ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Virginia's governor is livid that his famously tight-fisted state could face higher borrowing costs to build roads and schools. Maryland has put off a $718 million bond sale for three days because of the current financial uncertainty. And California plans to borrow about $5 billion from private investors next week to ensure it can cover day-to-day operating expenses should the federal government default on its debt.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jobs, education, health, housing - the issues driving the NAACP these days look much like the concerns of most Americans, and that's by design.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama and Pentagon leaders are poised to end the 17-year-old ban on gays serving openly in the military.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Huge increases in deportations of people after they were arrested for breaking traffic or immigration laws or driving drunk helped the Obama administration set a record last year for the number of criminal immigrants forced to leave the country, documents show.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The debate over teaching evolution in public schools is resurfacing at the Texas State Board of Education.

SPARKMAN, Ark. (AP) -- The signs of decline are everywhere in this tiny timber town. Most of the gas stations are abandoned metal skeletons left to rust under the Arkansas sun. Empty storefronts and vacant lots mark the graves of other long-gone businesses.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Atlantis and four astronauts returned from the International Space Station in triumph Thursday, bringing an end to NASA's 30-year shuttle journey with one last, rousing touchdown that drew cheers and tears.

PARIS (AP) -- Scientists are closing in on a long-sought goal: A blood test to screen people for Alzheimer's disease.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed a new budget Wednesday, ending the nation's longest state government shutdown in the past decade.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years in what it calls the biggest airline order in history. And in a victory for Airbus, it's splitting the work between the European plane maker and Boeing.