Washington

Latest projections put the U.S. federal deficit at less than $160 billion -- the smallest deficit since before the September 11 terrorist attacks. Commentator David Frum says the government need to keep it that way.

The Bush Administration is preparing new rules to encourage what some say is a safer and more efficient type of above-ground mining -- mountaintop, or strip, mining. John Dimsdale reports environmentalists are worried.

President Bush's speech today to the VFW is the opening volley in a White House campaign to build support for keeping troops in Iraq. And, as Steve Henn reports, the president will have some well-financed allies backing him up.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson came together today to reassure everyone that they're on top of any changes to the subprime-riddled economy. Bob Moon reports.

The White House says it's going to limit states from expanding the federal program that provides healthcare to kids in middle-income families -- even though Congress wants an expansion. John Dimsdale has the details.

For the first time in 18 years, Democratic candidates are out-fundraising their GOP counterparts. That means people with a lot of money are betting the Dems will hold onto power, Steve Henn reports.

It's going to cost some $250 million to repair the collapsed highway bridge in Minnesota and there are already calls for more federal funds to fix other bridges around the country. So where's Congress going to get all that cash? Jeremy Hobson reports.

Debate in Congress over government regulations on carbon dioxide emissions is starting to heat up. Sam Eaton reports on the differing views on a carbon tax and "cap and trade."

Medicare is set to publish new rules this week that will pay providers more for treating sicker patients, but less if hospitals make mistakes that make patients sicker. Helen Palmer reports that other insurers will surely follow suit.

Hard rock miners digging for gold, silver, copper or uranium operate under an 1872 law that allows them to extract public resources for free. A bill in Congress now would change that, but the companies have powerful allies, Wren Elhai reports.