United States of America - USA News

Lenders have become even less willing to part with their money, further crimping budgets and family spending.

The presidential race has turned into an audition for who could best handle a national economic emergency.

At issue is whether plaintiffs have the right to sue when the products that hurt them had met federal standards.

California legislative leaders and the governor have come to an agreement on the state budget, which is now roughly three months late.

After investigators said an engineer in last week’s collision had been texting on the job, regulators temporarily banned the use of all cellular devices by anyone at the controls of a moving train.

Democrats believe that a long list of Republican lawmakers with legal troubles makes it impossible for Republicans to gain much ground on the issues of ethics and good government.

The recommendations included a simpler application, Pell grant maximums linked to the consumer price index and federally financed college savings accounts for children in low-income families.

The blueprint would change the city’s building codes to promote energy efficiency, and it calls for installing huge solar panels at municipal properties and building alternative fueling stations.

Treasury and Fed officials were discussing with leaders in Congress a plan for the government to buy up distressed mortgages.

A backlash against short sellers has begun, with regulators in the U.S. and Britain tightening rules and authorities in New York intensifying investigations.

The president spoke briefly on Thursday after remaining largely out of sight as Wall Street has become engulfed by a financial crisis.

Senator John McCain’s once easygoing if irreverent campaign presence — endearing to crowds, though often resulting in gaffes — has been put out to pasture.

As Gov. Sarah Palin has moved to the national stage, Senator Ted Stevens, who goes on trial next week, has risen in some opinion polls in Alaska.

Todd Palin was one of 13 people subpoenaed in the inquiry into whether Gov. Sarah Palin or members of her administration abused their power in the dismissal of a top state administrator.

A Spanish-language Obama ad misrepresents John McCain’s record on the immigration issue and his relationship with Rush Limbaugh.

A privacy group filed a class-action lawsuit on Thursday seeking to halt what it describes as illegal surveillance of Americans’ telephone and Internet traffic.

Remnants of Hurricane Ike swept through the region on Sunday, bringing torrential downpours and strong winds.

As the veterans’ health system strains to handle a growing caseload, a move is under way in Congress to avoid yearly delays in financing that can hamper the medical care of the nation’s veterans.

O. J. Simpson’s legal team began Thursday to mount a defense that will sound familiar to anyone who followed his 1995 murder trial.

Flashing headlights and honking horns penetrated the early-morning sky as police officers and first responders led drivers in a slow procession across the new Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Gov. Haley Barbour agreed to move a special election for Trent Lott’s former Senate seat to near the top of the November ballot, ending a dispute that had threatened to delay the start of absentee voting.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska conceded to Representative Don Young in the Republican primary for Alaska’s only House seat.

Agriprocessors Inc., an embattled kosher meatpacker with a plant in Postville, Iowa, named a corporate lawyer from New York to be its chief executive, responding to an ultimatum from the leading kosher certifying organization.

An Episcopal bishop, whose diocese is moving toward splitting from the national church, was ousted from ministry.

A man charged in the killings of four people who died during a June killing spree in Illinois and Missouri has been charged with murder in four more bludgeoning deaths.

Congress is awarding the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, to members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots

Weather forecasters say the wetter-than-usual El Nio winter that has blasted much of the United States could be followed by an ...

An intelligence official says the government has nearly doubled the number of people on the no-fly list since the attempted Christmas ...

Pregnancy-related deaths appear to have risen nationwide over the past decade, and while they're very rare about 550 a year ...

A second ex-New Orleans officer charged in an alleged conspiracy to cover up a deadly police shooting of unarmed residents after ...

A suburban Philadelphia woman "desperate to do something" to help suffering Muslims has been charged with using the Internet ...

A lovesick graduate student from China who slipped under a rope barrier at Newark Liberty International Airport to say goodbye ...

Twice in recent months, authorities have raided operations where finches were kept to attack each other for people who bet on ...

A new Ohio State University custodial employee who received a bad job evaluation shot two co-workers in a campus maintenance ...

Even after 114 years, Neva Morris still has the energy to sing a good tune.

At least five homes and a barn owned by the county government were destroyed and other structures were damaged Monday by a large ...

Los Angeles police say all they needed to find marijuana growing in a Van Nuys warehouse was a sense of smell.

There is a growing national movement to rethink marijuana laws.

It is the smell pungent and slightly citrusy that first greets visitors to Mahmoud ElSohly's office on the University of Mississippi ...

It's a day of wedding bells for some gay couples in Washington as same-sex pairs began picking up marriage licenses on their ...

Handful of Experts has Final Say on Who Flies, Who Doesn't; List Changes Constantly with New Intel

Demographers say 48% of Kids Born in 2008 Were Minorities, and This Year Could be the "Tipping Point"

Gov. Schwarzenegger Orders Officials to Keep Records Indefinitely after Learning John Gardner's Were Disposed

Listen to the 9-1-1 call of the Prius driver whose car sped out of control on a San Diego highway before coming to a stop.

The first women to fly military aircraft are known as WASPs, an acronym for Women's Air Force Service Pilots. David Martin reports that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

Emotions are running high in Washington as the push for a House vote for health care reform approaches. As Nancy Cordes reports, protesters directed their anger at the insurance company.

China and the U.S. are fighting to lead the world in green energy technology, but China is way ahead. Celia Hatton reports on what the U.S. needs to do to keep up.

Knowing Dispatcher Asks "Is Your Accelerator Stuck?" before Highway Officer Helps Bring Out-of-Control Car to Safe Stop

Exactly a year ago, stocks hit a 12-year low, dealing a 401-K-O to a lot of retirement accounts. As Anthony Mason reports, after a remarkable comeback, millions of investors missed out.

The David Letterman extortion case has finally ended with a plea deal after a former CBS News producer pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny. Jeff Glor has the story.

First Women Who Flew Military Aircraft to Receive Congressional Gold Medal, Remembering America's Forgotten Heroes

Peggy Liu, from JUCCEE, joint US-China Collaboration on Clean Energy, says energy powers nation growth.

Barbara Finamore, from the National Resources Defense Council says renewable energy is essential in the 21st century.

Katie Couric interviews comedian and author Chelsea Handler, host of "Chelsea Lately." Chelsea talks about the possibility of a female network late night host, her new book, her childhood, and her favorite and least-favorite guests.

Chelsea Handler describes feeling neglected as a child, as the youngest of six siblings growing up in New Jersey.

Chelsea Handler says she was approached about a network late night gig. Will a woman soon crack the glass ceiling in late night?

Chelsea Handler dishes about reality TV stars Jon and Kate Gosselin, the Kardashians, and Angelina Jolie.

Body Pulled from Mississippi River in New Orleans; Police Believed Douglas Schantz Drowned Accidentally

Federal Prosecutors Accuse Pa. Woman of Using Internet to Help Terrorists Overseas, Say "JihadJane" Was YouTube Handle

Bogus Web Site Mimics That of Government Agency Tasked With Helping Victims of Massive Ponzi Scheme

Graduate Student from China Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor, Apologizes for "Big Mistake"

Vehicle Owners Have Yet to Receive Official Recall Notice, Which Was Announced in November; Feds Probing Calif. Acceleration

CEO Tells Investors of Plans to Dodge New Government Fines by Cancelling Flights on Tarmac for 3 Hours

Former CBS employee Robert "Joe" Halderman plead guilty to attempted grand larceny in a case that involved comedian David Letterman's extramarital affairs. Halderman is being sentenced to six months in jail and 1,000 hours of community service.

China is Cashing in its Emerging Energy Sector - What Solutions Will Help the U.S. Catch Up?