Rep. Eric I. Cantor’s personal ties to the mortgage industry helped him play a leading role in this month’s congressional debate over the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

Some examples of facts cast adrift in the debate

Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden sparred over taxes, energy policy and the Iraq war

Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as “Hud,” “Cool Hand Luke” and “The Color of Money” — followed by a second act as an activist, race car driver and popcorn impresario — has died. He was 83.

University of Mary Washington to host joint appearance

Campaign staffers spell out his economic plan, other issues at town hall meeting

“We are seeing some overtopping waves,“ said Col. Jeff Bedey, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ hurricane protection office. “We are cautiously optimistic and confident that we won’t see catastrophic wall failure.“

Hurricane Gustav is weakening slightly to a Category 2 storm as it nears landfall along the heavily evacuated Louisiana coast.

As anxious Republican delegates bid their time, President Bush on Monday headed for Texas, a state threatened by Hurricane Gustav. Presidential nominee-in-waiting John McCain suggested defenses against Hurricane Gustav are better than three years ago when Katrina slammed into New Orleans, but are “not perfect.“

Result shows presidential race remains even in Virginia

Bernie Mac blended style, authority and a touch of self-aware bluster to make audiences laugh as well as connect with him.

But for 263 votes, Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th wouldn’t be potentially a heartbeat from the presidency.

WASHINGTON - Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday admitted to an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer. He denied fathering the woman’s daughter. Edwards told ABC News that he lied repeatedly about the affair with 42-year-old Rielle Hunter but said that he didn’t love her.

Openly frustrated at the heavy news coverage of Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East, the John McCain campaign is responding with a public relations offensive, including a new web video that accuses television news reporters of being “in the tank” for Obama.

The U.S. Senate candidates will hold the first debate of the campaign today in a traditional setting — before the summer convention of the Virginia Bar Association at The Homestead in Hot Springs.

A federal appeals court unanimously struck down a signature component of President Bush’s clean air policies Friday, dealing a blow to environmental groups and likely delaying further action until the next administration.

Va. senator asks energy secretary to look into it

Supporters of Barack Obama for president have scheduled a rally for 7 p.m. in the Madison Presbyterian Church, off U.S. 29 at 1236 Fishback Road

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Americans have a constitutional right to keep guns in their homes for self-defense, the justices’ first major pronouncement on gun control in U.S. history.

Raoul Wallenberg was a minor official of a neutral country, with an unimposing appearance and gentle manner, but he was responsible for saving thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II. He disappeared days after the Soviets moved into Budapest. What happened to him?