NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- BP's massive oil spill became the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico on last week based on the highest of the federal government's estimates, an ominous record that underscores the oil giant's dire need to halt the gusher.

Large-scale disaster — this time in the form of BP's crude oil — has again hit the Gulf Coast, and with it have returned the familiar white trailers that the government provided to survivors of Hurricane Katrina years ago.
According to The New York Times, these trailers — known to have high levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen – are popping up again in connection with the BP oil disaster, potentially putting more people at risk of the health problems associated with the industrial chemical: nasal cancer,

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The oldest among us seem to have chosen their parents well. Researchers closing in on the impact of family versus lifestyle find most people who live to 100 or older share some helpful genes.

WASHINGTON — A weak June jobs report offered the latest evidence that the economic recovery is slowing.

LOS ANGELES- The prosecution has given its final argument in the murder trial of a former BART officer, accused of killing an unarmed black man on a train platform. The defense will finish its closing Friday before the case heads to the jury.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former top executive of American International Group Inc. acknowledged this week that his division more than tripled the amount of risky investments it insured in the three years leading up to the 2008 financial meltdown.

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- A top counterterrorism official this week defended the government's right to target U.S. citizens perceived as terror threats for capture or killing, citing the example of the renegade al-Qaida-linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A key House panel voted Wednesday to cut off almost $4 billion in aid to the government of Afghanistan pending an investigation into charges that Afghan officials are blocking corruption probes and huge amounts of foreign aid is being stolen.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration won't "kick the can down the road" when it comes to fixing the nation's broken immigration policies.

WASHINGTON — For the third time in as many weeks, Republicans in the Senate have successfully filibustered a bill to continue providing unemployment checks to millions of people.