SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A bottom in the battered U.S. housing market may emerge first in California, one of the states hardest hit by foreclosures and where home prices are dropping to a point where the cost of a mortgage and taxes equals rent.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Friday it has warned U.S. store managers in recent weeks about the possible consequences of a labor-friendly bill backed by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama that would make it easier for workers to form unions.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A $1.6 trillion bill is coming due across the United States as governments face the daunting task of repairing roads, bridges and other parts of an aging infrastructure.
The strongest earthquake to strike a populated area of Southern California in more than a decade rattled windows and chandeliers, made buildings sway and sent people running into the streets on Tuesday. But there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or major damage.
Smoke had turned the sun a deep glowing red by the time Dutch tourist Trees Duipmans and her three teenage children reached a campground outside Yosemite National Park on Sunday. By Monday, they decided it was time to go.
A roadside bomb critically wounded a military commander of the Fatah movement Tuesday, setting off gunbattles at a Palestinian refugee camp that has been torn by factional fighting, Lebanese and Palestinian security officials said.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After having dinner at Clyde's in Washington's trendy Chinatown, a young boy sluggishly gets up to follow his family to the exit. His waitress jokes, "You're stuffed, huh?"
MIAMI (Reuters) - When Paulette Richards' kids grew up and left home she thought she was done parenting. Instead, she has joined the growing ranks of black U.S. grandparents raising grandchildren because their own children can't -- or won't.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The downward spiral of U.S. housing prices still has a way to go and homes were overvalued by between 8 percent to 20 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to research by an International Monetary Fund economist published on Friday.
An annual report on the health of Long Island Sound points to several success stories in the concerted efforts to improve the body of water that provides recreation for many and a living for many others.
Business at reopened restaurants was humming, grocery store parking lots were packed and residents of south Texas were venturing out on the newly dry roads again as the remnants of Hurricane Dolly moved well away from the Rio Grande Valley.
Barack Obama's campaign has received roughly 10 times more money from declared U.S. donors living in Germany, France and Britain than his Republican rival, reflecting his popularity in Europe as he makes his first tour of the continent as the presumed Democratic nominee.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline prices have fallen more than 10 cents per gallon in a week and could fall another 25 cents by the end of summer, a sign the worst is over for U.S. motorists this vacation season.
