1. BP's experimental cap on its gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico appears (to be) holding. Engineers continue to monitor the well for signs of leaks. 2. New Jersey authorities have called off a search at a partly collapsed parking garage after deter
1. An administration official says testing will continue as BP and the government disagree over whether the new cap on the well should be removed. BP wants to keep the cap while administration officials say that cap should be removed. They guess meth
1. Senate Republicans are firing back at the latest criticism from President Barack Obama. He's accusing them of standing in the way of extended unemployment benefits. GOP lawmakers say they will support an extension only if the bill is paid for and
1. The nomination of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court clears a Senate Committee by a vote of 13:6, with only one Republican supporting her. Now, the full Senate is expected to vote on her nomination before Congress begins its summer recess. 2. Actre
1. President Barack Obama has apologized to former agriculture employee Shirley Sherrod over her ouster amid racially-tinged firestorm. The White House says Obama expressed his regret in a phone call and urged her to accept the Ag Department's offer
1. It's official: BP CEO Tony Hayward will step down as about October 1st. He will be succeeded by American Bob Dudley a first for BP. Meantime, the oil giant has released its earnings, saying it lost 17 billion dollars in the second quarter. Same qu
1. The former Department of Agriculture employee fired for her remarks about race may have a new job. Shirley Sherrod says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has offered her a different position in the department. Vilsack says he acted hastily when he
1. A senior US government official says BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward is being replaced. Hayward made several gaffes, most notably wishing to have his life back and going to a yacht race while oil washed up on Gulf shores. 2. Flooding in eastern Io
1. Senate Democrats are expected to clear a procedural hurdle today in their latest bid to pass an extension of jobless benefits. Democrats are expected to be able to break a GOP filibuster right after West Virginia senator Carte Goodwin is sworn int
1. The White House says the release of 91,000 secret military documents is a breach of federal law and a potential threat to US military personnel. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama was alerted to the leak last week. The
1. Ships are heading back to resume work on the leaking oil well in the Gulf after the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie have breezed past. Dozens of vessels evacuated the areas as the storm bore down. It weakened to a tropical depression before movi