function nextNewsStory() {
  var counter = document.getElementById('story_counter');
  if(counter.value < 4) {
	$('#news-latest-items')
	  .animate({ left: '-=606px' }, 500)
	counter.value++;
  } else {
	$('#news-latest-items')
	  .animate({ left: '-=4px' }, 100)
	  .animate({ left: '+=8px' }, 100)
	  .animate({ left: '-=4px' }, 100);
  }
}

function lastNewsStory() {
  var counter = document.getElementById('story_counter');
  if(counter.value > 0) {
	$('#news-latest-items')
	  .animate({ left: '+=606px' }, 500)
	counter.value--;
  } else {
	$('#news-latest-items')
	  .animate({ left: '+=4px' }, 100)
	  .animate({ left: '-=8px' }, 100)
	  .animate({ left: '+=4px' }, 100);
  }
}

function newsReturn() {
  var counter = document.getElementById('story_counter');
  $('#news-latest-items')
	.fadeTo(500, '0', function() { $('#news-latest-items').css('left', '34px') })
	.fadeTo(500, '1');
  counter.value = 0;
}

function advanceNews() {
  if(document.getElementById('story_counter').value < 4) {
	nextNewsStory();
  } else {
	newsReturn();
  }
}

var newsTimer;

$(document).ready( function () {
  $('#news-latest-container').mouseout( function() { newsTimer = setInterval("advanceNews()", 7000);});
  $('#news-latest-container').mouseover( function() { clearInterval(newsTimer);});
  newsTimer = setInterval("advanceNews()", 7000);
  $('#news-latest-container').css('display', 'block');
})