Businessman With Ties to Florida G.O.P. Fund-Raiser Sargeant Is Indicted - February 25, 2009 - WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles on Wednesday indicted a Jordanian businessman with connections to the Florida Republican Party on charges of funneling illegal contributions to three former presidential candidates and Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida.

Gov. Sarah Palin to pay back taxes - February 18, 2009 - Gov. Sarah Palin must pay income taxes on thousands of dollars in expense money she received while living at her Wasilla home, under a new determination by state officials.

Homelessness surges as funding falters - January 30, 2009 - Providers to the poor try to stretch meager resources to meet growing need

Obama slams Wall Street on bonuses - January 29, 2009 - President calls the $18.4 billion in bonuses paid last year 'shameful'

As inmate sits, slain man's family asks: Why has it taken 30 years? - January 25, 2009 - Paul Scott has been married and divorced twice. He's been memorialized in a country song. He's attracted the attention of religious figures worldwide.

Taxes, housekeeper said to derail Kennedy’s bid - January 22, 2009 - Kennedy aide: Nothing that surfaced would disqualify her

Ore. to investigate gay mayor’s affair with teen - January 22, 2009 - Portland mayor admits he lied to cover up the relationship

High school coach charged in player's death - January 22, 2009 - LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky high school football coach was charged Thursday with reckless homicide in the death of a player who collapsed at practice as temperatures soared.

Political Interference Seen in Bank Bailout Decisions - January 22, 2009 - Barney Frank Goes to Bat for Lender, and It Gets an Infusion

Despite billions, banks still teeter on the brink - January 21, 2009 - Wall Street waits on Obama, but no clear solution to the crisis exists

Bush's legacy is America's shame - January 18, 2009 - Although Americans would be wary of admitting it to others, we know the wreckage left behind by the outgoing administration

Interest Rate Drop Has Dire Results for Legal Aid - January 19, 2009 - BOSTON — Scores of legal aid societies that help poor people with noncriminal cases — like disputes over foreclosures, evictions and eligibility for unemployment benefits — are being forced to cut their staffs and services, even as requests for help have soared.

Man sues city for demolishing his fixer-upper - January 19, 2009 - Detroit allegedly put it back on demolition list — after he made repairs

Foreclosures up 81% in 2008 - January 14, 2009 - One in 54 homes entered foreclosure in 2008. Rising unemployment and sliding home prices have some experts expecting 2009 to be even worse.

Senate Dems expect to seat Burris this week - January 12, 2009 - Burris dispatched lawyers to Capitol Hill on Monday

States ponder early release for some prisoners - January 10, 2009 - NEW YORK - Their budgets in crisis, governors, legislators and prison officials across the nation are making or considering policy changes that will likely remove tens of thousands of offenders from prisons and parole supervision.

Ex-aide sentenced in Detroit mayor sex scandal - January 6, 2009 - She gets 120 days with time shaved off for good behavior

5 governors unite, seek $1 trillion in federal aid - January 3, 2009 - Governor Deval Patrick and four other influential Democratic governors pleaded their case yesterday for up to $1 trillion in federal assistance over the next two years, to help alleviate budget cuts, create jobs, and avoid inflicting irreversible damage to schools during a fiscal crisis.

Jail shut after cops discover recliners in cells - January 3, 2009 - FORT WORTH, Texas - A jail has been closed and its nearly 60 inmates transferred as authorities investigate what they call dangerous conditions for jailers and those behind bars — including cells that locked from the inside or contained recliners.

How the Senate Can Stop Blagojevich - December 31, 2008 - It easily has the power to block the governor's appointment of Roland Burris.

Cheney's Legacy of Deception - December 30, 2008 - In the end, the shame of Vice President Dick Cheney was total: unmitigated by any notion of a graceful departure, let alone the slightest obligation of honest accounting. Although firmly ensconced, even in the popular imagination, as an example of evil incarnate--nearly a quarter of those polled in this week's CNN poll rated him the worst vice president in US history, and 41 percent as "poor"--Cheney exudes the confidence of one fully convinced that he will get away with it all.

Double dipping rises despite outrage - December 28, 2008 - TALLAHASSEE — This year some of Florida's public officials are giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "home for the holidays.''

Alleged misconduct in Ted Stevens trial - December 23, 2008 - An Alaska FBI agent has accused fellow agents and at least one prosecutor of misconduct and unethical behavior in the public corruption investigation in Alaska and the trial of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

Madoff investor found dead of suicide. - December 23, 2008 - Founder of hedge fund discovered dead at his Manhattan office

The Fed Makes Money - December 22, 2008 - Quantitative easing," don't you love it? It's the latest business-economics euphemism designed to mislead. I do not know who they think they're fooling: it's like doctors calling excruciating pain "discomfort."

Open and Shut Cases - December 22, 2008 - Dick Cheney's unique gift for making hard questions easy and vice versa.

Lawmakers cash in with campus jobs - December 21, 2008 - Former and current lawmakers are finding employment at community colleges and state universities, even in times of cutbacks and curbs on enrollment.

$1.6 billion went to bailed-out bank execs - December 21, 2008 - Records show bonuses, chauffeurs, health club benefits, financial planning

Blagojevich: 'I have done nothing wrong' - December 19, 2008 - Governor's attorney challenging lawfulness of court-ordered wiretaps

With economy in shambles, Congress gets a raise - December 18, 2008 - A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.

Katrina's Hidden Race War - December 17, 2008 - The way Donnell Herrington tells it, there was no warning. One second he was trudging through the heat. The next he was lying prostrate on the pavement, his life spilling out of a hole in his throat, his body racked with pain, his vision blurred and distorted.

Director of SEC says it failed in Madoff case - December 16, 2008 - Many times agency didn’t investigate; alleged scam snared tens of billions

Ill. House speaker launches impeachment panel - December 15, 2008 - Special committee to review case, recommend on Blagojevich future

Charges Dropped Against Bill Dillon - December 14, 2008 - On television's 20/20 In 1984, Geraldo Rivera exposed crime scene dog handler John Preston as a fraud. Many of the hundreds Preston's bogus testimony put behind bars nationwide remain there, with their cases unexamined.

Political Corruption Smackdown - December 13, 2008 - Which state is the most crooked—Illinois or Louisiana?

Many Parents Clueless About Newborn Genetic Tests - December 10, 2008 - (WCCO) Each year blood samples are taken from thousands of newborns to screen for more than 50 medical conditions.

Illinois governor's words 'beyond greed' - December 10, 2008 - Recordings stun political analysts with profanity, threats and demands

A portrait of a politician: vengeful and profane - December 10, 2008 - 'I was speechless and sickened,' says a critic of disgraced Gov. Blagojevich

‘A Senate Seat on Ebay’ - December 9, 2008 - Inside the case against Illinois Gov. Blagojevich

Illinois has long legacy of public corruption - December 9, 2008 - At least 79 elected officials have been convicted of wrongdoing since 1972

Feds: Governor tried to 'auction' Obama's seat - December 9, 2008 - Blagojevich arrested, accused of 'corruption crime spree' over appointment

The case against Illinois Gov. Blagojevich - December 7, 2008 - read the full criminal complaint (PDF)

Texas lambasted over care of mentally disabled - December 3, 2008 - Justice Department accuses state of violating patients’ constitutional rights

Witness against Sen. Stevens says he hid the truth - November 21, 2008 - WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of the government's witnesses against convicted Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska says he didn't tell the truth on the stand about an immunity deal with the Justice Department in exchange for his testimony.

2nd Mass. politician charged with taking bribe - November 21, 2008 - BOSTON (AP) -- FBI agents arrested a Boston city council member Friday after he was videotaped allegedly taking a $1,000 bribe from an undercover agent in an expanding investigation into corruption at City Hall and the Massachusetts Statehouse.

Hub Corruption Probe Widens As Councilor Arrested - November 21, 2008 - Chuck Turner Accused Of Taking Bribes, Lying

Behind the Scenes: A mother's grief in New Orleans - November 21, 2008 - In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events.

3 Houston officers taken off street after claims of beating - November 21, 2008 - Three police officers in Houston, Texas, have been temporarily transferred from patrol duty to desk jobs after claims of assault against the father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, authorities said Friday.