HARI SREENIVASAN: The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby moved across northern Florida today, heading into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm's watery slog from the Gulf of Mexico left widespread flooding in coastal and inland communities. More than two feet of rain fell in some places. The storm is now just a tropical depression. It has been blamed for at least three deaths.
Two longtime fixtures in Congress turned back primary challenges on Tuesday. In Utah, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch easily defeated a Tea Party challenger in his bid for a seventh term. And in New York City, Democratic Congressman Charlie Rangel won his primary battle, aiming for a 22nd term. He had been censured by the House 18 months ago for failing to pay taxes.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D-NY): My community has rallied behind me, when some of the most severe charges have been made against me in the past. There's so much that has to be done in this country, in my community. And I'm just glad that my community has faith and confidence in me doing it.
HARI SREENIVASAN: But, in Oklahoma, five-term Republican Congressman John Sullivan lost his race with a Tea Party-backed opponent. He is the fourth incumbent congressman to lose in a primary so far this year.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Martin McGuinness, former head of the Irish Republican Army, shared a highly symbolic handshake today. They marked the moment of reconciliation in Northern Ireland after decades of violence. It is believed McGuinness commanded the IRA when the group killed the queen's cousin Lord Mountbatten in 1979. Northern Ireland finally achieved a peace agreement in 1998, and the IRA renounced violence in 2005.
Stockton, California, is soon to be the largest U.S. city to file for federal bankruptcy protection. The city council began the procedural work last night, setting the stage for a filing by Friday. Stockton faces a $26 million budget shortfall. So far, efforts to work out deals with the city's creditors have failed.
On Wall Street today, stocks surged ahead after upbeat reports about home sales, factory orders and business investment. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 92 points to close at 12627. The Nasdaq rose 21 points to close at 2875.
May 17, 2013
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