USA

September 6, 2007

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig (R) may be reconsidering his Saturday decision to resign over his June arrest in a bathroom sex sting. Craig, pictured above, has hired a prominent lawyer to look into reversing his guilty plea. Craig, in his third term, will attempt to clear his name with the Senate ethics panel and a Minnesota court.

Former diplomats are teaming up with like-minded White House hopefuls to help develop the candidates'foreign-policy stances. Former Secretaries of State Madeline Albright and Henry Kissinger are advising Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain, respectively.

Comedian Jerry Lewis's unscripted use of a gay slur during his Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy has drawn ire from homosexual rights organizations. Lewis apologized Tuesday, saying, "There are no excuses. I am sorry." The telethon raised a record $63.8 million.

A House panel on Wednesday examined the potential impact on consumers of the worst US housing slump in 16 years and upheaval in financial markets. An estimated 2 million adjustable-rate mortgages are scheduled to "reset" this year and next, steeply increasing rates. The turmoil has spilled over into global credit markets recently, as investors faced the prospect of not getting repaid.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signed a law this week barring lawmakers from holding more than one elected office in the state, as part of a package of anticorruption measures. The legislation has received criticism because it exempts sitting lawmakers.

Tennis champ and fan favorite Serena Williams lost to top-seeded Justine Henin in the US Open quarterfinals Tuesday, making it her third straight loss to Henin. Henin, seen below returning a shot, may next face Serena's sister, Venus.

US stock index futures extended losses Wednesday after a report on private-sector employment showed the smallest hiring increase since June 2003.

Rescue workers have been searching for millionaire adventurer Steve Fosset's small plane, missing since Tuesday in the desert of western Nevada. Fosset, the first person to circle the world solo in a balloon, was scouting dry lake beds where he would attempt to set a world land speed record.