Nation

Web of business ties entangle Kentucky governor's office

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear's chief of staff is a partner in private business deals with a top lobbyist who represents a long list of clients wanting something from state government. Both insist the relationship presents no conflict of interest, though others disagree. | 01/02/09 13:48:27 By - John Cheves

Kansas legislator says classes on money should be required

It's easier for many adults to talk to children about sex than about money. "The only greater taboo for conversation than sex is money," noted Philip Heckman, Youth Programs director for the Center for Personal Finance, which is affiliated with Credit Union National Association Inc. | 01/02/09 07:19:50 By - Jeannine Koranda

Police turn to MySpace, Facebook for clues in murder

Deamonte Tavaris Brooks, 18, is charged with murder in the Nov. 8 death of Nathan Elmore, 18, during a party at a Durham, N.C., townhouse. Search warrants made public Thursday show that investigators with the Durham Police Department accessed user accounts at MySpace.com and Facebook.com seeking evidence in the case. | 01/02/09 07:10:40 By - Michael Biesecker

No primaries this year, so how can we spend our time?

The past year offered a steady stream of presidential drama that kept us fully entertained practically to the end of the year. So what's the next year hold, after Jan. 20's inauguration. Who knows? But one calendar is already pretty much set — when the big blockbuster movies will be released. So here's what's coming up, through December. Remember, Hillary didn't plan past February. | 01/01/09 18:19:56 By -

From 2008's wreckage, some stories of hope and triumph

Not to minimize the seriousness of the economic recession, but when times are bad — and not just economic times, but when we face the death of loved ones or other losses — it has a way of helping us think about all we have and about what's positive and important in our lives. These stories are reminders of that. | 01/01/09 17:44:39 By - Eric Adler

Learning to swim: For Muslim women in U.S., it's not easy

When fellow Muslim parents asked Salman Sheikh to organize a swim class for girls, he went to the Curran Aquatic Center in Cary, N.C., to see if it could accommodate a group of Muslims who preferred a women-only pool. No problem, leaders of the center said. But the pool could be seen onlookers and blinds on the windows would cost $3,000. Sheikh almost abandoned the idea. | 01/01/09 17:14:37 By - Yonat Shimron

Lipstick on a pit bull: Gov. Palin rises to Levi's defense

In a series of phone calls and e-mail messages on New Year's Eve to news organizations, Gov. Sarah Palin refuted descriptions of her future son-ln-law as a high school dropout, saying he was enrolled in correspondence courses while working as an electrical apprentice on Alaska's North Slope. Her office also broke its silence on the birth of her new grandson. | 01/01/09 06:59:16 By - Kyle Hopkins

California seeks balanced budget with tax boost, school cuts

Aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rolled out a new plan for closing California's gaping $40 billion budget deficit today that cobbles together elements of earlier proposals and adds a new tax increase, a shorter school year and a "what if" quest to borrow $4.7 billion. | 12/31/08 19:44:00 By - Steve Wiegand

Champagne sales fizzle for New Year

No matter how eager some may be to kiss 2008 goodbye, consumers aren't as enthusiastic about a traditional New Year's staple — champagne. | 12/31/08 11:25:26 By - Grace Gagliano

In Merced, business owners reach out to fast-growing Latino market

When Javier Fuentes, who works at a local radio station, sold an advertising campaign to Napa Auto Parts, the auto-parts dealer wanted all its ads in Spanish. And that's just one example, said Fuentes, of how businesses are catching on to the large, untapped Latino market. | 12/31/08 07:25:32 By - Jonah Owen Lamb

States' plans for stimulus spending won't transform nation

The second coming of the interstate system it may not be. President-elect Barack Obama is promising an economic stimulus package that could rival what was spent to build the interstates during the Dwight Eisenhower era. Whether Obama’s plan changes transportation the same way is a different matter. | 12/31/08 07:04:14 By - Brad Cooper

U.S. attorney for North Texas stepping down

U.S. Attorney Richard Roper is stepping down as the top federal prosecutor in North Texas to become a senior partner at a Dallas-based law firm, where he will handle white-collar fraud and corporate investigation cases. | 12/31/08 07:00:34 By - Max B. Baker

Satellite explodes! Here's the No. 1 McClatchy video of 2008

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, the U.S. military fired a missile at a crippled spy satellite whose fuel tank was carrying 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine rocket fuel. It was a real life test of the American missile defense system that had a spotty record of intercepting other objects. Tens of thousands watched the video the Pentagon released of the missile striking the satellite at more than 22,000 mph. | 12/30/08 17:14:32 By -

Auld Lang Syne: A look back at our best-read stories of 2008

There are many ways to recall 2008. The first African-American president. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. But how about that naked lady in Cheney's sunglasses? Or the woman who asked Obama about his lapel flag pin during the ABC debate? Or China's anger at Bill O'Reilly (who can blame them)? | 12/30/08 16:50:46 By -

Alaska pipeline reopens after weather forced closure

The trans-Alaska oil pipeline has reopened after an overnight shutdown, but bad weather is still preventing tankers from taking on oil at the Valdez tanker dock. | 12/30/08 15:56:01 By -

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