These were supposed to be heady days for African-Americans in Congress, with President Barack Obama occupying the White House and a half-dozen blacks holding powerful committee chairmanships and leadership jobs.
But the past two weeks have brought nothing but trouble for members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Two of Congress' most senior African-Americans, Democratic Reps. Charles Rangel of New York and Maxine Waters of California, are fighting to save their reputations and quite possibly their jobs over ethics allegations.

WASHINGTON — Christina Romer, the departing chief of President Barack Obama's economic advisory council, cast disagreements among key players on the White House economic team as a healthy part of reaching tough policy decisions.

NEW YORK — Stocks and interest rates dropped Friday after a disappointing employment report renewed concerns about a slowdown in economic growth.

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators are abandoning efforts to negotiate a compromise on so-called "network neutrality" rules intended to ensure that phone and cable TV companies cannot discriminate against Internet traffic traveling over their broadband lines.

LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands – Naomi Campbell told a war crimes tribunal Thursday that she had received some "dirty-looking stones" after a 1997 dinner party with former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor — but added that she didn't know if the stones were actually diamonds or who sent the gift.

In California, a federal judge has ruled that Proposition 8 – a state constitutional amendment approved by 52 percent of voters – is a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is heading home to Chicago to celebrate his 49th birthday on Wednesday.

NEW ORLEANS — BP claimed a key milestone Wednesday in the effort to plug its blown-out well as a government report said much of the spilled oil is "gone," heartening officials who have taken heat during the tricky cleanup but leaving some Gulf Coast residents still skeptical.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The first word on whether California's same-sex marriage ban passes scrutiny under the U.S. Constitution is scheduled to come down today when a federal judge issues his ruling in a landmark case.

BERLIN — Several versions of Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch have potentially serious security problems, a German government agency said in an official warning Wednesday