Two fires still raging along California's central coast (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:04:04 GMT
AP - Cool, damp weather early Saturday helped crews gain ground on the huge wildfire that wiped out this coastal retreat's holiday tourist trade, allowing some personnel and gear to be shifted to a growing blaze farther south

Obama, Clinton to hold joint fundraisers in NY (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:04:27 GMT
AP - Now that they're allies, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will help each other raise money in a series of fundraisers in New York next week.

Employers use federal law to deny benefits (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:04:43 GMT
AP - Dying of cancer, Thomas Amschwand did everything he was told to make sure his wife would collect on the life insurance policy he had through his employer.

Analysis: McCain struggles to regain footing (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:07:26 GMT
AP - John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement. The GOP presidential candidate trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls, organization and money while trying to succeed a deeply unpopular fellow Republican in a year that favors Democrats. McCain also doesn't seem to have a coherent message let alone much of a strategy despite securing the nomination three months earlier than Obama.

Democrats hit GOP on support for Medicare cuts (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:07:33 GMT
AP - Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, accused Republicans of putting seniors and military families at risk by siding with President Bush against a measure to prevent Medicare cuts.

Americans' unhappy birthday: 'Too much wrong right now' (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:57:04 GMT
AP - Even folks in the Optimist Club are having a tough time toeing an upbeat line these days. Eighteen members of the volunteer organization's Gilbert, Ariz., chapter have gathered, a few days before this nation's 232nd birthday, to focus on the positive: Their book-drive for schoolchildren and an Independence Day project to place American flags along the streets of one neighborhood.

Companies begin quest for oil, gas off Fla. coast (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:56:52 GMT
AP - Oil companies once viewed drilling in the deep waters off Florida as cost prohibitive. Politicians feared even the slightest sign of support would be career suicide.

Spitzer call girl drops 'Girls Gone Wild' lawsuit (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:20:43 GMT
AP - The call girl involved in a scandal that brought down New York's former governor has dropped a lawsuit claiming "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis exploited her image and name on the Internet.

Man flying lawn chair lifted by helium balloons (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:03:33 GMT
AP - Riding a green lawn chair supported by a rainbow array of more than 150 helium-filled party balloons, Kent Couch took off Saturday in a third bid to fly from central Oregon all the way to Idaho.

Venus beats Serena for her 5th Wimbledon title (AP)
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:01:53 GMT
AP - This time, big sister put little sister in her place. Advantage, Miss Venus Williams. She defeated Serena 7-5, 6-4 Saturday for her fifth Wimbledon title and second in a row.