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  • Former First Lady Betty Ford Dies at Age 93

    Updated 48 min. ago

    Former First Lady Betty Ford died on Friday at age 93.  She was the wife of  former President Gerald Ford who passed away in 2006.

    In a statement released by the White House, President Obama stated;

    "Throughout her long and active life, Elizabeth Anne Ford distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. As our nation’s First Lady, she was a powerful advocate for women’s health and women’s rights.  After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford helped reduce the social stigma surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. While her death is a cause for sadness, we know that organizations such as the Betty Ford Center will honor her legacy by giving countless Americans a new lease on life." More »

  • June Unemployment Up to 9.2% from 9.1%

    18,000 jobs created

    Updated 5 hr., 52 min. ago
    June Unemployment Up to 9.2% from 9.1%
    Associated Press

    A key government measure on the nation's jobs situation reported today that the U.S. unemployment rate for June edged up to 9.2 percent. Job gains continued in professional and business services along with mining.

    Over the past 2 months, job growth has slowed markedly.  Employment rose by an average of 215,000 per month from February through April of this year, compared with an average of 22,000 for May and June. More »

  • Space Shuttle Launches for the Final Time

    Atlantis heads into orbit for 12 day mission

    Updated 5 hr., 53 min. ago
    Space Shuttle Launches for the Final Time
    C-SPAN / Courtesy NASA TV

    For the 135th and final time, a space shuttle has blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

    Officials say anywhere from 500,000 to one million spectators crowded the Florida coast to watch the launch of Atlantis.  More »

  • Debt Talks Continue

    Debt ceiling deal still uncertain

    Debt Talks Continue
    Associated Press / Charles Dharapak

    Closed door discussions on the debt ceiling continue today and will stretch into the weekend with a meeting planned with Congressional leaders and President Obama at the White House Sunday afternoon.  President Obama said the meeting will determine “where each’s bottom lines are.”

    The negotiators include Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John Kyl (R-AZ), and Congress members John Boehner (R-OH), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD). More »

  • Lawmakers Examine Social Security Cuts

    Updated 5 hr., 51 min. ago
    Lawmakers Examine Social Security Cuts
    Associated Press

    Discussions on Capitol Hill surrounding spending cuts and the federal debt ceiling have raised a host of questions on entitlement programs such as the Social Security program. The Subcommittee on Social Security for the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on Social Security finances.  Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX) called for the hearing to review current benefit expenditures of Social Security as well as proposed changes and the potential impact of such changes on the program.

    The 2011 Annual Report of the Social Security Trustees highlighted future funding challenges to both the Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and the Disability Insurance (DI) programs. Current estimates by the Trustees project permanent and growing cash flow deficits noting that the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds will be exhausted by 2036, with government revenues covering only 77% percent of benefit payments. More »