Exodus Could Shift White House Tone

Cuomo's Lead in Race Falters

New York Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Cuomo lost his air of invincibility as a poll showed a once-impregnable lead over GOP rival Carl Paladino collapsing.

• Cuomo Urged to Fight Back | Video
• Vote: How close will N.Y.'s governor race be?

Tobacco Firms Draw Scrutiny on Cigars

Some tobacco manufacturers have increased the weight of their little cigars so that they qualify as lower-tax conventional versions, a trend that is drawing scrutiny in Congress.

Friended for $100 Million

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to announce a donation of $100 million to the Newark public school system, in a bid to turn around one of the country's worst performing school systems.

• Tech Companies Make Donations

Obama Dares Foes to Hobble Health Law

Obama promoted consumer-friendly provisions in health-care legislation passed six months ago, seeking to counter what the administration sees as a Republican-driven scare campaign.

• Overhaul's Impact on Insurers

Egg Company Owner Apologizes As Lawmakers Examine Outbreak

Iowa chicken farmer Austin DeCoster apologized to victims of the salmonella outbreak that led to the summer's nationwide egg recall and promised to take steps to prevent further contamination.

House Republicans Spell Out Their Own Plans

House Republicans are set to release an agenda that features longtime GOP goals, such as repealing Obama's health-care overhaul.

U.S. Downplays Rifts Over Afghanistan

The White House sought to play down internal rifts over Afghanistan strategy described in a new book by Bob Woodward.

Regulators, Oil Firms in Uneasy Alliance

More diagnostic tools, increased investment in research and a focus on integrating spill-containment equipment around the world would help the oil industry better respond to future offshore spills, officials said.

• Big Oil Drills for Better Technology

U.S. Due to Ease Jumbo Loan Aid

Government backing for loans on many pricier homes is set to expire at the end of the year, but some lawmakers say the housing market is still too shaky to let such federal supports lapse.

• Mortgage Market Showing Mixed Signals

Fla. Court Rejects Ban on Gay Adoption

A Florida court struck down the state's ban on gay adoptions, the latest in a string of recent court decisions advancing gay rights.

Two BP Workers Hospitalized

Two employees at BP's Texas City, Texas, refinery suffered steam burns while performing work at a unit and have been hospitalized.

SEC Blasted on Goldman Probe

The SEC's internal watchdog said the timing of a fraud lawsuit filed by the agency against Goldman Sachs was "suspicious."

Pilots, Controllers to Share Safety Data

Federal regulators, air-traffic controllers and the union representing United Airlines pilots agreed to voluntarily share safety data about midair near-collisions.

New Dinosaur Species Found