Economy Slows Sharply, Inflation Heats Up

WASHINGTON - The economy's growth in the second quarter was less than half that of the prior three months as consumers tightened their belts and spending on home building nose-dived. Inflation, however, shot up.

The latest snapshot released by the Commerce Department on Friday showed that that gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of just 2.5 percent in the April-to-June period. That marked a big slowdown from the January-to-March quarter, when the economy zipped along at a 5.6 percent annual rate, the fastest in 2 1/2 years.

Gross domestic product measures the value of all goods and services produced within the United States and is considered the best barometer …

Calif. attorney general joins Jackson probe

California Attorney General Jerry Brown says his office is helping Los Angeles police investigate the possible involvement of prescription drugs in Michael Jackson's death.

The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement is searching the state database that tracks doctors who prescribe controlled substances. It also monitors the quantity and …

Daniel, Alcott Close In on Hall of Fame

Beth Daniel, Betsy King and Amy Alcott are tired of questionsabout the LPGA Hall of Fame, but Daniel couldn't avoid the topic thisweek.

ESPN made its first appearance at the Chicago Challenge to filma segment on the subject, though the network won't televise thetournament. King isn't here, but Alcott - needing one victory tomake the Hall - and Daniel are. Daniel can't make it this week, butcould next week if she wins Canada's du Maurier Classic.

Daniel, with 30 tournament titles, needs to win one more majortitle or five other events to qualify for the toughest Hall of Famein sports.

"Down the road the requirements will have to change, and theywill," …

Redskins drama endures, even with coach Shanahan

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The 2010 Washington Redskins will be remembered for two catchphrases: "conditioning test" and "cardiovascular endurance."

Here's another one worth noting, uttered by general manager Bruce Allen one year ago this week: "Last place two years in a row is not Redskins football."

As it turns out, Redskins football is now last place three years in a row.

For the first time in franchise history, Washington sits at the bottom of its division in the final standings for the third straight season, showing only marginal statistical improvement in the transition from Jim Zorn's 4-12 team to the Mike Shanahan squad that wrapped a 6-10 record with Sunday's loss to …

Ukraine PM says no to early elections

Ukraine's prime minister says there will be no early parliamentary elections, defying a presidential decree that set a Dec. 7 vote.

Yulia Tymoshenko says in a televised statement Friday that early elections are unconstitutional and that the country has no money to pay for them. She predicts that parliament would reject the new vote.

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"If this campaign is about Kerry, Bush will win the election."

GOP upbeat after Kerry's awful month

NEW YORK -- On the eve of the Republican National Convention, oneof the party's foremost leaders from the South was asked about GeorgeW. Bush's chances in November. He replied, in a moment of rarecandor: "If this campaign is about Kerry, Bush will win the election.If this campaign is about Bush, he will win my state." That is, theGOP must make sure the focus is on Sen. John Kerry to avoid beingreduced to the solid Republican South -- and a lost election.

That is no insult to President Bush, who this year has faced andweathered one political mishap after another, along with a Democraticopposition fiercely determined to remove him …

Plan of Attack: How to respond to campaign attacks

OPINION

It's a week before Election Day. You've worked hard on your campaign. You're proud of your record of accomplishments either as an incumbent or in the things you've done that qualify you to be elected. Your campaign has remained upbeat and positive. You resisted all impulses to attack your opponent, even when you knew you could. The polls are showing you with a slim, yet comfortable lead.

The phone rings. It's the local reporter covering the race, wanting to know what you think of your opponent's recent attack on you. Unfortunately, the attack is news to you.

Here are a few things my clients and others have found helpful in getting through some of the most …