Preparations for step one of a two-step attempt to plug the Gulf oil gusher are going well and it could start by the weekend, the government's point man for the spill response said Thursday.

Water gurgling from a well is flooding Craig Gautreaux's rice and crawfish fields, turning the farm into a wetland for migratory birds whose usual Gulf of Mexico wintering grounds are threatened by the oil spill.

Arizona and Fremont, Neb., are at the forefront of the movement by governments to get tough with illegal immigrants. But they are learning that passing a law is far from enough.

Partisan disagreements in the Senate will delay passage of legislation responding to the Gulf oil spill until at least September, when Congress returns from its summer recess.

Despite billions in aid from Washington and a shared threat from extremists, Pakistanis have an overwhelmingly negative view of the United States, according to results of a Pew Research Center poll released Thursday.

Federal officials believe an oil spill that has contaminated a major Michigan river was larger than first estimated, and the governor is warning of a "tragedy of historic proportions" should the oil reach Lake Michigan some 80 miles away, and the vacation communities that depend on it.

Apple's fans are so devoted that they have been called a "cult." A pair of researchers at Texas A&M have gone still further.

Ousted Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod said Thursday she will sue a conservative blogger who posted an edited video of her making racially tinged remarks last week.

AP - Arizona asked an appeals court Thursday to lift a judge's order blocking most of the state's immigration law as the city of Phoenix filled with protesters, including about 50 who were arrested for confronting officers in riot gear.

AP - Even when the oily sheen starts fading from the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, it manages to become bad news for fishermen.

AP - A Canadian company whose pipeline leaked hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into a Michigan river was warned by government regulators in January that its monitoring of corrosion in the pipeline was insufficient.

AP - Imagine spending $250,000 on flowers. Or $20,000 on a cake. How does $15,000 to $20,000 for toilets sound?

AP - Nearly a fifth of Colorado's medical marijuana dispensary operators could be forced out of business in coming weeks because of new state rules barring some convicted felons from the pot business, federal drug authorities say.

Former U.S. Department of Agriculture employee Shirley Sherrod plans to sue blogger Andrew Breitbart for igniting a controversy that made her look like a racist.

Lawyers for House Democrat Charles Rangel say a deal has been reached with representatives of an ethics committee over a series of charges against him.

President Obama spent the entire hour of 'The View' fielding questions from the hosts. But it wasn't all about the economy, Afghanistan and the oil spill.

(NECN: Providence, RI) - Outgoing Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday night. The major focus was on the economy. The state has one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, and Carcieri was pushing for job growth.

Carcieri proposed a tax credit for companies that hire workers, and says the state budget will contain measures to spur lending to small firms and other forms of business-tax relief.

The following is prepared text for Gov. Carcieri's address:

read more

(NECN: Providence, RI) - Outgoing Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday night. The major focus was on the economy. The state has one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, and Carcieri was pushing for job growth.

Carcieri proposed a tax credit for companies that hire workers, and says the state budget will contain measures to spur lending to small firms and other forms of business-tax relief.

The following are prepared remarks from Governor Carcieri:

read more

(NECN) - In the 2010 contest for Governor of Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick's approval rating is down, but he's still the man to beat. A Republican with State House experience and a flush campaign account is hoping to send patrick packing.

Charlie Baker, former President and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and candidate for Governor joins Jim Braude on Broadside. Baker has chosen Senate Minority leader Richard Tisei as his running mate.

read more

(NECN: Jim Braude) - President Obama is stumbling, and there is a new person to blame.

You remember this guy, David Plouffe, the mastermind of President Obama's 2008 campaign victory.

Well, as you know, he's back after getting a "S.O.S" call from the White House ... "Ship of State sinking fast."

Here's my memo to Plouffe on three things he needs to fix real fast.

First, either cancel your idea of a "spending freeze", or cancel the president's subscription to the New York Times.

Did you read the latest from Paul Krugman?

read more

(NECN: Alysha Palumbo - Boston, MA) - It was story that shocked a community.

Two years ago, 39-year-old Marcy Thibault was driving her five-year-old niece and four-year-old nephew to her Bellingham, Massachusetts home for a sleep over, when she stopped on 495 in Lowell and carried the two children out onto the highway, where they were hit and killed by cars.

Attorney Andrew Meyers said, "Certainly the family would never have allowed their children to be in her care if they had any concept whatsoever that she could or would have a dangerous event that she had."

read more