Mortgage Aid Programs Not Working
Two government programs designed to help hundreds of thousands of delinquent borrowers avoid foreclosure are having negligible effects, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston said.

Gay Marriage Ban Challenged In Calif.
California's highest court agreed to hear several legal challenges to the state's new ban on same-sex marriage but refused to allow gay couples to resume marrying before it rules.

Despite Big 3 Pleas, Auto Bailout Stalling
Top Senate Democrats suggested Wednesday that a bill to rescue the Detroit Three automakers was stalled and called on the Bush administration to take steps to help save the industry if congressional efforts falter.

Nebraska Lawmakers Revamp Safe Haven Law
A 30-day age limit in the Nebraska safe-haven law appears headed for final approval.

Ninety Migrants Feared Dead After Capsize
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for roughly 90 migrants feared dead after their makeshift boat apparently sank in an often-stormy stretch of water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

FBI Agent Slain In Drug Raid
An FBI agent was shot and killed Wednesday while serving a warrant at a home near Pittsburgh.

20 More Kids Seized After Alleged Abuse
State officials have taken into protective custody 20 more children associated with the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, alleging they had been abused and neglected.

Auto Bailout Is Local Issue, Dealers Plead
Auto dealers want legislators to view a rescue plan not as a bailout of Detroit's Big Three automakers but a way to prevent pillars of thousands of local communities from crumbling.

Spitzer Scandal Hooker Says Sorry To Wife
The prostitute at the center of the scandal that brought down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer says she's undergone "intense" psychotherapy since the events that generated national headlines - and feels especially bad for his wife.

Fed: Economy Stalling, Rate Cut Possible
The Federal Reserve sharply lowered its projections for economic activity this year and next, and signaled that additional interest rate reductions may be needed to help combat the financial crisis.