I-5 bridge collapse survivor: 'You hold on'
A portion of the Interstate-5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

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IRS replaces official who revealed targeting
In this May 22, 2013, photo, Lois Lerner listens on Capitol Hill in Washington. A day after she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing, Lerner has been replaced as director the Internal Revenue Service division that oversaw agents who targeted tea party groups. Danny Werfel, the agency's new acting commissioner, told IRS employees in an email Thursday, May 23, 2013, that he has selected a new acting head of the division, staying within the IRS to find new leadership. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) 5/24/2013

The Internal Revenue Service official who led the unit that targeted tea party groups and publicly disclosed the activity has been replaced, making her the...

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Obama balances Americans' rights

WASHINGTON (AP) 5/24/2013

Forecasting the changing nature of threats against the U.S. for years to come, President Barack Obama says "America is at a crossroads." And so, too, is his presidency's counterterrorism policy, which has long struggled to balance protecting the nation from terror attacks while upholding Americans' rights.

The Obama administration...

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Tea party vs. old guard in GOP Senate rift
In this May 21, 2013, photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., expresses his displeasure that Apple CEO Tim Cook was being brought before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee as the panel examines the methods employed by multinational corporations to shift profits offshore and how such activities are affected by the Internal Revenue Code, on Capitol Hill in Washington. A long-simmering feud in the Senate between establishment Republicans and tea partyers breaks into full view, with Sen. John McCain accusing younger colleagues of overplaying their hands and tempting Democrats to change Senate rules that protect the minority party. How to deal with the budget and debt become the latest quarrel in a string of them between McCain _ sometimes joined by other traditionalist Republicans _ and brash, tea party-champions such as Ted Cruz of Texas, Paul and Mike Lee of Utah. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) 5/24/2013

A long-simmering feud between establishment Republicans and tea partyers broke into full view, with Sen. John McCain accusing younger colleagues of overplaying their hands and tempting Democrats to change Senate rules that protect the minority party.

Tactics for dealing with the government's budget and debt became the latest quarrel in a series of skirmishes between McCain -sometimes joined by other traditionalist Republicans -and tea party champions such as Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida.

Those four won Senate seats by defying the party...

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Some unions now angry about health care overhaul

WASHINGTON (AP) 5/24/2013

When President Barack Obama pushed his health care overhaul plan through Congress, he counted labor unions among his strongest supporters.

But some unions leaders have grown frustrated and angry about what they

 

say are unexpected consequences of the new law - problems that they say could jeopardize the health benefits offered to millions of their members.

The issue could create a political headache next year for Democrats facing re-election if disgruntled

 

union members believe the Obama administration and Congress aren't working to fix the problem.

"It makes an untruth out of what the president said, that if you like your insurance, you could keep it," said Joe...

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Summer travel forecast: Better, but no blowout

NEW YORK (AP) 5/24/2013

The forecast for summer travel, 2013: Partly sunny.

Airlines, hotels and campgrounds are commanding higher rates and seeing more customers than a few summers ago, and luxury hotels are selling out. Local businessmen and state officials are optimistic.

But for a travel industry still stinging from the Great Recession, the best it can likely hope for is another

 

summer of steady, but slow, recovery. The blockbuster crowds seen in 2007 have become a distant memory.

Americans' plans for summer travel mirror the current state of the economy. Rising home prices and a soaring stock market are encouraging those at the top of the income ladder to take more lavish trips. But large segments of the...

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Report: Nation's kids need to get more physical
In this Dec. 11, 2012 file photo, students hold their position during a yoga class at Capri Elementary School in Encinitas, Calif. Reading, writing, `rithmetic _ and PE? The prestigious Institute of Medicine is recommending that schools provide opportunities for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for students and treat physical education as a core subject. The report says only about half of the nation's youngsters are getting at least an hour of vigorous or moderate physical activity every day. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) 5/24/2013

Reading, writing, arithmetic - and PE?

The prestigious Institute of Medicine is...

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