An aerial view of the aftermath of an explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant located along the Connecticut River in Middletown, Conn. Sunday. At least five workers were killed and at least a dozen more have been injured by the blast. (Bettina Hansen / The Hartford Courant / AP)
US urged new safety standards days before Middletown explosion
The US Chemical Safety Board, citing seven instances where workers died purging gas lines, released urgent new recommendations just three days before the Middletown explosion in Connecticut Sunday that killed at least five people.
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Rep. John Murtha: lifelong hawk, military backer, brazen earmarker
Rep. John Murtha (D) of Pennsylvania, who died Monday, was the first Vietnam veteran to be elected to Congress. He also brought home billions in defense-related earmarks for his struggling district.
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DC Decoder
Federal government closes: Why can't they all work from home?
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New Orleans at the ready to help Haiti rebuild
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Horizons
Watch out, Twitter and Facebook. Google is on your heels.
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Big banks are too big – and unproductive
Blogs
The New Economy: Boeing 747-8 first flight: smooth test, but economic turbulence ahead
DC Decoder: Federal government closes: Why can't they all work from home?
Global News Blog: Canada: Snowmobile wars heat up in the cold north
Olympics blog: In Whistler and Vancouver, what drives Olympic athletes?
Horizons: Three reasons the iPad will get a price drop
Chapter & Verse: Are you a "silver scribbler"? It's never too late to become an author
Terrorism & Security: Iran's new plan 'laughably ambitious'
Bright Green: What's really causing Himalayan glaciers to melt?
The Vote: Daschle rescued by local FOX News affiliate in DC snowstorm
Editor's Blog: Super Bowl, Olympics, Super Mario: How games help teach
Diggin' It: Great seed companies you may not know, part 1
Eco-renovation: Low-flow toilets have improved
Discoveries: The latest galactic census results are in
Haiti Earthquake Diary: At the border, a look at two different worlds
The Monitor Breakfast: Transportation Secretary steps back from 'stop driving' comment
Governors meet at White House about Asian carp
Federal authorities are proposing to control, but not close, Illinois shipping locks in an effort to prevent the Asian carp from infiltrating the Great Lakes. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm did not agree with the plan.
After Super Bowl victory, New Orleans not ready to end the party
A Super Bowl parade is planned for Tuesday, complete with marching bands, Mardi Gras floats, and thousands of elated fans.
Case against Michael Jackson's doctor centers on gross negligence
Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter Monday. Legal experts – and doctors – will be watching to see if new standards are set for future cases of alleged medical negligence.
Iran nuclear program takes another step up escalation ladder
Iran announced its intentions Monday to begin processing its uranium stockpile to a higher level of enrichment. Experts say the country is taking yet another step toward producing a nuclear weapon.
New Somalia government offensive against Al Shabab
The weak, transitional Somalia government may finally bring President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed some badly needed legitimacy if newly trained forces can push back the militant Islamist group, Al Shabab.
Global recession ends, economists predict recovery in 2010
Top economists from Moody's and the International Monetary Fund say Asia and Latin America will lead the world's economic recovery in 2010, and the United States will mount comeback, too.
GOP cool to Obama’s offer to meet on healthcare reform
The GOP has asked to start with a clean slate on healthcare reform, but that’s not how Obama wants to approach it.
Scott Lee Cohen bows out of Illinois lieutenant governor race
Scott Lee Cohen dropped out of the Illinois lieutenant governor race Monday at the urging of the state Democratic Party, after revelations that Cohen was once arrested for domestic abuse.
Costa Rica election win for Chinchilla shows women's rise in Latin America
Laura Chinchilla won the Costa Rica election Sunday. She'll be the country's first woman president, echoing a trend across Latin America where women are being voted into high-level political office in record numbers.
President Obama wants to discuss healthcare reform with both sides.
