Health Care Bills Raise Costs: Budget Umpire

U.S. - Democrats' health care bills won't meet President Barack Obama's goal of slowing the ruinous rise of medical costs, Congress' budget umpire warned on Thursday, giving weight to critics who say the legislation could break the bank. The sobering assessment from Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf came as House Democrats pushed to pass a partisan bill through committees, while in the Senate a small group of lawmakers continued to seek a deal that could win support from both political parties.

Pictures Of The Day - (July 17 2009)

Cool Sands

11 Ways To Advance Your Career

The employment situation today has workers feeling a little uneasy. As the unemployment rate soared to 8.5 percent in March -- its highest rate since 1983 -- and the number of unemployed people increased to 13.2 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lucky people who are still employed are probably looking for a little job security.

Pictures Of The Day - (July 16 2009)

Palestinian Boy Climbed Through Israel Barrier

JPMorgan 2Q Profit Jumps 36 pct, Topping Forecasts

U.S. - JPMorgan Chase & Co. posted a 36 percent jump in second quarter profit that easily surpassed analysts' expectations as strength in investment banking offset a jump in credit losses. JPMorgan, the second big bank to report stronger earnings this week after Goldman Sachs Group Inc., earned $2.72 billion, up from $2 billion a year earlier. Revenues soared 39 percent to $25.62 billion.

Obama To Young People: Surpass Your Role Models

NAACP Convention - Obama is telling the nation's oldest civil rights organization that government, families and neighborhoods must work together to improve communities. Obama also planned to urge young people to aspire to surpass their role models and resist the lure of mediocrity during a speech Thursday to the NAACP. White House aides said the president did not intend to introduce new programs or policy, instead striking an inspirational tone as the civil rights group gathers for its 100th annual convention.

Republican Skeptics Praise Sonia Sotomayor

U.S. - Sonia Sotomayor drew praise from GOP skeptics as well as from Democratic supporters Thursday on her last day of Senate questioning that's expected to lead to her confirmation.  Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described Sotomayor's judicial record as "generally in the mainstream." He also said he thought she would keep an open mind on gun rights and proclaimed her "not an activist."

Mayfield Tests Positive For Methamphetamine: NASCAR

SPORTS - Jeremy Mayfield tested positive again for methamphetamine, NASCAR said, igniting another round of denials from the driver, who angrily accused the sanctioning body of paying his stepmother to lie about his alleged past drug use. The positive result from a July 6 random test was included in a U.S. District Court filing Wednesday that asked the federal judge who lifted Mayfield's drug suspension to reinstate the ban. The filing included an affidavit from Mayfield's stepmother, Lisa, who said she witnessed the driver using methamphetamine at least 30 times over seven years.

Damage Eyed As Shuttle Heads Toward Space Station

U.S. – Space shuttle Endeavour rocketed toward the international space station Thursday as engineers on Earth pored over launch pictures that showed debris breaking off the fuel tank and striking the craft.  Mission Control told the astronauts late Wednesday that the damage looked less extensive at first glance than what occurred on the last shuttle flight, but it will take days to sort through available data to reach a conclusion.

Michael Jackson Pepsi Burn Accident Video

Us Weekly magazine has obtained video it says shows never-before-seen footage of Michael Jackson's head catching on fire during filming of his 1984 Pepsi commercial. Jackson suffered severe burns after a pyrotechnics mishap caused his hair and scalp to catch afire. Still photos of the accident have been seen before, but the new video on Us Weekly's Web site shows the moment Jackson's hair caught on fire and the top of his head became engulfed in flames.

Mexican Drug War: Traffickers Seek Revenge

Mexico - It was the boldest, most widespread coordinated offensive ever mounted by drug traffickers against the Mexican government. Within minutes of the weekend arrest of the La Familia drug cartel's operations chief, the gang launched deadly attacks in President Felipe Calderon's home state. In the worst, 12 federal agents were killed execution-style, their tortured bodies piled along a roadside as a warning for all to see.

NAACP: Obama Tells Government, Communities To Cooperate

U.S. - Obama is telling the nation's oldest civil rights organization that government, families and neighborhoods must work together to improve their communities. Obama also planned to urge young people to aspire to surpass their role models and resist the lure of mediocrity during a speech Thursday to the NAACP. White House aides said the president did not intend to introduce new programs or policy, instead striking an inspirational tone on the 100th birthday of the civil rights groups.