millions of dollars into a P.A.C. to maintain the Republican majority in the State Senate. [Capitol News]

The dam that ensures the city's drinking water supply is undergoing a major renovation beginning in 2011. [Herald Record]

Community Board 7 approved the Willets Point redevelopment plan, 20-15. [N.Y.P.]

A search and rescue dog that served at the World Trade Center on 9/11 will be cloned. [Daily News]

David Paterson's top legal adviser--a Spitzer holdover who also wrote the governor's same-sex marriage directive--has been replaced. [Albany Watch]

The funding for Community Boards was not cut this year, as some had feared. [Gowanus Lounge]

Ben says John McCain's new ad is definitely not pandering to Lou Dobbs. [Politico]

Clay Felker died. [New York, Matt Haber]