Obama: US must back democratic hopes despite costs
WARSAW, Poland - Capping an extensive trip to Europe, President Barack Obama said Saturday that the United States must always "leave room" to throw financial and moral support behind nations fighting for freedoms, even during times of employment troubles and high gas prices at home. More »
Cuba announces tax break for private businesses
HAVANA - Cuba announced new measures Friday to spur the island's push into private enterprise, instituting a moratorium on payroll taxes for small business owners and loosening limits on the size of private restaurants. Under the new guidelines, anyone who hires between one and five workers will not be subject to payroll taxes during 2011. More »
High court's ruling could lead to prison overhaul
ATLANTA - The U.S. Supreme Court decision that ordered California to drastically reduce its prison population to relieve severe overcrowding could encourage some states with bloated corrections systems to overhaul tough-on-crime policies that have led to stiffer sentences, law enforcement officials and experts said. More »
Drug shortages make hospitals hunt for substitutes
WASHINGTON - A growing shortage of medications for a host of illnesses - from cancer to cystic fibrosis to cardiac arrest - has hospitals scrambling for substitutes to avoid patient harm, and sometimes even delaying treatment. "It's just a matter of time now before we call for a drug that we need to save a patient's life and we find out there isn't any," says Dr. Eric Lavonas of the American College of Emergency Physicians. More »
