CALIFORNIA

U.S. home loans failed at a record pace in July despite ongoing federal and state programs to avoid foreclosures, which have severely strained housing and the economy.

The newly formed U.S. commission to investigate the causes of last year's financial meltdown will have its first public meeting in Washington on September 17, the chairman, Phil Angelides, said on Wednesday.

The biggest California gay rights advocacy group on Wednesday said it needed three years to build a coalition to repeal a ban on same-sex marriage in the state, creating a rift in the movement with those who want to go back to the polls next year while anger is hot.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the agency he leads allocated nearly $38 million in funding economic stimulus package funds to all states to help their emergency preparedness plans in case of energy supply disruptions.

The Department of Energy said U.S. crude oil inventories increased by 2.5 million barrels on the week ending August 7, to 352 million barrels more than the 700,000 barrels forecasted by analysts, according to Reuters. The International Energy Agency increased its forecast of oil demand.

Police on Tuesday conducted a new raid of a Las Vegas medical facility in their ongoing probe into the death of Michael Jackson, this time searching a pharmacy for documents and computer records.

Children are using the Internet to watch YouTube videos, connect with friends on social network sites and look up sex and porn, according to a study of the top Web searches by youngsters.

Children are using the Internet to watch YouTube videos, connect with friends on social network sites and look up sex and porn, according to a study of the top Web searches by youngsters.

Children are using the Internet to watch YouTube videos, connect with friends on social network sites and look up sex and porn, according to a study of the top Web searches by youngsters.

The 16-year-old Disney starlet Miley Cyrus performed her hit new song

The final results of Michael Jackson's death have been completed but remain sealed while police continue their investigation.

Eclectic rocker Neil Young, who has made no secret of his disdain for the Grammys in the past, is receiving a humanitarian award from the group that hands out the music industry's top honors.

Applied Materials Inc , the world's largest producer of chip-making gear, said it would at least break even this quarter, thanks to new orders and deep cost cuts, sending its shares up almost 4 percent.

General Motors Co and eBay Inc are launching a test program in California that will allow consumers to negotiate with dealers and buy new vehicles online, the companies said on Monday.

The 16-year-old Disney starlet Miley Cyrus performed her hit new song Party in the USA in the 2009 Teen Choice Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

Apple might be close to announcing a partnership with Verizon Wireless so that the data-centric iPhone will be offered through a new wireless provider, giving the public the an option of a choice of wireless providers besides AT&T, according to UBS Investment Research analyst Maynard Um.

Stocks slid on Tuesday after a prominent banking analyst warned that the sector's fundamentals have not yet improved, sparking a sell-off in bank shares.

Business software maker VMware Inc has agreed to buy privately held SpringSource for $420 million, its biggest-ever acquisition, to beef up a portfolio of programs that help companies run data centers.

Despite weakening second home purchases in 2008, the long-term demand looks favorable for the second-home market because there are large numbers of people in the prime years for buying a second home.

Renewable energy leaders on Monday said the United States is moving too slowly to turn the economy green, despite support of the administration of President Barack Obama.