Economy taking bang out of July Fourth
What's a July Fourth celebration without fireworks? Many cities across the United States will find out Saturday.

Sailor gunned down on sentry duty, Navy says
A sailor found dead earlier this week at California's Camp Pendleton was shot while standing sentry, and a fire was set in an attempt to cover up evidence, the U.S. Navy said.

Palin to step down as Alaska governor
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to announce Friday that she will not seek a second term, a Republican source close to Palin tells CNN.

Sanford spending holiday with family in Florida
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford left the Governor's Mansion on Friday to visit with his family in Florida, his office said.

Statue of Liberty's crown to re-open July 4
The crown of the Statue of Liberty will re-open to tourists on July 4, the Interior Department said Friday.

Disney adds robotic Obama to attraction
He looks like President Barack Obama, speaks like him, and even gestures like him, but he is not exactly the president of the United States.

Gen Y reflects on what it means to be American


America's healthiest beach and lake getaways
We know your summer vacation time is precious: You want to land where you can truly relax, breathe fresh air, get in some exercise and eat well -- without breaking the bank. That's why we teamed up with a panel of travel and health experts to help us find the healthiest of the nation's most popular beach and lake towns.

Ex-speed eaters gain weight with few regrets
Don Lerman set a record by eating seven sticks of salted butter in five minutes. During six years of competitive eating, he gained 100 pounds.

Suit: Toxic plane air sickens flight attendant
The last time Terry Williams can remember being headache-free was in December. A chronic migraine has plagued her ever since. So have balance and vision problems, a tremor in her left arm, a prickly sensation in her feet and a loss of childhood memories.

ST