Battle Brewing Over Labeling of Genetically Modified Food

In Western Washington, Gas Prices Buck the Trend

By KIRK JOHNSON 8:04 PM ET

A still-tough economy compounded by stinging transportation costs has clipped wallets in places like Tacoma.

New Orleans Newspaper Scales Back in Sign of Print Upheaval

By DAVID CARR and CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY 10:09 PM ET

Circulation and staff reductions at The Times-Picayune of New Orleans and three Alabama newspapers are the latest instances of reorganization in a rapidly changing industry.

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Obama Takes Early Leap Into Campaign Fray

By PETER BAKER 10:14 PM ET

Unlike past presidents at this stage in the campaign, President Obama has not hesitated to engage his rival.

Both Campaigns Seize on Romney’s Years at Bain

By ASHLEY PARKER 10:32 PM ET

For Mitt Romney’s campaign, the scrutiny of his time at Bain Capital poses a delicate challenge: not only must he defend himself against attacks from President Obama, but he also must try to cast the lessons he learned there as a testament to his management skills.

On Day 5, Edwards Jury Plows Through the Exhibits

By KIM SEVERSON 10:43 PM ET

Except for a few requests for exhibits, and clarification on when they might quit for the day, the only indication of the jurors’ mood comes from their appearances in the courtroom.

An Often Procrastinating Congress Is Raring at the Gate on Tax Cuts

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER 10:57 PM ET

Both parties foresee an election lift in quick action on Bush-era tax legislation.

Senate Stalls on Legislation for Student Loan Relief

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 50 minutes ago

The Senate rejected dueling Democratic and Republican plans on Thursday for averting a July 1 doubling of interest rates on federal college loans for 7.4 million students, pushing back efforts to resolve the problem until next month.

GSA Parts Ways With Host of $823K Vegas Conference

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 9:28 PM ET

Jeffrey Neely, the General Services Administration executive who was responsible for a lavish conference in Las Vegas, is no longer with the GSA, the agency confirmed Thursday.

Justices Allow Retrial on Rejected Charges

By ADAM LIPTAK 8:10 PM ET

The justices split over whether the constitutional protection against double jeopardy barred such reprosecutions.

Prosecutors Face Penalty in ’08 Trial of a Senator

By CHARLIE SAVAGE 57 minutes ago

While the prosecutors were “reckless” in their handling of Senator Ted Stevens’s 2008 corruption trial, they will not be fired because their mistakes were deemed unintentional.

Senate Backs Bipartisan Bill to Speed Drugs and Avert Shortages

By ROBERT PEAR 8:18 PM ET

A measure to prevent drug shortages and to accelerate federal review of new and generic medications won broad support, with a similar bill on a fast track to approval in the House.

Geologist Is Nominated to Lead Nuclear Agency

By JOHN M. BRODER 7:37 PM ET

President Obama on Thursday nominated Allison M. Macfarlane, a professor at George Mason University, to serve as chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Number of Ailing Banks Falls as Earnings Reach 5-Year High, F.D.I.C. Says

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 7:30 PM ET

The mostly positive report illustrated how far the banking industry had come since the 2008 financial crisis, but it noted that many banks remained cautious about lending.