WASHINGTON - Hers was the face on the grainy negative TV ads that helped defeat scores of Democrats. His agenda, re-election chances and legacy are on the line.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy grew slightly faster last summer than first thought, benefiting from stronger spending by U.S. shoppers and improved overseas sales of U.S. goods.

Scientists have an exciting breakthrough in the fight against AIDS. A pill already used to treat HIV infection turns out to be a powerful weapon in protecting healthy gay men from catching the virus, a global study found.

NEW YORK (AP) — The pace of the U.S. economic recovery will remain steady but slow in the face of persistently high unemployment and heavy debt burdens, according to a new survey.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health insurance premiums should go for actual medical care — not insurers' overhead and profits — the Obama administration said Monday in rules that for the first time require the companies to give consumers a rebate.

University faculty and academic administrators to attract minority graduate students into academic careers, because they don't consider their differing needs, says a report for the California Community College Collaborative at the University of California, Riverside.

The Somali-American community in Minnesota and Tennessee are reeling from news that a sex-trafficking ring involving Somali youth were busted in the two states by federal agents with a warrant.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits barely rose last week, offering some hope that the job market may be improving. But claims need to fall further to bring down the 9.6 percent unemployment rate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ratcheting up U.S. combat power in Afghanistan, the Pentagon is sending Abrams tanks into the battle against insurgents at a time when the U.S. and European publics are anxious to see progress in the 9-year-old war.

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois and Northwestern agreed Friday to run every offensive play toward the same end zone in their showdown at Wrigley Field this weekend to avoid the possibility of players running into a padded brick wall at the other end of the field.