The top U.S. envoy to nuclear talks with North Korea conceded Wednesday that the communist nation's disarmament would be difficult to achieve this year, clouding the future of the process given the looming change in the White House.

A train operator apparently made two key errors in quick succession to cause a derailment that left passengers perched more than 20 feet above the ground and sent several to hospitals, the Chicago Transit Authority said Wednesday.

The federal government has plenty of reasons to move hundreds offamilies out of trailers they have occupied since Hurricane Katrina:the start of a new hurricane season, concerns about toxic fumes and theneed for residents to find permanent homes.

California officials are telling county clerks that they can start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on June 17.

Her chances of securing the Democratic presidential nomination narrowing by the day, Hillary Rodham Clinton asserted Tuesday that she would be a stronger candidate than Barack Obama to square off against John McCain in November.

A report previewing former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's new book has provoked a stir on Capitol Hill. According to the preview posted on Web site Politico.com, McClellan blasts President Bush for not being "open and forthright on Iraq,"