Joseph Lazzaro

To be sure, long-term, the U.S. budget deficit must be eliminated. But if policy makers cut federal spending too much, too soon during a period of weak demand, the result will be another recession.

Two California companies have partnered to sell solar-powered chargers compatible with all new electric vehicles.

Talk about spinning wheels, Congressional Democrats and Republicans, incredibly, made no progress Thursday toward raising the debt ceiling, even as a U.S. default nears on Tuesday.

Some say it was a devastating asteroid, but a new, controversial hypothesis argues that massive lava eruptions may have ended the age of the dinosaurs.

U.S. initial jobless claims fell last week by 24,000, to a 3-month low of 398,000, according to the Labor Department.

There's no way to sugarcoat it: financial markets have started to react to the possibility that the U.S. Government might default. Democrats and Republicans in Washington appear to be no closer to a debt deal Thursday than they were last week -- and a damaging default is now staring the nation -- and global markets -- in the face.

Federal officials have reversed an earlier decision and ruled that Oregon and Washington state cannot kill sea lions eating endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.

Following a Humane Society of the United States petition, federal officials have decided to revoke the authorization for Oregon and Washington to kill sea lions eating endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.

There may be a way-out of the U.S. debt deal impasse, if rationality prevails inside the beltway. True, rationality and 'inside the beltway' are not usually linked, but the path to impasse resolution still exists, even at this late stage.

The Greek sovereign debt crisis has been resolved, and NFL owners and players have inked a new contract. Is a debt deal between Democrats and Republicans up ahead? As the saying goes -- "things occur in threes."

The Obama administration is in talks with General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) for the framework of an agreement that would raise the U.S. fuel economy average to 54.5 mile per gallon (mpg) in 2025.

There was little good news on the debt deal front early Wednesday: Democrats and Republicans are working on separately debt reduction plans, neither of which is likely to pass both chambers. A debt deal at this late stage is looking increasingly less likely.

African killer bees, aided by human transport, have now reached as far north as Central California, after an attack on a 70-year-old man. Are they headed for your county or town next?

African killer bees, which have been the stuff of science fiction films, have now been confirmed as far north as Central California, after an attack on a 70-year-old man. However, bee specialists say the killer bees were probably trucked-in, and it isn't likely that they moved that far north on their own.

Assuming President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans can not resolve the debt deal dispute in eight days, the unfathomable will happen -- a default by the U.S. Government. But that begs the question: what will the U.S. Federal Reserve do, if the U.S. Government defaults?

At this juncture, the most likely solution to the acrimonious stalemate on Capitol Hill between Democrats and Republicans that threatens to trigger a dreaded U.S. Government default may be a hybrid plan combining elements of bills by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Home prices in 20 major U.S. cities rose 1.0 percent in May, Case-Shiller announced Tuesday, as the sector benefited from the arrival of the warmer months -- historically a period when home sales rise. Still, the housing sector remains sluggish, and several more monthly rises will be necessary to conclude that a recovery is underway.

The debt talks enter a critical stage Tuesday, and there's little time left to waste on rhetoric. The two parties have less than eight days to devise a plan to cut the deficit and raise the debt ceiling. U.S. and global stock and bond markets have remained calm and patient, but that may change soon, if the markets don't see progress in D.C.

President Barack Obama, in an address to the nation Monday night, reiterated the need for a "balanced approach" to deficit reduction -- one that includes both substantial budget cuts and revenue increases, and he warned that if the debt ceiling is not raised, it would trigger a "deep economic crisis."

Call it 'dueling debt plans': Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. announced Monday a $2.7 trillion spending reduction plan, while House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced a 2-stage spending cut plan, $1 trillion now, and $1.2 trillion next year. If the two sides can get down to negotiating, Monday will be a day of progress in the debt deal saga.

For most Americans, talk of a U.S. Government default is a little complex. What the American people really want to know is, assuming the U.S.Government defaults, where should one consider putting a portion of their money? Glad you asked.

Is Alaska's Cleveland Volcano ready to erupt? Recent satellite images from the remote volcano suggest it might be, scientists say.

The International Monetary Fund Monday underscored the need for Congressional Democrats and Republicans to get their act together: it said the U.S. must raise its debt ceiling quickly, and get its debt under control, for the good of the global economy

Baby Boomers - the size of your Social Security payment may be lowered, if the current mood in Congress prevails. That's because 'Gang of Six' debt deal plan negotiators want to change the inflation/cost of living formula -- a change that would result in smaller annual payment increases for inflation.

Less than 9 days remain before the U.S. Government defaults on is debt, and the debt impasse continues. So far, institutional investor patience has been remarkable, as Asian markets were relatively calm in Monday trading. But how long can that last, if Washington remains gridlocked?

What are the 5 greatest cities in the world?

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Sunday reiterated his call for Congress to increase the debt limit immediately, underscoring that a delay may roil financial markets beginning as early as Monday. Geithner also said a default by Congress would jeopardize 80 million federal payments/checks per month.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, took pains to underscore that not only have the debt deal talks resumed, he says all parties are working toward an agreement. Time certainly is of the essence: the U.S. has less than 10 days to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a default.

There's no way to sugarcoat it: the U.S. housing market remains a buyer's market. That said, are there ways home sellers can better-position their home for a sale amid such intense competition? Indeed there are, and here are five.