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2009 JULY FRIDAY, July 31, 2009 Recession Shows Signs of Easing Grip on U.S. Economy New economic figures hinted that the U.S. recession could be slowing down. Jeffrey Brown gets analysis from a banker and a journalist.    2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997 Other News: House to Add $2 Billion to Cash for Clunkers The House rushed to inject $2 billion into the cash for clunkers program, and the Associated Press reported that thousands of decaying bridges are suffering under the stimulus package.      Congress Considers Plan to Influence Executive Pay Congress might give the government some say in how much Wall Street executives are paid. A former SEC accountant and a law professor give their take on the plan.      July Was Deadliest Month for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan Margaret Warner updates the U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan then speaks with a Washington Post reporter about the latest military strategy.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Iraq Victory-declaration Idea, GDP Report Top Week's News Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top news of the week, including an idea to declare victory in Iraq and the latest economic figures.    Political Wrap THURSDAY, July 30, 2009 Other News: Health Care Legislation Inches Forward In other news, health care reform legislation advanced in the House, but stalled in the Senate, and a spending bill that removed funding for F-22 fighter jets was approved.      Pelosi: Democrats Not Sacrificing Too Much in Reform Effort House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that Democrats are not giving up too much in the push to pass a bipartisan health reform plan.    Rx for Reform In Iran, New Burst of Demonstrations Escalate Political Tensions Hundreds of Iranian opposition supporters gathered Thursday to mourn slain demonstrator Neda Agha Soltan. Police reportedly used tear gas to break up the crowd. A Los Angeles Times reporter discusses the latest developments.    Governing Iran Riot Police Crack Down on Mourners in Iran Opposition demonstrators were met with riot police and tear gas Thursday in Tehran. Lindsey Hilsum from Independent Television News reports.    Governing Iran Fed Struggles with Perceptions of Transparency As the debate over the Federal Reserve's transparency heats up in Congress, Paul Solman looks at the agency's attempts to balance public disclosure and the secrecy it uses to protect financial markets.      N.C. Arrests Raise Concerns about Homegrown Terrorism After seven North Carolina men were arrested on accusations of planning a terrorist attack, law enforcement officials said they were concerned about other possible homegrown terrorists. Ray Suarez speaks with a terrorism expert and a civil rights advocate.    Domestic Security WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2009 Despite Breakthrough in Congress, Wrangling Persists Over Health Reform With Congress showing some progress Wednesday in the health care reform debate, journalists discuss the political hurdles that must be cleared to reach a final deal.    Rx for Reform Other News: Economy Stabilizing in Parts of U.S., Fed Says In other news, the Federal Reserve indicated that the recession might be easing up but said the labor market remains soft, and Microsoft announced a long-awaited partnership with Yahoo.      In Iran, Fear Grows Over Treatment of Arrested Election Demonstrators Margaret Warner updates the political situation in Iran, where concerns are growing about the treatment of demonstrators arrested after the disputed election.    Governing Iran In Forum, Bernanke Says Fed Was Late Addressing Subprime Crisis The third and final installment of a special forum with Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke, moderated by Jim Lehrer in Kansas City, Mo.      Costello Still Finds Wonder in Songwriting Jeffrey Brown speaks with musician Elvis Costello about how his approach to recording albums has evolved over three decades.      TUESDAY, July 28, 2009 Amid Health Reform Debate, Prospects for Public Plan Explored As House Democrats try to round up votes for a health reform plan and a bipartisan group works on a Senate compromise, two bloggers size up the prospects for a public health insurance plan.    Rx for Reform Other News: Sotomayor Nomination Heads to Full Senate In other news, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 to recommend Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic justice, and consumer confidence fell for a second straight month.      At Forum, Fed Chairman Calls for Patience on Stimulus In part two of Jim Lehrer’s conversation with Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chief discusses the state of the Obama administration’s economic recovery efforts, and the central bank's efforts to help homeowners facing foreclosure.      U.K. Public Doubt Increases as Casualties Mount in Afghanistan According to published reports, 191 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, surpassing the number killed in Iraq after the 2003 invasion and adding to Britain's concerns over the war.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Miliband Presses Political Strategy for Afghans, Insurgency British Foreign Secretary David Miliband tells Gwen Ifill that the Afghan war requires more of a political solution to win, in addition to a military one.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Cell Phone Use Raises Risks While Driving, Studies Show A series of new studies and reports shows that drivers making a phone call or text messaging are more of a danger than previously thought.      MONDAY, July 27, 2009 At Forum, Bernanke Defends Fed's Aggressive Moves At a forum in Kansas City, Mo., Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke discussed the central bank's actions in handling the economic crisis, saying he did not want to be the Fed chief who "presided over the second Great Depression." Here is the full transcript of the forum, which was moderated by Jim Lehrer.      With Trade Hub History, K.C. a Crossroads for Commerce Economics correspondent Paul Solman explores Kansas City, Mo., home to one of 12 regional Federal Reserve banks and a crossroads for the U.S. economy.      Bernanke Reflects on Fed's Aggressive Actions In the first of a three-part discussion, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that jobless rates may continue to rise and discussed his fears of another Great Depression.      Other News: New Home Sales Surge 11% in June In other news, new home sales leapt 11 percent in June, the largest monthly gain in nearly nine years, and the U.S. warned Iran it could face tough sanctions if it rejects talks on its nuclear program.      Obama Calls for Deeper U.S.-China Economic Relationship President Barack Obama stressed the importance of new strategic and economic dialogue between the United States and China. Margaret Warner reports on the beginning of the talks and what they mean for international relations between the two countries.      High Obesity Rates Stress U.S. Health Care Budgets A new study finds that obesity rates grew 37 percent from 1998 to 2008 and account for 10 percent of the nation's health care spending. The author of the report speaks with Gwen Ifill about health concerns in the U.S.      Revered Choreographer Merce Cunningham Dies Regarded among the most innovative American artists of the 20th century, Merce Cunningham died Sunday in his New York home.    Art Beat FRIDAY, July 24, 2009 Schools to Compete for Funding in Obama Reform Plan The Obama administration is pushing education leaders to accept a series of reforms, including performance pay for teachers and a deeper embrace of charter schools. Education Secretary Arne Duncan discusses the proposals with Judy Woodruff.      Other News: Obama Steps Back from Gates Comment In other news, President Obama stepped back from comments he made concerning the arrest of prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Democrats in the House of Representatives agreed on a plan for cutting Medicare growth.      Health Care Battle Takes to the Airwaves As lawmakers and the president wrangle over the details of health care reform, interest groups across the political spectrum are taking to the airwaves in response to the numerous proposals coming out of Washington. Media expert Evan Tracey speaks with Ray Suarez about the ads.      Health Care Overhaul Tops Week's Agenda in Washington Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks analyze the top news of the week, including the fight over health care reform, the controversy surrounding the arrest of scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and the state of the economic crisis.    Political Wrap Arrests Expose Widespread Corruption in Garden State A ten-year long investigation into sprawling corruption in New Jersey culminated Thursday after an informant's tips led to the arrests of 44 people, including three mayors and multiple rabbis. Dina Temple-Raston of National Public Radio examines the case with Margaret Warner.      During School Recess, New Focus on Playing Nice Recess can be a chaotic, even violent, period during the course of a normal school day. Spencer Michels reports on how one non-profit is showing educators the health, and classroom benefits of teaching students how to play nice.      THURSDAY, July 23, 2009 Senate Delays Health Reform as Cost Concerns Persist Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that the Senate will not vote on a health care reform bill before its August recess. In a town hall meeting meeting, President Obama said that the delay was "OK," as long as Congress is working to pass a bill by the fall.    Rx for Reform Other News: Dow Closes Over the 9,000 Mark In other news, better-than-expected earnings from several companies, combined with strong housing figures pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average above 9,000 for the first time since January, and three mayors in New Jersey were arrested on corruption charges.      In Washington, Iraqi PM Focuses on Security Steps During a weeklong visit to the U.S., Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with President Obama to discuss the road ahead for the country's security situation and other key policy issue. Margaret Warner reports.    Iraq in Transition Professor's Arrest Puts Racial Profiling in the Spotlight The arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates at his own home in Cambridge, Mass., made headlines again Thursday, after President Obama commented on the controversy during Wednesday's news conference. Ray Suarez talks to analysts about the larger issues at play.      Theatre Program Gives New Meaning to 'Playtime' Arts education is typically not a staple of some heartland communities, so for nearly 40 years the Missoula Children's Theatre has been giving disadvantaged children an opportunity to discover their inner thespian. Jeffrey Brown reports.      WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2009 As Deadline Nears, Obama Steps Up Health Care Push With the days ticking down until President Obama's target date for a deal on health care reform, the White House is pushing to convince the public and Congress that swift action is necessary.    Rx for Reform Other News: Senate Rejects Concealed Gun Measure In other news, the Senate narrowly rejected a measure that would have allowed gun owners to more easily travel across state lines with a concealed firearm, and the prime minister of Iraq visited the White House.      Bernanke Signals Slow Recovery, Defends Fed's Powers Fed chief Ben Bernanke told a Senate panel on Wednesday that economic recovery should begin soon, albeit slowly at first. A financial analyst and a lawmaker speak with Ray Suarez about the testimony.      Twitter: Harmless Fad, or Web Revolution? In three short years, Twitter has become one of the Web's most heavily trafficked sites. But is the micro-blog simply a fad, or a technological game-changer? Jeffrey Brown explores.      On Asia Tour, Clinton Issues Warnings to N. Korea, Iran The United States does "not intend to reward North Korea" simply for returning to negotiations over its nuclear ambitions, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Wednesday on a trip to Asia. Regional experts analyze her visit with Margaret Warner.      TUESDAY, July 21, 2009 Political Divisions Intensify Over Costs of Health Reform President Barack Obama pushed back Tuesday against stepped-up Republican efforts to question his health reform agenda. Four members of key congressional committees discuss the divisions on Capitol Hill.      Other News: Bailout Funds Come Under New Scrutiny In other news, lawmakers asked new questions on the spending of federal bailout dollars, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed a vote on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor by one week.      Bernanke Details Stimulus Exit Plan to Congress Despite recent improvements in the economy, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates near zero, chairman Ben Bernanke told lawmakers Tuesday. Greg Ip of "The Economist" examines the chairman's testimony with Gwen Ifill, and discusses the central bank's plans to roll back crisis measures taken during the credit crunch.      Senate Vote Against F-22 Funds a Win for Obama In a key political victory for President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the Senate on Tuesday voted 58-40 to block $1.75 billion in financing for new F-22 fighter jets. Kwame Holman reports.      Focus on Social and Emotional Health Raises Test Scores A new trend in public schools is helping students focus not just on math and science, but also on their feelings. John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports on how social and emotional learning is improving test scores.      Calif. Strikes Deal to Close $26 Billion Budget Gap Lawmakers in California on Tuesday agreed on a plan to close a $26 billion budget gap, ending weeks of stalemate that left the state's chief accountant having to issue IOUs to creditors. Ray Suarez reports.      MONDAY, July 20, 2009 Obama Outlines Expectations for Health Reform Timeline, Economic Recovery In an interview with Jim Lehrer, President Barack Obama said he could be flexible on the August deadline for a health care reform plan if most details are in place and discussed the state of the economy.      Other News: Army to Add 22,000 Soldiers In other news, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the Army would add 22,000 more soldiers to its ranks, and in Mumbai, India, the only surviving gunman in last November's shooting attacks changed his plea to guilty.      Moon Landing Anniversary Renews Debate on Spaceflight As the country celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, NASA and the Obama administration are weighing the debate over sending more astronauts into space, or to shift more toward the use of robots. Ray Suarez reports.      Walter Cronkite, and the Way the News Media Is Now It's been more than a quarter century since Walter Cronkite retired as anchor of the CBS Evening News, but his impact on journalism persists. Robert MacNeil and Todd Gitlin of Columbia University speak with Gwen Ifill about Cronkite's reporting legacy.      'Angela's Ashes' Author Frank McCourt Dies at 78 Frank McCourt, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Angela's Ashes," died Sunday at the age of 78. Roger Rosenblatt speaks with Margaret Warner about the author's influence on the literary world.      FRIDAY, July 17, 2009 Protesters Clash With Police In Continued Iranian Unrest More than month after its election, anti-government protestors continue to show their defiance for the sitting government. Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News reports.    Governing Iran Tensions Flare Anew in Iran Over Disputed Election Major new protests erupted in Iran Friday in the wake of last month's disputed presidential election. Experts join Judy Woodruff to assess the ongoing tensions in Tehran.    Governing Iran Other News: Troops Killed in Iraq, Summers Says Economic Catastrophe Avoided In other news, three American soldiers were killed when their base was attacked, and reports showed that unemployment climbed to double digits in 15 states last month.      Terrorists Detonate Bombs in Indonesian Hotels Suicide bombers rocked two luxury hotels in Jakarta Friday morning just as guests were gathering for breakfast. Kwame Holman reports on the bombings that killed eight and injured more than 50.      On 100th Anniversary, NAACP Looks to Future of Civil Rights President Obama spoke Thursday at the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. Gwen Ifill traveled to New York to speak with the leader and two activists from the organization about its changing role.      Obama Calls for Action on Health Care Amid Cost Concerns Saying "now we've got to get over the finish line," President Barack Obama renewed his call Friday to lawmakers to hammer out health care reform legislation. Betty Ann Bowser recaps the week's developments, including new concerns on the plan's costs.    Rx for Reform Health Reform, Sotomayor Hearings Top Week's News Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the news of the week, including the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor, efforts at health care reform and the shape of the economy.    Political Wrap THURSDAY, July 16, 2009 Broad Praise as Sotomayor Questioning Ends As Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor wrapped up her final day of testimony, even some critics voiced praise for her judicial record.    Supreme Court Watch Sotomayor Confirmation May Be Headed to Swift Vote With Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's testimony complete, analysts Marcia Coyle and Tom Goldstein join Judy Woodruff to examine how the judge fared in the spotlight.    Supreme Court Watch Other News: Markets Advance, Auto Dealers Gain Congressional Support In other news, Wall Street advanced on tech stocks, and House members introduced a proposal that would force GM and Chrylser to restore franchise agreements with auto dealers.      Paulson Defends Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Deal Former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson testified Thursday in the third and final House hearing looking into the government's role in the Bank of America purchase of Merrill Lynch. Jim Lehrer discusses the hearings with Binyamin Appelbaum of the Washington Post.      Publishing Industry Confronts Changing Reader Habits As the recession pushes more readers into cash-strapped libraries, some are turning to electronic books to satisfy their literary appetites. Ray Suarez looks at this nascent industry with two publishers.      WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2009 Sotomayor Deflects Abortion Questions Senators repeatedly pushed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to define her views on abortion Wednesday, but she resisted. Kwame Holman recaps the third day of confirmation hearings.    Supreme Court Watch Lawmakers Push Sotomayor for Views on Critical Issues Sonia Sotomayor faced new questioning from lawmakers Wednesday. Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy and Sen. Charles Grassley give their take on the hearings.    Supreme Court Watch Other News: Markets Jump, Plane Crashes in Iran In other news, large gains in the banking and tech sectors led markets higher, and a passenger plane crashed in Iran, killing all 168 people on board.      Lawmakers Grapple With Costs of Health Care Reform As health care reform legislation moves forward, lawmakers are grappling with the thorny question of how to cover the costs of such an overhaul, including a possible new tax surcharge on the wealthy. Two analysts discuss the issue.    Rx for Reform Death Toll Mounts as Coalition Forces Confront Taliban As coalition forces attempt to wrest control of southern Afghanistan from Taliban insurgents, they are experiencing their highest casualties in eight years of war. Analysts discuss the rise in violence with Gwen Ifill.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror British Couple's Assisted Suicide Reignites Debate Independent Television News reports on the decision by one of the world's most famous conductors and his wife to take their lives. Their deaths have reignited a debate in Europe over assisted suicide.      TUESDAY, July 14, 2009 Senators Press Sotomayor on Past Statements In a second, tense day of Senate testimony, Judge Sonia Sotomayor defended her past remarks about race while seeking to elaborate on her judicial philosophy. Kwame Holman recaps the day's events.    Supreme Court Watch Analysts Examine Second Day of Sotomayor Hearings Judge Sonia Sotomayor faced questions on past rulings and statements during her second day of Supreme Court confirmation hearings Tuesday. Legal analysts examine her responses.    Supreme Court Watch Other News: Obama Predicts More Job Losses, Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan In other news, President Barack Obama predicted job losses would likely continue to rise for the next few months, and six civilians working for NATO died in Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed.      House Democrats Unveil Plan to Overhaul Health Care House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled their proposal to overhaul the nation's health care system. The plan includes a government-run insurance option, and would be paid for in part by a tax increase on the wealthy. NPR's Julie Rovner explains the move.    Rx for Reform Fallout Continues from California's Budget Woes After failing to plug a $26 billion budget gap, California has begun sending out IOUs to cover its costs, but most banks are refusing to accept them. Spencer Michels reports on the ongoing financial crisis in the Golden State.      In Slumping Economy, a Shift in Shopping Habits Economics correspondent Paul Solman speaks with author Paco Underhill about how consumer habits have changed during this recession.      MONDAY, July 13, 2009 Sotomayor Pledges 'Fidelity to the Law' as Hearings Begin The Senate Judiciary Committee launched hearings Monday on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle offers insight.    Supreme Court Watch Other News: Markets Rise, Obama Resumes Push for Health Care Reform In other news, the Dow Jones industrial average made significant gains after an analyst expressed optimism for the banking industry, and President Obama warned Congress not to delay or block passage of comprehensive health care reform.      Calls Intensify for Investigation Into Bush-era CIA Program Democrats are demanding a fresh investigation into whether the Bush administration failed to brief Congress on the existence of a secret program to target, capture, or kill al-Qaida operatives. Gwen Ifill examines the story with two journalists.      Global Recession Impacts Dairy Prices, Farmers Amid the economic slowdown, the dairy industry is being hit with high costs and lower profits, forcing many farmers to make tough decisions. NewsHour special correspondent Jeffrey Kaye looks at how some California farmers are responding to depressed global demand.      Union Leaders Press President Obama for More Support Nearly a dozen union leaders met with President Obama Monday in an effort to gain support for key legislation now before Congress. Ray Suarez talks with experts about the bills and their potential impact on workers and employers.      FRIDAY, July 10, 2009 Post-Bankruptcy, GM CEO Pledges New Course After the announcement that General Motors Corp. had completed its 40-day stay under bankruptcy protection, CEO Fritz Henderson speaks to Judy Woodruff about the company's goals for remaking the struggling auto maker.      Other News: Markets Drop, Health Reform Meets Delays In other news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 36 points to close at 8146, and the push to overhaul the health care system ran into new delays in Congress.      As G-8 Summit Wraps Up, Obama Heads to Ghana Margaret Warner, who has been reporting on the scene of the G-8 summit, discusses the meeting's conclusion and President Obama's next stop in Ghana.      Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings Gear Up Senate confirmation hearings begin Monday for Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court. Kwame Holman reports.    Supreme Court Watch Brooks, Marcus Mull Court Politics, Health Care Reform Columnists Ruth Marcus and David Brooks discuss top political news, including next week's hearings on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, the pace of health care reform and President Obama's trip abroad.    Political Wrap Media Take Second Look at Coverage of Jackson's Death Amid the extensive coverage of pop star Michael Jackson's death, media outlets are asking themselves what news stories may have been missed. Analysts and reporters take a look at the issue.      THURSDAY, July 9, 2009 G-8 Leaders Take New Steps to Curb Global Warming As the G-8 summit wrapped up, President Obama and other leaders discussed new goals to limit climate change and assessed the unrest in Iran. Margaret Warner reports from the scene.      Other News: Bombings Kill Nearly 60 Iraqis In other news, nearly 60 Iraqis were killed in a series of bombings, and some two million Pakistani refugees will be allowed to return home after fleeing from a Taliban offensive.      After 10 Days of Peace, Tension Returns to the Streets of Tehran Marking the 10 year anniversary of a violent crackdown against student demonstrators, Iranians returned to the streets of Tehran Thursday to protest a disputed presidential vote. Kwame Holman reports.    Governing Iran Still-simmering Political Tensions Resurface in Iran Iranians returned to the streets of Tehran Thursday to protest a disputed presidential vote. Analysts assess the latest developments.    Governing Iran 'Cloud Computing' Could Transform Data Storage Some businesses are beginning to embrace a technology called "cloud computing" -- storing data and programs on the Internet rather than on an individual company's computers. But critics worry about privacy issues. Spencer Michels reports.    As Troops Continue Afghan Offensive, Focus Turns to Civilian Outreach U.S. Marines pushed further into the Helmand province in southern Afghanistan this week, as word came of a truck bombing in a village south of Kabul that killed at least two dozen people. A Washington Post reporter gives an update on the military efforts and the bombing.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Writer, Poet Jim Harrison Is a Determined 'Outsider' Most of Jim Harrison's 32 books have been set in the sparsely populated areas he knows well: Northern Michigan, the Sandhills of Nebraska, the Arizona-Mexico border and in the beautiful "Paradise Valley" near Livingston, Mt., where he now lives much of the year. Jeffrey Brown reports.    NewsHour Poetry Series WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2009 Hospitals Vow Cost Cuts Amid Concerns on Reform's Price Tag Three major hospital organizations joined the effort to cut medical costs and agreed to contribute $155 billion over the next 10 years to the cost of health care reform. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform Other News: Chinese Troops Move to Halt Ethnic Violence In other news, Chinese troops moved into the Xinjiang Province to stop the ethnic rioting that has left 156 dead since Sunday, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has appeared in public for the first time since last April.      Cyber Attacks on U.S. Government Put Digital Security in Spotlight Recent attacks on government computers, private organizations and foreign governments have raised fresh questions about the nation's digital security. Analysts discuss the implications of the attacks and the vulnerability of the nation's digital systems.      For Ex-Cons and Laid-off Execs Alike, Dim Job Hopes In the next in his series on making sense of the financial news, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on those in society -- such as executives or ex-convicts -- who are struggling to find employment.      At G-8, Small Steps on Emissions, Economic Recovery Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations gathered in Italy on Wednesday to assess risks to the global economy and other key issues at their annual meeting. Margaret Warner reports from the summit.      Questions Surface on Impact of Stimulus Plan Five months after President Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package, some of the money has begun making its way to states. Experts measure the impact the funds have had on local communities.      TUESDAY, July 7, 2009 Obama Appeals for Stronger Partnership with Russia Stressing "common interests," President Obama made the case Tuesday for a renewed spirit of cooperation between the United States and Russia. Margaret Warner speaks with Gwen Ifill from Moscow.      Other News: Stocks Drop on Economic Recovery Doubts In other news, stocks dipped to their lowest levels in more than two months on doubts about the strength of the economic recovery, and the president of Costa Rica agreed to mediate the political crisis in Honduras.      China Struggles to Quell Ethnic Violence The Chinese government imposed a curfew, and deployed paramilitary forces on Tuesday in response to ongoing ethnic violence between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese. ITN correspondent Ian Williams reports.      Tensions Remain High in China Following Deadly Riots Protests continued in Western China Tuesday following deadly clashes on Sunday between the region's Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese. Analysts examine the roots of the unrest with Judy Woodruff.      Struggling Schools Turn to Top Grads for Teaching Boost In the latest installment in a series about education reform, John Merrow reports on how public school systems struggling to close the achievement gap are increasingly turning to the Teach for America program for help.      Obama Administration Plans to Expand Research Funding for Older Stem Cell Lines An Obama administration plan released Monday would expand federal funding of stem cell research to older lines of stem cells previously ineligible for such financing. Jeffrey Brown reports.      Fans Bid Final Farewell to 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson fans around the world paid a final tribute to the "King of Pop" on Tuesday, as the fallen singer was laid to rest following a star-studded memorial service. Jeffrey Kaye reports from Los Angeles.      MONDAY, July 6, 2009 U.S., Russia Unveil Plan for Nuclear Cuts at Summit President Barack Obama met with Russian leaders Monday to push for progress on arms control and other issues. Margaret Warner reports from the opening day of the Moscow summit.      Other News: Seven U.S. Troops Killed in Afghanistan In other news, seven U.S. troops were killed in deadly attacks across Afghanistan, and 165 people have been killed during riots in China.      Ousted President Attempts Return to Honduras Amid Continued Protests Gwen Ifill reports on the ongoing political standoff in Honduras, where protests continued following the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya, who made an unsuccessful attempt to return Sunday.      Diplomats Search for Political Solution to Honduras Standoff Amid continuing protests in support of deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, diplomats are attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the country's new leader. A New York Times reporter gives an update on the situation.      Washington Post Under Fire Over Pay-for-access Plan Washington Post publisher Katherine Weymouth apologized to readers for a controversy over the newspaper's plan for a series of corporate-sponsored policy dinners at Weymouth's home. Media experts mull the implications of the scandal.      McNamara's Life Marked by Complex Vietnam Legacy Robert McNamara, one of the primary architects of the Vietnam War, died Monday at age 93. Jim Lehrer talks to Deborah Shapely, the author of a McNamara biography, and Errol Morris, the documentarian who made "Fog of War" about the former defense chief's legacy.      FRIDAY, July 3, 2009 U.S. Expands Offensive in Southern Afghanistan On the second day of a major U.S. offensive in Southern Afghanistan, journalist Nancy Youssef discusses how the Marine-led mission is proceeding.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Other News: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Resigns In other news, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced her resignation effective later this month, and officials in Pakistan reported that 17 people were killed in a U.S. drone aircraft attack targeting members of the Taliban.      Russian Foreign Minister Sees 'Improvement' in U.S.-Russian Relations In the last of a series of reports from Russia, Margaret Warner talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the future of U.S.-Russian relations, last year's Georgian war, and negotiating a nuclear arms treaty.      Supreme Court Term Brought Some Surprises Legal analysts Linda Greenhouse and Thomas Goldstein examine the impact of the most significant Supreme Court decisions of the 2008 term, including a narrow ruling on the landmark Voting Rights Act.    Supreme Court Watch Palin Resignation, Minnesota Senate Election Resolution Top Week's News Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson mull Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's surprise resignation announcement and the Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling that Democrat Al Franken defeated Republican Norm Coleman for a U.S. Senate seat.    Political Wrap THURSDAY, July 2, 2009 June Unemployment Dims Prospects for Recovery After employers shed more jobs than expected in the month of June, the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high last month. New York Times columnist David Leonhardt talks about what the latest job numbers mean for the overall economic picture.      Other News: After Budget Failure, California Begins Issuing IOUs In other news, California began issuing IOU notes after the governor failed to reach a deal on the state's budget, and Vice President Joe Biden visited troops in Iraq.      U.S. Troops Pour into Southern Afghanistan in New Offensive U.S. Marines marked the start of a new offensive in Afghanistan Thursday, as part of the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the Afghan-Pakistan border region. James Mates of Independent Television News reports.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror As U.S. Troops Mount Offensive in Afghanistan, New Strategy Is Tested U.S. Marines marked the start of a new offensive in Afghanistan Thursday, as part of the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the Afghan-Pakistan border region. A Washington Post reporter embedded in the Helmand province provides an update.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Many Left Uncounted in Nation's Official Jobless Rate Paul Solman examines how the number of jobless people who fall outside of official unemployment counts offer a different picture of the nation's economic recovery.      New Honduran President Tries to Restore Order as Opposition Mounts Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya took to the streets of Tegucigalpa, as the new president began appointing Cabinet members and boosted efforts to maintain order.      In Honduras, Controversy Grows over Questions that Presidential Ouster is a Coup In Honduras, the controversy grows over the question: was the presidential ouster a classic coup, or simply an attempt to uphold the Constitution? Experts debate over the issues.      In Russia, Unhealthy Habits Make Funerals Outpace Births In her latest report from Russia, Margaret Warner takes a look at the health and well-being of the Russian people, including the low life expectancy for adult males.      WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2009 California Leads States Facing Deepening Budget Crises Several states are struggling to find solutions for deep budget gaps as a new fiscal year begins. Jeffrey Brown examines the budget picture across the country.      Other News: Markets See Modest Rise; Iran Opposition Leader Urges More Protests In other news, markets rose on positive reports from the manufacturing and housing sectors. Also, in auto news Ford reported its best showing in months but Chrysler and GM each posted a greater than 30 percent loss.      Iraq's Security Forces Making New Progress, Odierno Says Gen. Ray Odierno, head of multi-national forces in Iraq, gives his take on for the country's path to stability one day after the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraqi cities.    Iraq in Transition Russia Navigates Fallout of Economic Crisis With its fortunes tethered to volatile natural gas and oil prices, Russia has suffered record inflation and unemployment in the global financial crisis. In the second of her series of reports from Russia, Margaret Warner examines the country's economic picture.      FDA Panel Recommends Ban on Popular Painkillers A doctor assesses a new FDA panel recommendation for a ban on such popular painkillers as Vicodin, Percocet and other drugs containing acetaminophen.      Oscar-winning Actor Karl Malden Dies at 97 Actor Karl Malden, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role as Mitch in the 1951 film "A Streetcar Named Desire," died Wednesday at age 97.      2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997 ABOUT US   |   FEEDBACK   |   SUBSCRIPTIONS / FEEDS:  Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station. PBS Online Privacy Policy Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.