Today

• A free lunch: Other cities look to replicate Philly's no-strings-attached school meal program

• Plenty of states going to great depths to monitor groundwater supplies

• Farming with Oxen 101: VT college students learn old-fashioned, sustainable agriculture

• More Vermont church properties face liens to cover awards in priest sex abuse trials

• Mohawks v. Canada: Standoff over arming guards brings NY bridge closure, loss of business

• Missed revenue forecasts could mean more troubles ahead for state budgets

• Tucson ordinance requiring rainwater harvesting on commercial building drawing interest

• Texas City man accused of wrapping chain around teenage son's neck, spraying him with Mace

• Observers: Facing trouble at home as Alaska governor, Palin's resignation helped cut losses

• Bus with prison visitors tips over on NY highway, killing woman trapped underneath, hurting 9

• Fireworks blasts kill 4 on NC island and 1 in Pa; 25 hurt in Ind. pedestrian bridge collapse

• Palin hints at political future in Web posts, threatens legal action against bloggers, media

• Biggest fireworks show in US lights up NYC sky as July Fourth is celebrated around the country

• Funerals held for SC mother and daughter who were victims of suspected serial killer

• Washington Post publisher apologizes for plan to hold paid dinners with officials, journalists

• Scientist accused of al-Qaida ties, shooting at FBI may be forced into NYC court hearing

• Monorail crashes in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, killing employee; train out of service

• Former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry arrested and charged with stalking woman

• AP Interview: Harvard president forced to deal with economic crisis, but with a softer style

• US Coast Guard chopper in Bering Sea rescues French kayaker attempting to circumnavigate globe

• Can chem prof succeed in mission to guide war-weary veterans back to college?

• As new GI Bill swells ranks of vets in college, schools work to ease transition to campus life

• Surfers, environmentalists, Native Hawaiians trying to shut down shark tours in Hawaii

July 04, 2009

• Colin Powell says Americans should celebrate Michael Jackson's art, not dwell on controversies

• Pastor Rick Warren tells Islamic convention Muslims and Christians must work together

Today

• Obama's financial rules could mean fewer giant financial powerhouses _ those too big to fail

• Analysis: Republicans, outnumbered and politically wary, lack cohesive opposition to Sotomayor

• Top military officer advises Obama to act in 'a measured way' on changing policy for gays

• Obama bemoans golf game during interview with Russian press ahead of trip to Moscow

• Biden says more US jobs on the way because of stimulus spending, Republicans remain skeptical

Today

• Reinsurer PartnerRe to acquire smaller rival Paris Re in cash, stock deal worth $2 billion

• FDA cautions that 2 energy drinks _ Hardcore Energize Bullet and New Whey _ were tampered with

• Chrysler names rest of 9-member board of directors following Fiat alliance, Chapter 11 exit

• Communities confront 'ghostbox' buildings when big-box retailers leave

• G-8 summit in quake-hit Italian town brings hopes for help and fears of wasted resources

Today

• Colin Powell: Sotomayor shouldn't be labeled racist because of affirmative action stand

July 04, 2009

• Civil rights group Sotomayor advised sued in case similar to firefighters' job test dispute

July 02, 2009

• Leahy: Republicans told him that they would have objected to anyone Obama named to high court

July 01, 2009

• Supreme Court signals important decisions ahead in politics, civil rights

• Highlights of Supreme Court decisions made during the 2008-09 term