Mark Memmott

The economy "is unlikely to slow in the short-term, and may even moderately pick up," economist Lynn Franco predicted Tuesday as the Conference Board released its latest survey on consumer confidence.

The business research group, where Franco is director of economic indicators, said its index rose to a ...

By a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has struck down a key provision of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act that establishes a formula to identify states that may require extra scrutiny by the Justice Department regarding voting procedures.

The decision focuses on Section 4 of the Act.

Update at 10:30 a.m. ET. Today's Major Ruling; Key Part Of 1965 Voting Rights Act Is Ruled Unconstitutional:

"By a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court has struck down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that establishes a formula to identify states that may require extra scrutiny by ...

Nelson Mandela remains in critical condition at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, where the 94-year-old anti-apartheid legend and former president is being treated for a respiratory infection.

President Jacob Zuma's office said Tuesday that Mandela's "condition remains unchanged in hospital and doctors continue ...

The tenuous nature of efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan were dramatically underscored Tuesday morning when gunmen attacked buildings near Afghanistan's presidential palace in Kabul as journalists were gathering to hear from President Hamid Karzai about nascent plans for peace talks with the Taliban.

According to The Associated ...

A goal behind with about 80 seconds to go in regulation time, the Chicago Blackhawks scored twice in a 17-second span Monday night to beat the Boston Bruins and win the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup.

The 3-2 victory came in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series. For Chicago, it's ...

According to the countdown clock, at 2 p.m. ET Monday we were just 490 hours away from fresh Twinkies.

As the Los Angeles Times says, it's "time to welcome back the Twinkie. ... Hostess is bringing back its popular snack cakes on July 15 after going ...

After expressing "frustration and disappointment" because Hong Kong and China did not block "NSA leaker" Edward Snowden from flying to Moscow, the White House said Monday that it expects Russia will decide "to expel Mr. Snowden for his return to the United States."

Press secretary Jay ...

There's a red panda missing from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., zoo officials announced Monday morning.

So if you're in the nation's capital, keep an eye out for Rusty. But don't approach him, they warn:

"Remember: red pandas are wild animals, & will bite ...

One of the Supreme Court's most anticipated cases of its current term — a challenge to the University of Texas' affirmative action admissions process — has ended with a ruling that does not revisit the fundamental issue of whether such programs discriminate against whites.

In a 7-1 ruling, ...

Bobby "Blue" Bland, the "Sinatra of the blues" who sang such classics as "Turn On Your Love Light" and "Further On Up The Road," has died. He was 83.

According to The Associated Press: "Rodd Bland said his father died due to complications from an ongoing illness at ...

It's another "decision day" at the Supreme Court. So, once again, we're waiting to see which (if any) big rulings are handed down.

As Eyder wrote last Thursday, the court's term is coming to a close and the justices still haven't issued key decisions on cases involving same-sex ...

Good morning.

Our early headlines:

-- 'Everything Possible' Being Done For Ailing Nelson Mandela.

-- Where In The World Is Edward Snowden? Still Russia, It Seems.

-- Book News: The FBI Monitored Mexican Writer Carlos Fuentes.

Other news:

-- "George Zimmerman Trial: Opening Statements ...

After hours of breathless reporting about how "NSA leaker" Edward Snowden would be getting on a Moscow-to-Havana flight Monday, it seems he did not in fact board the jet for what what was thought to be a step toward asylum in Ecuador.

The Guardian, one of the news ...

South Africans, and millions more people around the world, are waiting anxiously for further word about Nelson Mandela and praying for the former president and anti-apartheid icon.

Mandela, 94, remains in critical condition at a hospital in Pretoria where he's being treated for a recurring respiratory infection.

The word ...

Two years after she leaped to his defense with the "head slap seen 'round the world," Wendi and Rupert Murdoch are apparently splitting up.

NPR's David Folkenflik tweets that a News Corp. spokesman confirms the report from Deadline Hollywood that the billionaire media mogul ...

After being suspended less than two hours after the first players teed off, play is set to resume early Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Open golf championship, which this year is being held at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., outside Philadelphia. Heavy rains forced the delay.

The number of first-time claims for unemployment insurance has dropped back down to one of its lowest levels since January 2008, the Employment and Training Administration says.

According to that agency, there were 334,000 initial claims filed last week, down 12,000 from the week before.

Also Thursday morning, ...

In a decision that could have broad-reaching effects on the future of science and medicine, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that:

-- "A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated."

-- But, synthetically created "strands of ...

Hey, we were told in the '60s that we'd grow up to be astronauts if we drank Tang and that our heroes loved it!

But the second man on the moon — Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin — says "Tang sucks."

TMZ.com broke the news that Aldrin let loose ...