Reuters - The U.S. Congress began a five-week recess on Friday, leaving unresolved how to ease the surge in gasoline prices that is certain to be an issue until the November elections and beyond.

AP - The House took up its first spending bill Thursday after weeks of delays that have left efforts to pass next year's Cabinet budgets in shambles. The bill is slated to pass on Friday as the House leaves Washington for a five-week recess.

AP - Lawmakers sped for the exits Friday as Congress was to begin a five-week recess after a summer session noteworthy for bitter partisanship and paralysis on the issue topmost in the minds of many voters: the cost of gasoline.

AP - One menu item could soon disappear from foreign dinner tables: meat from slaughtered American horses.

AP - A Republican senator blocking President Bush's nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea lifted his objection Thursday, removing a key obstacle to the confirmation of D. Kathleen Stephens.