Government Programs 2008 Archive | PBS NewsHour

ABOUT US \| LOCAL TV LISTINGS EMAIL PRINT

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS


	2008 DECEMBER Dec. 26, 2008 Economic Downturn Threatens California's Health Care System Recent economic problems have created budget shortfalls in many states, but California is worse off than most. Faced with a massive deficit, state lawmakers might have to raise taxes or cut health care services. Betty Ann Bowser reports.

	Dec. 23, 2008 Report Unearths Regulatory Failures in IndyMac Case Financial regulatory efforts apparently failed in the case of IndyMac, which was reportedly allowed to alter records to appear stronger than it was shortly before the sub-prime meltdown. Analysts take a closer look.

	Dec. 23, 2008 In Case You Missed It: Infrastructure Projects and Economic Growth On Monday's NewsHour, Paul Solman examined whether big infrastructure projects, such as the one being considered by President-elect Barack Obama, are an effective way to create new jobs and stimulate the economy.

	Dec. 22, 2008 Infrastructure Spending May be Key to Boosting Economy Some economists believe increasing government spending on infrastructure is the only way out of the nation's economic crisis. Paul Solman reports on how infrastructure spending may be a crucial way to resuscitate the economy.

	Dec. 22, 2008 Toyota Projects First Operating Loss in 71 Years Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second largest automaker, predicted its first operating loss in 71 years, based on shrinking demand for vehicles and a surging yen.

	Dec. 19, 2008 The Madoff Financial Fraud Bernard Madoff, a prominent Wall Street money manager, is accused of defrauding investors and institutions of nearly $50 billion in what could be one of the biggest investor scams ever.

	Dec. 19, 2008 Solis Rounds Out Obama Cabinet as Labor Secretary President-elect Barack Obama has selected the next labor secretary to be California Rep. Hilda Solis, a liberal representative with plentiful experience on environmental and energy issues.

	Dec. 19, 2008 Obama Picks Moderate GOP Lawmaker to Oversee Transportation Department President-elect Barack Obama announced Friday his appointment of Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood to head the nation's Department of Transportation, calling on the Republican's seven terms of congressional experience and six years on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

	Dec. 19, 2008 White House Announces $17.4 Billion Auto Rescue The Bush administration announced a rescue plan for the sinking U.S. auto industry Friday, offering $17.4 billion in loans conditioned on concessions from carmakers and a return to viability by March 31.

	Dec. 17, 2008 SEC Looks Inward at Regulators' Handling of Madoff Case The SEC chairman has criticized his own agency's failure to investigate warnings about Bernard Madoff, who is accused of a massive fraud scheme. Analysts examine the SEC's inquiry.

	Dec. 17, 2008 Obama Picks Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar for Interior Secretary President-elect Barack Obama has selected first-term Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar to serve as secretary of the Department of the Interior, a post that oversees 500 million acres of land, or about a fifth of the country.

	Dec. 16, 2008 Federal Reserve Cuts Key Rate to Record Low The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate to an all-time low target range of zero to 0.25 percent Tuesday in an effort to fight the deepening recession.

	Dec. 16, 2008 Obama Picks Chicago Schools Chief Duncan for Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the man at the helm of Chicago public schools for the last seven years and a longtime friend of President-elect Barack Obama, has been tapped as secretary of education for the new administration.

	Dec. 15, 2008 Nobel Laureate Chu Tapped to Head Energy Department Steven Chu is a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, where he has worked for the past four years on developing alternative energy sources and improving energy efficiency.

	Dec. 15, 2008 Browner Named as Newly-created Climate Policy Chief Carol Browner, a champion of legislation to slow climate growth and an Al Gore ally, is returning to familiar real estate but in a newly created position, as President-elect Barack Obama's climate chief.

	Dec. 11, 2008 Daschle Selected as Health and Human Services Secretary President-elect Barack Obama chose former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a selection that signals the importance of health care in the next administration.

	Dec. 11, 2008 GOP Could Put Brakes on Auto Rescue Bill As a compromise deal between Democrats and the White House to extend $14 billion in emergency loans to struggling U.S. automakers moves forward, it faces strong opposition by some GOP lawmakers.

	Dec. 4, 2008 Treasury Considers New Plan to Push Mortgage Rates Lower, Boost Home Sales In an effort to boost the economy, Treasury Department officials are considering a plan to push mortgage rates lower. Reporters and analysts weigh the pros and cons of such a move.

	Dec. 4, 2008 Global Banks Chop Interest Rates as Crisis Grows More central banks across the world cut interest rates Thursday, hoping to quash a global economic slump that is spreading faster than policymakers had anticipated.

	Dec. 3, 2008 As Thousands Protest Indian Government, Rice Tells Pakistan to Aid Attacks Probe U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that Pakistan has a "special responsibility" to cooperate with the probe into last week's attacks in Mumbai as protesters took to the streets to voice dissatisfaction with India's government.

	Dec. 2, 2008 Governors Press Their Case for Economic Recovery Plan President-elect Barack Obama met with state leaders at the National Governors Association conference Tuesday to help shape an economic recovery plan. A panel of governors describes how states are handling the financial downturn.

	Dec. 2, 2008 Lessons From Presidents Past As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office amid an economic crisis and conflicts overseas, the experiences of former presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt are being regularly recalled, including by Mr. Obama himself.

	Dec. 1, 2008 Obama Taps Former NATO Chief Jones as National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones will bring "the dual experience of serving in uniform and as a diplomat" to the position of national security adviser, President-elect Barack Obama said Monday in appointing the former NATO commander to the top Cabinet post.

	Dec. 1, 2008 Obama Nominates Eric Holder as Nation's Top Law Enforcement Official President-elect Barack Obama has nominated former Justice Department official Eric Holder to be the nation's top law enforcement official.

	Dec. 1, 2008 Arizona Gov. Napolitano Nominated to Head Obama's Homeland Security Efforts President-elect Barack Obama on Monday named Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano -- who has pioneered security efforts along the volatile Arizona-Mexico border -- to head the nation's Department of Homeland Security.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 26, 2008 Expert Advice for Surviving the Economic Crisis The economy has been in steady decline this year, effecting both Main Street and global markets. To better understand where we've been and where we're headed, Insider Forum looks back at some of the advice given by financial analysts, personal finance columnists and others.

	Nov. 25, 2008 Government Widens Support for Home Loans, Credit In an effort to boost economic activity, the Fed and the Treasury announced new plans to boost consumer spending and aid the housing market. Economic analysts examine the Fed's expanding role in managing the crisis.

	Nov. 25, 2008 Fed Commits $800 Billion to Unfreeze Credit Markets, Boost Consumer Spending The Federal Reserve announced two new programs Tuesday aimed at unfreezing credit for homebuyers, small businesses and consumers.

	Nov. 24, 2008 Obama Taps New York Fed Chair Geithner for Treasury Chief President-elect Barack Obama has named New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner as his pick to serve as Treasury Secretary in his incoming administration -- a key decision as the United States faces one of the worst economic crisis in decades.

	Nov. 24, 2008 Citigroup Offered Another Government Safety Net The U.S. government has again bailed out Citigroup, unveiling a bold plan Sunday night to inject $20 billion in fresh capital into the troubled financial giant and shoulder most of the potential losses on $306 billion of high-risk assets.

	Nov. 21, 2008 Jittery Markets, Weak Data Cap Grim Week on Wall Street After a week of stock market dives and gloomy economic data, U.S. markets rebounded Friday, apparently on news reports that President-elect Barack Obama may choose Timothy Geithner as Treasury chief.

	Nov. 21, 2008 After Leaving Washington Empty-handed, Automakers Set to Craft Recovery Plan While the Big Three U.S. automakers' hopes of an immediate financial shot in the arm were dashed Thursday on Capitol Hill, they are expected to meet lawmakers' demands to craft a convincing plan for rebuilding their once-mighty industry by Dec. 2.

	Nov. 14, 2008 FDIC Meets Resistance to Homeowner Aid Proposal To prevent 1.5 million U.S. homes from facing foreclosure, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. made a proposal Friday for lenders, backed by the government, to modify struggling borrowers' loans. A New York Times reporter discusses the agency's plan plus resistance from banks and the Treasury.

	Nov. 14, 2008 FDIC: Plan Could Avert 1.5 Million Foreclosures About 1.5 million American households could stave off foreclosures under a revised loan-guarantee program unveiled Friday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said.

	Nov. 14, 2008 Plans Change Dramatically for U.S. Financial Bailout The U.S. government is shifting the focus of the $700 billion financial rescue plan away from buying up bad mortgage assets, instead trying to help consumers get credit by investing in banks and other financial institutions.

	Nov. 14, 2008 What Can Our Government Actually Do to Reduce Extreme Financial Inequality? Paul Solman answers questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 12, 2008 Paulson Shifts Economic Rescue Plan to Focus on Boosting Credit Economists discuss Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's announcement Wednesday that the government will shift its focus from buying troubled assets to shoring up institutions that manage credit cards, auto loans and other types of borrowing.

	Nov. 12, 2008 Paulson Says Bailout Funds May Not Be Used to Buy Troubled Assets Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced a major shift in the government's bailout program Wednesday, saying the $700 billion rescue package will not be used to purchase troubled assets as originally planned.

	Nov. 11, 2008 Despite Bailout, Budget Strains Worsen for Fannie, AIG Ailing financial giants Fannie Mae and American International Group will need additional government help, despite rescue measures extended by the federal recovery package. Two financial experts examine the prudence of the bailouts and their shortcomings.

	Nov. 11, 2008 Help for Burdened Mortgage Borrowers Offers Costs and Benefits U.S. homeowners have been among the hardest-hit by the global economic meltdown. In the first of a series, analysts discuss the benefits and flaws of governmental and lender recovery plans, including Citibank's offer to modify loan terms for those falling behind.

	Nov. 11, 2008 Global, U.S. Markets Struggle as Worries Persist for Automakers Global financial troubles worsened Tuesday as stocks fell in many markets and analysts grew more concerned that the worldwide economic downturn is deepening.

	Nov. 10, 2008 Parties Seek Consensus on New Financial Stimulus Plan Congressional leaders and both President Bush and President-elect Obama have stressed the need for another financial stimulus package to jump-start the stalled economy. Economists weigh in on what steps they would take.



	OCTOBER Oct. 29, 2008 Fed Makes Aggressive Rate Cut in Bid to Loosen Credit Markets In a new move to stem the impact of the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by half a percentage point to 1 percent Wednesday. Krishna Guha, chief U.S. economics correspondent for the Financial Times, discusses the move.

	Oct. 27, 2008 New Measures May Help Homeowners Facing Foreclosure As the economic crisis continues to reverberate around the nation, troubles in the housing sector remain key to the upheaval -- and many homeowners are facing foreclosure in the interim. Economics experts debate various measures being considered to help homeowners in trouble.

	Oct. 24, 2008 Infrastructure Success in Boston Raises Prospect of Future Urban Spending The success of Boston's Big Dig infrastructure program raises the prospect of future large state expenditures on similar programs. A fiscal policy analyst and urban planner lay out their respective positions on the benefit of such an investment.

	Oct. 24, 2008 Boston's Big Dig Shirks Prior Notions of State Spending on Transportation In the final segment of a series investigating the health of the nation's infrastructure, Ray Suarez reports on Boston's Big Dig -- the most expensive single highway project in the U.S. that eventually cost more than $14.6 billion.

	Oct. 23, 2008 Chicago Airport Faces Serious Growing Pains Ray Suarez examines Chicago O'Hare Airport's battle to increase its capacity and problems with the entire air traffic system.

	Oct. 22, 2008 Reporter's Notebook: Ray Suarez Discusses Series on Troubled U.S. Infrastructure As the NewsHour continues airing a series of reports on the country's ailing infrastructure, produced in collaboration with WNET New York, senior NewsHour correspondent Ray Suarez spoke with Steve Goldbloom about his experiences examining the issue.

	Oct. 22, 2008 Weak Earnings Reports Trigger Market Losses A number of poor earnings reports from major corporations, including Wachovia Corp. and Merck & Co., caused U.S. stocks to drop more than 500 points Wednesday.

	Oct. 21, 2008 Increased Decay Strains Budget-strapped New Orleans Port Even before Hurricane Katrina, the structural flaws of the port of New Orleans, combined with increased shipping volume, strained the infrastructure resource. Ray Suarez examines the port's struggle to fund improvements and keep up with its competition.

	Oct. 20, 2008 Aging Bridges Among Country's Infrastructure Woes As the economic crisis continues, a similar crisis looms in the country's aging infrastructure. In the first of a series of reports, Ray Suarez takes a look at Pennsylvania's bridge problem and how it may impact future economic recovery efforts.

	Oct. 20, 2008 Fed Chairman Signals Support for New Stimulus Package Wall Street saw a boost Monday as Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress that a second stimulus bill might help the economy. Experts examine the prospects for a new stimulus plan.

	Oct. 16, 2008 U.S. Stocks Up, But Unease Ripples Across Global Markets Although U.S. stocks surged in the final moments, stocks in Europe and Asia dropped Thursday as fears of a worldwide recession grow. Journalists and an economics analyst discuss.

	Oct. 15, 2008 After Brief Euphoria in Markets, Investors Sell Amid Weak Sales, Rising Prices Following a brief upswing in world markets this week, investors and analysts see growing signs of a global recession in weak earnings and troubling manufacturing figures. Economists discuss the ongoing problems and the forces driving them.

	Oct. 14, 2008 President Bush Unveils New Plan to Stabilize Banks The Bush administration unveiled a plan Tuesday to stabilize the teetering U.S. banking system with as much as $250 billion of the financial sector rescue fund. Three economic experts discuss the impact of the plan.

	Oct. 13, 2008 World Leaders Pledge Aid to Curb Global Financial Turmoil As global markets try to steady themselves amid an economic crisis, world leaders pledged to pump billions of dollars into U.S. and European economies to allay the problems. A panel of financial experts discuss the move.

	Oct. 10, 2008 Global Credit Crunch Takes Toll on State Economies Wall Street's credit freeze sparked a global economic crisis and forced U.S. cities and states to tighten their budgets. Elizabeth Brackett reports from Illinois about the state's financial woes then Chris Hoene of the National League of Cities explains the national downturn.

	Oct. 9, 2008 Market Turmoil Puts Squeeze on Retirement Savings The markets have endured a wild ride in recent weeks, increasing anxieties over the solvency of retirement savings accounts. The director of the Congressional Budget Office discusses how the financial crisis may impact retirement accounts.

	Oct. 7, 2008 Federal Reserve Employs Tools to Ease Credit Fears Global markets continued to fluctuate Tuesday, as the Federal Reserve announced plans to buy up short term debt in a bid to ease strain on the credit sector. Reporters and analysts examine the Fed's moves.

	Oct. 7, 2008 Fed Aims to Unfreeze Credit Markets With Plan to Buy Short-Term Debt The Federal Reserve announced a plan Tuesday to buy short-term debt directly from businesses, in an effort to stimulate paralyzed credit markets and get cash to companies that need it.

	Oct. 2, 2008 House Leaders Count Votes, Target GOP Holdouts in Attempt to Pass Rescue Package The Treasury Department's plan to buy bad mortgage-related securities returns to the House Friday, as lawmakers lobby their own party members and hope tax cuts and financial rule changes will convince holdout Republicans to vote yes.

	Oct. 2, 2008 Questions Remain on Bailout Plan as House Prepares to Vote Anew The Senate on Wednesday approved a financial rescue package that could cost up to $700 billion -- the largest government intervention in U.S. history. Analysts discuss whether the plan will be enough to fix the ailing economy.

	Oct. 1, 2008 What regulations do you think would possibly fix this situation? And could you assess a few of those who disagree with the need for regulation? Paul Solman answers questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2008 Campaigns Offer Two Very Different Visions for Health Care In Rx for Change, a MacNeil/Lehrer Productions special, health care experts and campaign officials debate the state of the American medical system and which presidential candidate may do more to improve care.

	Sept. 29, 2008 In Latest Shake-Up, Citigroup to Acquire Wachovia In the latest shake-up of the widening global financial crisis, Citigroup will acquire the banking operations of Wachovia Corp.

	Sept. 26, 2008 House Lawmakers Divided Over Scope of Government Intervention Congressional leaders are showing signs of fatigue and frustration over continuing negotiations. Reps. Barney Frank and Mike Pence discuss the progress towards a workable plan.

	Sept. 26, 2008 Kwame Holman Reports on Financial Woes Preceding Debates Lawmakers have not been able to agree on a plan with the White House, nor with each other, choosing not to enact a bill for the near future. NewsHour correspondent Kwame Holman discusses the dealings on Capitol Hill.

	Sept. 26, 2008 Bush Struggles to Unite Rebelling House Republicans on Bailout As Washington struggles to reach consensus on a proposed Wall Street bailout, GOP senators have blocked a proposed Democratic plan to pump $56 billion into public works projects, help for the jobless and to help states with high Medicaid bills.

	Sept. 26, 2008 Fed Takes Over WaMu in Largest Bank Failure in American History As the debate over the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street continues to rage in Washington, the government took over lending giant Washington Mutual Thursday night in what is by far the largest bank failure in American history.

	Sept. 25, 2008 Congressional Leaders in Standoff Amid Financial Crisis Congressional leaders worked on a rescue plan for Wall Street as Sens. McCain and Obama came to Washington to participate in bailout talks. Two political reporters and a business reporter discuss the political impasse and how a rescue plan might work.

	Sept. 25, 2008 Lawmakers Work to Hammer Out Deal on Financial Bailout Lawmakers reported making progress Thursday on reaching an agreement on a sweeping financial bailout plan, which has stirred days of debate over how to better safeguard taxpayers as Wall Street continues its tailspin.

	Sept. 24, 2008 President Calls for Sweeping Government Intervention in U.S. Economy Warning "our entire economy is in danger", President Bush made a somber address to the nation Wednesday, outlining the need for a sweeping government intervention in the nation's financial system in order to prevent widespread collapse.

	Sept. 24, 2008 Buffett Sinks $5 Billion Into Goldman Sachs As debate swirled on Capitol Hill over a proposed financial rescue plan, renowned investor Warren Buffett decided late Tuesday to buy a $5 billion stake in embattled Wall Street Titan Goldman Sachs.

	Sept. 23, 2008 Massive Financial Rescue Faces Skepticism in Congress Fed chief Ben Bernanke and Treasury head Henry Paulson answered questions from skeptical members of Congress Tuesday as they pushed their $700 billion bailout plan. Analysts discuss the details of the proposal.

	Sept. 23, 2008 Lawmakers Pose Tough Questions on Bailout Proposal Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson faced tough questions from skeptical members of Congress Tuesday over a $700 billion financial bailout plan. Kwame Holman reports on the hearings and other developments in the financial crisis.

	Sept. 23, 2008 Bernanke and Paulson Urge Congress to Act; Lawmakers Call for More Time Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urged Congress to pass a $700 billion financial bailout Tuesday, saying the national economy could suffer more if too much time passes.

	Sept. 22, 2008 Goldman, Morgan Shift Operations as Wall Street Reels Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley's conversion into bank holding companies signaled the end of the investment bank model synonymous with Wall Street. Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times details the changes on Wall Street and the impact of government bailouts on the marketplace.

	Sept. 22, 2008 Congress Struggles With Scope of Financial Rescue Plan The government's $700 billion financial bailout proposal now faces lawmaker approval. Senate finance committee members describe which parts of the plan are stirring debate.

	Sept. 22, 2008 Congress Mulls $700B Financial Rescue Plan; Morgan, Goldman Shift Operations Lawmakers faced an intense round of negotiations Monday over a proposed $700 billion financial rescue plan as Congressional Democrats called for a cautious approach to stabilizing troubled financial markets and shoring up Wall Street's balance sheet.

	Sept. 19, 2008 Government Eyes Sweeping Wall Street Rescue Plan After Ray Suarez recaps Friday's updates on government efforts to rescue the a financial system teetering on bad mortgage bets, Margaret Warner speaks with a financial columinst and a business reporter about the government's intervention and the impact of the Wall Street shakeup.

	Sept. 18, 2008 Government Reshapes Role in Financial Sector With Bailouts The financial crisis gripping Wall Street this week has led to an unprecedented level of government intervention. Policy experts examine the government's role in the crisis.

	Sept. 18, 2008 World Banks Add Liquidity to Markets, Speculation Grows Over New Mergers The world's central banks injected $180 billion into markets early Thursday to revive a global financial system that had nearly ground to a halt amid a crisis on Wall Street and to ensure the banks can access enough cash for lending.

	Sept. 17, 2008 Minneapolis Bridge Reopens Following Last Year's Deadly Collapse Thirteen months after a bridge collapse killed 13 people in Minnesota, a new 10-lane structure reopens to traffic Thursday morning. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the engineering behind the I-35W's multi-million-dollar reconstruction.

	Sept. 17, 2008 After Ike, Bridge City Residents Await Return Home Despite ongoing hurricane relief efforts in Bridge City, Texas, residents remain barred from returning to their homes. Tom Bearden reports on the destruction and the latest developments.

	Sept. 17, 2008 Government's Rescue of AIG Fails to Calm Nervous Investors The government's bailout of AIG failed to boost stock markets Wednesday, with the Dow dropping more than 400 points. Economic analysts examine the government's decision to aid the insurer and the state of financial woes.

	Sept. 17, 2008 Government Decides to Offer $85B Lifeline to AIG Insurer American International Group, Inc. faced possible collapse until the federal government decided to offer it an $85 billion lifeline Wednesday. After a look at the latest troubles on Wall Street, financial reporters detail the government bailout.

	Sept. 11, 2008 Texas Coastline Braces for Brutal Landfall by Hurricane Ike Hurricane Ike amassed strength in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday as it continues a slow march toward the Texas coast where residents are evacuating or stocking up in preparation for a landfall late Friday or Saturday.

	Sept. 9, 2008 Senators React to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae Rescue Plan After the U.S. Treasury's decision to take over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Senate Banking Committee members Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R.-Ala., provide Congressional perspective on the rescue plan and assess the road ahead.

	Sept. 8, 2008 Questions Remain After Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Takeover Most U.S. stocks rose following the federal government takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but questions lingered over the impact on the housing market and the credit crisis. Business reporters and analysts mull the implications of the deal.

	Sept. 8, 2008 Treasury Official Explains Fed's Move to Rescue Housing Firms After a recap of the weekend's news on the government takeover of housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, acting Treasury Undersecretary Andrew Ryan details the move.

	Sept. 1, 2008 Hurricane Gustav Tests Gulf Coast Rebuilding, Preparedness Hurricane Gustav lashed the Gulf Coast with wind and rain Monday. Experts examine the region's preparedness for the storm, three years after Hurricane Katrina.



	AUGUST Aug. 27, 2008 Mayor Gavin Newsom Answered Your Questions on Gay Marriage, Health Care San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has gained national attention for his championing of sometimes controversial social issues like gay marriage and universal health care. Newsom recently launched an exploratory committee for Governor of California. While attending the Democratic National Convention, he answered your questions.

	Aug. 27, 2008 Mayor Ray Nagin Answered Your Questions on Approaching Hurricane, New Orleans Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans, rose to the national stage because of his leadership after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster -- and his sharp critiques of the federal government's reponse to the crisis. He answered your questions from the Democratic National Convention.

	Aug. 26, 2008 Health Insurance Rates Rise, Poverty Unchanged in 2007 The number of people without health insurance in the United States fell last year for the first time since the beginning of the Bush administration, according to a report released by the Census Bureau Tuesday on poverty, income and health insurance.

	Aug. 20, 2008 Three Years After Katrina, No Easy Road to Recovery for New Orleans As the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina draws near, President Bush visited New Orleans Wednesday, saying in a speech that he sees "signs of progress" in the still-recovering city. Times-Picayune editor Jim Amoss reflects on the upcoming anniversary.

	Aug. 20, 2008 President Bush's Speech on Gulf Coast Recovery Following is a transcript of President Bush's speech, as prepared for delivery, in New Orleans Wednesday on Gulf Coast recovery efforts three years after Hurricane Katrina and an audio link of the address.

	Aug. 15, 2008 How can the U.S. government be continuously providing billions of dollars to various countries (we have trillions of dollars in debt)? Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."

	Aug. 12, 2008 Bush Administration Proposes Changes to Endangered Species Act Rules The Bush administration on Monday proposed a regulatory change that would allow federal agencies to decide for themselves whether construction projects such as roads and dams have the potential to harm endangered animals and plants.

	Aug. 6, 2008 Government Details How Anthrax Investigation Led to Army Scientist The government released documents Wednesday pertaining to the 2001 anthrax attacks, saying that deceased Army scientist Bruce Ivins was solely responsible for the deadly mailings. A reporter details the day's findings.

	Aug. 5, 2008 Fed Opts to Leave Key Interest Rate Unchanged The Federal Reserve decided Tuesday for a second consecutive meeting to keep a key interest rate at 2 percent, saying that overall the economy is doing well despite inflationary fears.



	JULY July 30, 2008 In Rwanda, U.S.-Backed Program Improves Access to AIDS Drugs A U.S. program to curb AIDS in Africa is having success providing antiretroviral drugs to AIDS patients in Rwanda -- particularly pregnant women and newborns. Health correspondent Susan Dentzer begins a series of reports examining the impact of the American effort.

	July 28, 2008 FDIC Chief: Most Banks Will Survive Credit Crunch Poor lending and underwriting caused two more banks in the U.S. to close over the weekend, yet regulators and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, are helping banks remain stable as the economy struggles. Sheila Bair,the chair of FDIC, explains the process.

	July 28, 2008 White House Announces Record Budget Deficit Whoever wins the presidency in November will be saddled with a record budget deficit of $482 billion, according to a Bush administration estimate released Monday.

	July 24, 2008 Housing Rescue Bill Awaits Senate, but Questions Linger A hotly-debated housing bill aimed at helping struggling homeowners and shoring up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is next headed for the Senate. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., discuss the details.

	July 23, 2008 Wide-reaching Housing Rescue Legislation Moves Forward The House approved Wednesday a hotly-debated housing rescue package aimed at helping strapped homeowners avoid foreclosures after President Bush dropped his opposition to the bill. Experts examine the measure.

	July 23, 2008 The Health Care Debate: Eliminate the for-profit middle man and all is solved? Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."

	July 23, 2008 President Bush Drops Veto Threat for Housing Bill President Bush will sign into law a housing rescue bill hammered out in a compromise among House and Senate leaders, the White House said Wednesday.

	July 22, 2008 Ariz. Breaks Ground in Reforming Prison System The Arizona prison system is attempting to restructure its correction programs, in the aim of reducing repeat offenders. Jeffrey Brown reports on what these measures hope to achieve.

	July 18, 2008 Bailout of Mortgage Firms Could Set Risky Precedent As the nation's housing woes continue, the government announced a plan this week to shore up mortgage-giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Paul Solman weighs the role of government intervention and the possible ramifications of rewarding risky financial behaviors.

	July 17, 2008 Fannie Mae CEO Defends Mortgage Giant's Stability Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd reacts to questions about the stability of the mortgage-lending giant after the government took steps earlier this week to back Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to maintain stability and confidence in U.S. financial markets.

	July 17, 2008 Gore Aims High on Renewable Energy Goal for U.S. Former Vice President and Nobel laureate Al Gore outlined a bold climate goal for the nation Thursday, challenging the U.S. to create every kilowatt of electricity through renewable energy sources within 10 years.

	July 16, 2008 Consumer Price Index Report Adds to Economic Woes Rising consumer prices are raising Americans' cost of living, adding to economic woes, according to a new economic report. Analysts discuss the recent report and what it means for American consumers.

	July 15, 2008 Government Bailouts, Poor Growth Fuel Concerns Over Banking Sector Troubling economic reports and bleak forecasts from the nation's economic policymakers have fueled new concerns over the health of the economy and the stability of the nation's banks. Banking experts offer insight.

	July 15, 2008 Continued Economic Concerns Draw Attention on Hill Amid signs of continued economic distress, President Bush and the nation's top economic policymakers fanned out across Washington, seeking to reassure roiling markets, skittish investors, and a worried public. Ray Suarez wraps up the latest economic news.

	July 15, 2008 Bernanke: Economy Faces 'Numerous Difficulties' Amid a flurry of government-backed steps to fortify the U.S. economy, Fed chief Ben Bernanke told lawmakers Tuesday the economy continues to face "numerous difficulties" including turbulent financial markets, rising unemployment and housing troubles.

	July 14, 2008 Treasury, Fed Propose Safety Net for Mortgage Giants Congress must soon decide on a U.S. Treasury-Federal Reserve measure to save mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae from further crisis. An economics editor and House Financial Committee members weigh the options.

	July 14, 2008 U.S. Government Takes Steps to Back Struggling Mortgage Giants The Treasury Department and Federal Reserve laid out plans Sunday to help bolster lagging confidence in mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

	July 11, 2008 EPA Sidesteps Regulating Greenhouse Gases The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday delayed making a decision about whether human health and welfare are being harmed by greenhouse gas pollution. In a federal notice, the agency instead called for more public comment, essentially bumping the decision to the next administration.

	July 11, 2008 Worries of a Bailout of Mortgage Giants Hit Markets Hard The market value of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae slumped again Friday, but rebounded after officials downplayed the likelihood of government action. A reporter and analysts discuss the developments.

	July 11, 2008 Paulson: No Bailout for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Amid worries that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac might run short of capital, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Friday the government would support them "in their current form as they carry out their important mission."

	July 10, 2008 Alexander Hamilton's New York House Takes to the Road The former home of Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the Treasury and coauthor of the Federalist Papers, has been moved through New York's streets to a new location where it will undergo restoration work.

	July 10, 2008 Katrina Trailer Makers Defend Record in Congressional Testimony The companies that manufactured trailers for displaced New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina knew that the trailers contained unsafe levels of toxic formaldehyde, but failed to inform the public, congressional Democrats charged Wednesday.

	July 9, 2008 Senate Rejects Cut to Doctors' Medicare Payments The Senate passed a bill Wednesday blocking a 10.6 percent drop in Medicare payments to doctors treating elderly, troops and veterans. Susan Dentzer discusses the short and long-term implications of the move by Congress, which President Bush will likely veto.

	July 8, 2008 Fed Ready to Strengthen Regulations Tied to Lending Practices Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke outlined new rules Monday that are intended to protect homebuyers from risky lending practices blamed for a nationwide housing crisis. Wall Street Journal editor David Wessel examines the move.

	July 8, 2008 Bernanke to Propose Stricter Mortgage Regulation Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke outlined a new set of mortgage-lending rules Tuesday, which will be aimed at shielding future homebuyers from risky lending practices and avoiding a repeat of the country's current mortgage crisis.

	July 7, 2008 Aid to Africa Tops Agenda for G-8 Leaders World leaders entered the second day of their annual G-8 summit prepared to focus on whether Africa is receiving enough aid amid soaring food and oil prices and concerns over climate change.

	July 2, 2008 FDA Expands Search for Source of Salmonella Outbreak The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it still did not know the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 869 people and plans to expand its search beyond tomatoes, the first suspected culprit. A USA Today reporter updates the story.

	July 1, 2008 After Delays and Criticism, Pentagon Shifts Priorities to Protect Soldiers Beginning in 2007 the Pentagon shifted its spending priorities to meet the deadly threat of roadside bombs leading to the procurement of the MRAP, or 'Mine Resistant Ambush Protected'. The fourteen-ton vehicle is credited for a drastic decline in roadside bomb fatalities, but why did it take so long? Paul Solman investigates.

	July 1, 2008 New G.I. Bill Aims to Provide Expanded Educational Benefits to Troops A new G.I. bill signed into law Monday doubles funding for education benefits available to military personnel who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, and allows transfer of benefits to a spouse or children. Analysts discuss the law and its meaning for veterans.



	JUNE June 27, 2008 Supreme Court Term Left Door Open for Future Disputes By the close of the Supreme Court's term Thursday, the justices made landmark decisions on cases regarding gun ownership, the death penalty and the legal rights of detainees. Legal experts weigh the rulings and what they indicate about future court battles.

	June 23, 2008 U.S.-Funded Arab Language TV Network Under Scrutiny A U.S. government-funded Arab language television network, Al Hurra, has been the focus of recent criticism over both its lack of viewership and content choices. Two experts discuss how the network has fared and its ties to U.S. diplomacy efforts in the Middle East.

	June 23, 2008 Midwest's Levees, Land Use Questioned Amid Floods More than two dozen levees along the Mississippi and its tributaries have broken under heavy flooding, leaving many communities questioning the region's levee system and land usage. Elizabeth Brackett reports from Illinois on the struggle to keep levees standing.

	June 20, 2008 Wiretapping Bill Heads to Senate After Telecoms Debate The House approved a wide-ranging terror surveillance overhaul Friday. Caroline Fredrickson of the ACLU and George Terwilliger, a former deputy attorney general for the first President Bush, examine the measure.

	June 19, 2008 Three Years On, New Orleans Still Struggles With Hurricane Debris Nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the city is still coping with the toxic debris the storm left behind. Betty Ann Bowser reports from New Orleans on the ongoing controversy over the city's landfills.

	June 19, 2008 Minority Leader Boehner Details War Funding Moves, Energy Policy Debate Lawmakers met Thursday to debate funding allocations for the Iraq and Afghan wars, while continuing to mull how to best address soaring gas prices. House Minority Leader John Boehner explains GOP priorities in the House and how Congress has handled its most pressing issues.

	June 19, 2008 Mortgage Fraud Sweep Nets Hundreds of Arrests The Justice Department and the FBI announced hundreds of arrests Thursday for mortgage fraud, which is blamed for sparking a national credit crisis and nationwide housing crisis. An NPR correspondent and Columbia Law professor examine the government crackdown.

	June 18, 2008 GAO Backs Boeing's Claims in Tanker Contract Dispute Congressional investigators sided with Boeing Wednesday in a dispute over the awarding of a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract to competitor Northrup Grumman. A reporter discusses the decision.

	June 17, 2008 Ongoing Midwest Flooding Threatens Mississippi River Levees As the Mississippi River continues to rise through Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, federal officials fear many of the existing levees will fail, stressing the region's flood prevention system. A civil engineer discusses the science of levees.

	June 17, 2008 What are the pros and cons for denominating oil worldwide in U.S. dollars? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 11, 2008 Arizona's Illegal Immigration Laws Put to the Test Last year, Arizona passed 15 bills and resolutions giving police more tools to go after illegal immigrants, one of several states tightening immigration laws. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles examines the impact of the new regulations.

	June 10, 2008 Salmonella Concerns Prompt Widespread Tomato Recalls Concerns over salmonella contamination have led the FDA to issue nationwide health warnings for tomatoes. This in turn has led to many vendors recalling or prohibiting the use of tomatoes in their products. A food safety journalist discusses the tomato health scare.

	June 10, 2008 Tomatoes Pulled From Shelves Over Salmonella Federal officials are trying to locate the source of a 17-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes while the list of supermarkets and restaurants pulling the affected tomato varieties from shelves and menus continues to grow.

	June 9, 2008 Military Buildup Seen as Boom, Test for Tiny Island of Guam In the next six years, the population of Guam is expected to explode by 25 percent as the American military redploys thousands of its forces to the tiny Pacific Ocean island. The more than $15 billion project is expected to fuel the economy, but also threatens to strain its infrastructure and threaten its tourism industry.

	June 5, 2008 Top Air Force Officials Ousted After Series of Missteps Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates asked for the resignations Thursday of two senior Air Force leaders, a civilian official and the highest-ranking general. The move came in response to mishandling of nuclear delivery vehicle parts and a nuclear armed B-52 flight over the continental U.S.

	June 2, 2008 Education Issues Weigh on Tribal Voters in South Dakota, Montana With sizeable populations in the last two states to vote in the Democratic primary, Native American voters have emerged as a highly sought-after voting bloc ahead of Tuesday's voting in Montana and South Dakota.



	MAY May 22, 2008 Polygamy Ruling Raises Legal Debate on State Power A Texas state appeals court ruled on Thursday that child welfare officials had no right to seize more than 400 children taken last month from the Yearning For Zion Ranch, a polygamous sect's compound in the state. The ruling however does not make clear what will happen to the children or the legal position of their parents.

	May 21, 2008 Pelosi Predicts Democrats Will Have Nominee in June With the race for the Democratic nomination reaching the home stretch and continued clashes between the president and Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi assesses the fight between Sens. Obama and Clinton, the racial, economic and gender divisions in the party, and the Democrats' legislative battle to end the war Iraq.

	May 15, 2008 Congress Passes $290B Farm Bill Despite White House Opposition Amid global concerns over food prices, the Senate approved a $290 billion dollar farm bill Thursday with enough support to overcome a threatened presidential veto. A reporter outlines facets of the bill and its implications for U.S. food and agriculture policy.

	May 14, 2008 Polar Bears Listed as 'Threatened' Due to Loss of Arctic Ice In a highly anticipated decision, the Interior Department on Wednesday declared the polar bear "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act because of shrinking Arctic ice due to global warming. Two analysts consider the impact of the decision.

	May 12, 2008 A Closer Look at Defense Contracts When the U.S. military gave a new tanker contract to Northrop Grumman, its competitor, Boeing, called on the Government Accountability Office to investigate, claiming that it did not receive a fair evaluation. Two retired generals who works as consultants to either company answered your questions.

	May 6, 2008 Fannie Mae Posts Losses; Mortgage Market Quakes The mortgage giant Fannie Mae posted $2.2 billion in losses Tuesday in its third consecutive quarter of bad news. A reporter from the New York Times explains this latest bad news and its potential impact on the mortgage market.

	May 2, 2008 Report: Federal Program Fails to Improve Reading Skills An Education Department report disclosed the ineffectiveness of No Child Left Behind's $6 billion student reading program. State education officials Douglas Christensen of Nebraska and Michele Goady of Maryland debate Reading First's merits.

	May 2, 2008 Growing Hunger in Malawi Stirs Food Aid Debate Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the debate over the benefits of providing cash or crops to recipient nations. He also looks into the growing effects of domestic farm law on world food markets.



	APRIL April 30, 2008 Fed Cuts Rate Again in Latest Bid to Shore Up Economy The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by a quarter point Wednesday, bringing the federal funds rate down to its lowest level since late 2004. The move is intended to help address the ongoing housing slump and credit crunch. Analysts discuss the Fed's action and the economic strain on the American public.

	April 29, 2008 Can Fed come up with a better system for encouraging long-term savings? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	April 29, 2008 Number of Homes Headed to Foreclosure Doubles The number of U.S. homes headed toward foreclosure in the first quarter of the year more than doubled from the same period a year ago, a real estate data firm announced Tuesday.

	April 28, 2008 Mass. Health Care Plan Praised, But Struggles With Cost Massachusetts' universal coverage plan has helped thousands of the state's residents gain health care -- but critics remain wary of the high costs of the program, both expected and unexpected. Susan Dentzer reports on how the Bay State is faring in its reform efforts.

	April 11, 2008 States Grapple with Felon Voting Rights A recent Pew Center report estimated that one of every 100 Americans is behind bars. While they are in prison, most of them lose the right to vote and once they are released, some never regain the right.

	April 10, 2008 FAA Audits Deal New Blow to Airline Industry, Travelers American Airlines canceled some 900 flights Thursday for a third day of deep-reaching schedule changes due to a new round of tighter FAA safety inspections. An airline safety expert and an FAA representative examine the impact on the airline industry and on passengers.

	April 3, 2008 Bernanke Says Bear Stearns Rescue Was 'Necessary' Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the agency's rescue of Bear Stearns in a Senate hearing Thursday, saying the move was necessary to prevent further impact on the general economy. Financial experts weigh the Fed's response to recent economic turmoil.

	April 3, 2008 FAA Inspectors Claim Agency Was Lax on Safety Enforcement Veteran Federal Aviation Administration inspectors told a House committee Thursday that safety violations by Southwest Airlines were ignored by their supervisors due to the "cozy" relationship between FAA officials and the airline. An analyst examines federal oversight of commercial airlines.

	April 2, 2008 Senate Leaders Reach Tentative Deal on Housing Relief Momentum grew Wednesday for a Senate bill aimed at easing the slumping housing market and helping families threatened by foreclosure after lawmakers reached a tentative deal on a scaled-back version of the legislation. The architects of the compromise, Senators Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., discuss the bill.

	April 2, 2008 Fed Chairman Bernanke Says Recession Is 'Possible' Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday told Congress that while the current downturn might be temporary, "a recession is possible."

	April 1, 2008 In New Orleans, Reinventing the Idea of Public Housing As New Orleans recovers from Hurricane Katrina, public housing units set for demolition will be replaced by "neighborhood-style" communities that will be available to residents with a mix of income levels -- a plan that has raised some debate in the storm-ravaged area.

	April 1, 2008 Extended Interview: Former HUD Chief Alphonso Jackson As part of a NewsHour series on post-Hurricane Katrina housing in New Orleans, Betty Ann Bowser interviewed former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Alphonso Jackson about options for displaced public housing residents.

	April 1, 2008 Extended Interview: Historian Arnold Hirsch As part of a series on post-Katrina housing in New Orleans, NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser interviewed University of New Orleans history professor Arnold Hirsch about the history of public housing in New Orleans and the rest of the United States.

	April 1, 2008 Extended Interview: Cynthia Hedge-Morrell As part of a series on post-Hurricane Katrina housing in New Orleans, NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser interviewed New Orleans City Council member Cynthia Hedge-Morrell about the council's decision to tear down damaged public housing projects after the hurricane.

	April 1, 2008 I've heard the Federal Reserve is not actually federal and has no reserves. Paul Solman answers questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."



	MARCH March 31, 2008 Embattled HUD Secretary Steps Down Amid Allegations Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson resigned Monday amid allegations he granted favors to friends involving HUD contracts. A Washington Post reporter discusses the move.

	March 31, 2008 Broad New Oversights Pitched for Ailing Financial Systems In the wake of the subprime mortgage crash and the bailout of a prominent U.S. investment firm, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Monday outlined an administration proposal for increasing the regulation of financial institutions and markets. A Treasury official and other financial experts discuss the proposed changes.

	March 28, 2008 Treasury Calls for Sweeping Oversight Changes The Bush administration unveiled the most sweeping plan to overhaul the U.S. financial regulatory system since the Great Depression on Monday, but admitted that the next president's administration will need to hammer out many details with Congress.

	March 27, 2008 Economy's Growth Nearly Halted By End of 2007 New numbers released by the government Thursday highlighted the continued weak performance of the national economy, with the Commerce Department reporting an anemic 0.6 percent increase in the gross domestic product in the final three months of 2007.

	March 26, 2008 Paulson Urges Oversight in Wake of Bear Stearns Bailout Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Wednesday that investment banks may require the same government oversight that commercial banks face if they will borrow federal money. Economic analysts weigh the pros and cons of increased federal regulation.

	March 26, 2008 U.S. Seeks AIDS Vaccine Research Overhaul The head of the federal government's AIDS vaccine research program said Tuesday that the focus should shift from large-scale human vaccine trials back to basic research.

	March 25, 2008 Housing Crisis Draws Attention from Candidates Presumptie GOP nominee Sen. John McCain warned Tuesday against hasty government involvement in the U.S. mortgage crisis, while both Democratic candidates have called for increased regulation of lenders. An analysts considers the state of the housing market.

	March 25, 2008 Foreclosure Rates Reflect Human Cost of Mortgage Meltdown The city of Baltimore has lately seen skyrocketing foreclosure rates and slumping home prices. The housing shake-up led the city to sue its largest lender -- Wells Fargo -- over allegations that it gave black homebuyers higher loan rates than white buyers. Ray Suarez examines the impact of the housing crisis in Baltimore.

	March 24, 2008 Water Recycling Efforts Spark Policy Debate in California In water-strapped southern California local authorities are exploring new approaches to water usage, launching new programs that send highly treated wastewater back into the groundwater supply to serve as drinking water.

	March 24, 2008 JP Morgan Raises Bear Stearns Buyout Bid Amid stockholder discontent, JP Morgan Chase raised its bid to buy investment bank Bear Stearns Monday from $2 a share to $10 a share. A New York Times financial reporter helps explain the buyout.

	March 21, 2008 Rubin: 'Complexity, Uncertainty' Shade Economic Issues Robert Rubin, who served as treasury secretary during the Clinton administration and is currently the chairman of the board of directors at Citigroup, evaluates the state of the U.S. economy and the role of government intervention in recent economic troubles.

	March 21, 2008 Examining the Roots of U.S. Economic Woes In recent months, the U.S. business world has been hit with troubling economic news, ranging from the subprime mortgage crisis to the Bear Stearns bailout to the plummeting value of the dollar. Paul Solman explains the factors that have led to the recent downturn.

	March 21, 2008 Extended Interview: Cerner Corp. President Trace Devanny Trace Devanny, president of Cerner Corp., spoke to NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer about the difficulties in getting the U.S. health care system to adopt electronic record-keeping practices.

	March 20, 2008 Rain-soaked Midwest Braces for More Flooding Rescue workers conducted emergency evacuations and rivers continued to swell Thursday after heavy rains soaked parts of the Midwest, leading to 13 weather-related deaths in the region.

	March 18, 2008 Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate in Latest Bold Move As fears of a recession intensified, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate 0.75 percent Tuesday. A finance journalist from the Wall Street Journal discusses the rate cut and the markets' response.

	March 17, 2008 Reaction Is Mixed After Fed's Efforts to Boost Economy Amid a slumping economy, the Federal Reserve has resorted to some unusual methods to stave off a recession, most notably its role in coordinating the bailout of lending giant Bear Stearns. Economics experts examine the Fed's action and the state of the credit markets.

	March 17, 2008 Fed Makes Weekend Move to Aid Credit Markets Amid news of a fire sale buyout deal for lending group Bear Stearns, the Federal Reserve took more bold action over the weekend.

	March 14, 2008 FEMA Works to Move Evacuees Out of Trailer Homes In the second in a series of reports on Gulf Coast housing problems, Betty Ann Bowser examines FEMA's plans to find more permanent housing for hurricane evacuees who have spent months living in trailers.

	March 13, 2008 In Internet Age, Libraries Still Draw a Crowd A survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that young adults aged 18 to 30 frequent public libraries more regularly than older people, despite the advance of personal computers and the Internet. Guest essayist Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune reflects on the road ahead for public libraries in the modern era.

	March 13, 2008 President Bush, Lawmakers Clash Over Renewal of Surveillance Program President Bush threatened Thursday to veto the House version of the terrorist-surveillance reauthorization bill. A measure to protect telecommunications companies from prosecution is at the heart of the dispute. Legal experts examine the privacy debate.

	March 13, 2008 Katrina Victims Still Struggle With Housing Problems The Centers for Disease Control found high levels of formaldehyde in trailers issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house Hurricane Katrina victims. In the first of a series of reports, Betty Ann Bowser examines the housing problems along the Gulf Coast.

	March 13, 2008 From Lending Rules to Job Woes, Economic Tumult Persists Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called for tougher rules for mortgages lenders Thursday, while investment fund Carlyle Capitol faced collapse after defaulting on $16 billion in debt as a string of new reports this week signaled continued weakness in the U.S. economy. Economic experts offer insight.

	March 6, 2008 Air Force Tanker Contract Stirs Controversy An Air Force decision to award Northrop Grumman and its European partners a contract to build $40 billion worth of new aircraft is drawing criticism from U.S. producer Boeing as well as members of Congress. A Washington state congressman and a defense expert discuss the dispute.

	March 4, 2008 Health Insurance Mandate Tested In Massachusetts This year, Massachusetts residents will be required to prove that they have health insurance in order to avoid fines and penalties. But the state -- the first in the country to require its residents to obtain health insurance -- is still grappling with the mandate's high costs, and searching for ways to get residents to sign up.

	March 4, 2008 Do I receive a rebate if my only income is social security? Paul Solman answers questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."



	FEBRUARY Feb. 28, 2008 Congress Divided on Economic Relief, Housing Measures President Bush played down the possibility of recession Thursday, while Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke explained to Congress the difficulties of balancing rising inflation with a slowing economy. Two senators debate proposals to aid the economy, including a supplemental stimulus package and a bid to expand home foreclosure relief.

	Feb. 28, 2008 New York Times Article Questions PBS's Relevancy On Sunday, Feb. 17, The New York Times published an article entitled "Is PBS Still Necessary?" The piece touched off debate within the Times community, and when the paper's Web site later closed its comments section, the article had received more than 800 responses. The NewsHour has received more than 6,600 responses.

	Feb. 26, 2008 Consumer Confidence Drop Among Economic Woes Consumer confidence and home prices plunged while wholesale inflation and home foreclosures jumped, a swath of new negative U.S. economic reports showed Tuesday.

	Feb. 25, 2008 Senators Weigh U.S. Policy in South Asia after Visit Sens. Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Chuck Hagel, R- Neb., recently traveled to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Turkey in an effort to review the state of security and U.S. diplomacy in the critical regions. The lawmakers assess U.S. relations in South Asia and the recent Turkish incursion into northern Iraq.

	Feb. 22, 2008 Life at the U.S.-Mexican Border Migrant workers in northern Mexico face the option of trying to find work locally or risk crossing the border to look for jobs in the United States. Freelance journalist David Francis reported from Mexico on the perspectives of migrant workers and border guards.

	Feb. 21, 2008 Bush's Visit Renews Focus on State of U.S.-Africa Relations President Bush concluded a five day visit to Africa Thursday, making a final stop in Liberia where he pledged that the United States would help the country rebuild after a decade of civil war. Experts evaluate the state of U.S.-Africa relations.

	Feb. 20, 2008 Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Discrimination Case The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case that could influence the way courts handle racial discrimination cases throughout the country. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal explains the details of the case.

	Feb. 20, 2008 Consumer Price Index Reports Unexpected Inflation Rise The Consumer Price Index, the Labor Department's yardstick of inflation, indicated greater inflation in January than had been anticipated. Paul Solman discusses how the CPI determines inflation and the meaning of this new report.

	Feb. 20, 2008 Inflation Grew in Jan., Led by Food, Health Costs Inflation jumped by a bigger-than-expected amount in January, with large increases in the cost of food and health care, the government reported Wednesday.

	Feb. 19, 2008 How does increasing liquidity with lower interest rates help the economy? Paul Solman answers questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Feb. 18, 2008 USDA Orders Record Beef Recall in Wake of Slaughterhouse Scandal The USDA has ordered a California company to recall a record 140 million pounds of ground beef as part of a federal investigation into animal abuse and health code violations. A representative of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service discusses the recall.

	Feb. 15, 2008 Congressmen Debate Renewal of Warrantless Surveillance Law After a standoff with House Republicans and President Bush, the Democratic-led House failed to extend a warrantless terrorist eavesdropping program Friday. Congressmen Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., offer two views on the divisive surveillance law.

	Feb. 15, 2008 If you keep printing currency, doesn't inflation take on a life of its own? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Feb. 14, 2008 Hurricane Victims Should Leave Toxic Trailers, CDC Says Federal officials said Thursday they will intensify efforts to move Gulf Coast hurricane victims out of some 38,000 government-issued trailers as quickly as possible after tests found toxic levels of formaldehyde fumes.

	Feb. 12, 2008 War Vets Still Struggle With Education Costs, Despite G.I. Bill Benefit John Merrow reports on how education benefits offered through the G.I. Bill are issued to soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the renewed efforts by some members of Congress to expand the bill, which has seen reduced funding over the years.

	Feb. 12, 2008 Lenders Sign-on for Plan to Help Prevent Home Foreclosures The Bush Administration and six of the nation's largest banks agreed on a plan Tuesday that would delay some home foreclosures by 30 days, allowing lenders to negotiate more affordable terms. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discusses the details of the proposal.

	Feb. 11, 2008 Mukasey Weighs Waterboarding, Sept. 11 Charges After Attorney General Michael Mukasey took charge of the Justice Department, he called for an evaluation of the legalities of the "waterboarding" interrogation tactic. In an interview, Mukasey considers the waterboarding debate, charges against Sept. 11 suspects and the strength of the Justice Department.

	Feb. 8, 2008 Bush Set to Sign $168B Economic Stimulus Bill President Bush said Friday he would sign the $168 billion economic stimulus bill that was passed Thursday by both houses of Congress in a bipartisan effort intended to ward off a possible recession.

	Feb. 1, 2008 Shields and Brooks Weigh '08 Race, Stimulus Debate The 2008 presidential race saw more shake-ups this week with the exits of candidates John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani, while lawmakers debated the best way for the government to help boost an ailing economy. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.



	JANUARY Jan. 30, 2008 Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate Again in Bid to Avert Economic Anxieties The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a point Wednesday -- the second rate reduction in eight days in a bid to help ease pressure on jittery financial markets. Wall Street Journal economics editor David Wessel examines the Fed's latest move.

	Jan. 29, 2008 California Senate Rejects Health Care Reform Bill A California Senate committee voted Monday to reject a bill by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would have covered millions of uninsured Californians, ending the hopes of advocates that it would provide a model for national health care reform.

	Jan. 24, 2008 Stimulus Plan Focuses on Rebate Checks, Incentives Congressional leaders and the White House reached an agreement Thursday for an economic stimulus package that would include rebate checks for millions of taxpayers and incentives for businesses to invest in new capital. A panel of economic experts examines how the proposal may help ease economic concerns across the country.

	Jan. 24, 2008 Lawmakers Reach Deal on Economic Stimulus Congressional leaders and the White House announced Thursday that they reached a deal on an economic stimulus package that would give most U.S. taxpayers refunds ranging from $600 to $1,200 and roll out tax breaks for businesses.

	Jan. 23, 2008 Congress, White House Hammer out Stimulus Package Details U.S. House leaders met with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Wednesday to shape the details of a economic stimulus package amid fears of a recession and concerns over volatile financial markets, both in the U.S. and abroad. Two economists assess the proposals and discuss what's most likely to boost the U.S. economy.

	Jan. 22, 2008 Rate Cut, Market Turmoil Add to Unease Over Economy Amid fears of a U.S. economic downturn, global markets suffered steep losses and the Federal Reserve slashed a key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point Tuesday -- its biggest cut in over 23 years. Financial experts examine why the Fed rolled out the surprise rate cut and the forces behind the market turmoil.

	Jan. 15, 2008 Design Flaw Cited in Investigation of Minnesota Bridge Collapse The National Transportation Safety Board revealed findings Tuesday from its probe of last year's deadly Minnesota bridge collapse, citing a design flaw with steel "gusset plates" used to build the structure. NTSB chief Mark Rosenker details the agency's investigation.

	Jan. 9, 2008 Agency Delays Decision on Polar Bear Listing The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service postponed a recommendation originally due Wednesday on listing the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to changes in its habitat from global warming.