Updates From Plane Rescue in Hudson River  —  Read complete coverage from The Times, including a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com / 2009/01/15/from-ferry-decks-and-offices - a-view-of-the-crash/">more eyewitness accounts compiled on City Room.  —  The New York Police Department just sent …

Full Text of President George W. Bush's Farewell Address  —  (UPDATE: The President made very few minor changes to the prepared text in his actual delivery.  We've made the changes in boldface below.  President-elect Obama did not watch the speech live at Blair House, the presidential guest …

Palin to be No Show at Obama's Dinner for McCain  —  On the night before Barack Obama is sworn in as the nation's 44th President, his inaugural committee will host a series of dinners honoring public servants it deems champions of bipartisanship.  To be feted are Vice President-elect Joe Biden …

Obama To Hold Fiscal Responsibility Summit  —  President-elect Barack Obama visits the Post newsroom after a meeting with the editorial board and Washington Post Co. Chairman Don Graham, right.  (Photo, The Washington Post)  —  President-elect Barack Obama will convene a “fiscal responsibility summit” …

Perino to press: ‘Talk to the hand when it comes to pardons.’  —  In her second-to-last press briefing today, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino refused to answer questions about possible last-minute pardons from President Bush.  A reporter asked whether to expect any more pardons …

Beam me up: Scientists left baffled as mysterious columns of coloured light appear in the night skies  —  These stunning images show mysterious columns of light streaming into the sky above the town of Sigulda in Latvia at the end of last month.  —  Taken by designer Aigar Truhins …

Did Obama Skip Bush's Speech?  —  As his predecessor, President Bush, said his final goodbyes to America on national television, President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle dined at the DC restaurant, Equinox Thursday night.  —  CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic, who waited outside the restaurant …

Court Affirms Wiretapping Without Warrants  —  WASHINGTON — In a rare public ruling, a secret federal appeals court has said telecommunications companies must cooperate with the government to intercept international phone calls and e-mail of American citizens suspected of being spies or terrorists.

Holder to Senate: ‘Waterboarding is torture’  —  Obama's nominee for attorney general vows break with controversial tactic  —  Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., shake hands just prior to Holder's confirmation hearing on Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Commitee.

Star Tribune files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy  —  Facing sharp revenue declines, Minnesota's largest newspaper seeks to cut labor costs and restructure its debt.  —  The Star Tribune, saddled with high debt and a sharp decline in print advertising, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition Thursday night.

Follow Jesus Like Nazis Followed Hitler, Rick Warren Tells Stadium Crowd  —  On April 17, 2005, at the southern California Anaheim Angels sports stadium thirty thousand Saddleback Church members, more than ever gathered in one spot, assembled to celebrate Saddleback's 25th anniversary …

Vince Foster, Fifteen Years Later  —  I was looking over a daily almanac and saw that Vincent Foster would have been 64 years old today.  In the 1990s, I spent a lot of time covering his death, beginning with trip to Fort Marcy Park the morning after his body was discovered.

O'Reilly Freaks Out Over the Thought of Holding Bush Admin Torturers Culpable  —  Bill O'Reilly came briefly unhinged last night, but managed to keep himself from having one of his infamous all-out temper tantrums.  I thought for sure he was about to start shouting, “Do it live!  F—k it!

Hamas minister Siam dies in IAF strike  —  The IDF stepped up pressure on Hamas on Thursday, killing Interior Minister Said Siam and pushing deep into Gaza City as defense officials predicted a cease-fire would begin soon.  —  Siam, the most senior Hamas political leader killed since Operation …

The Spending Plan is Out  —  I just got a copy of the $825 billion spending plan outlined by the Democratic-controlled House Appropriations Committee.  —  It is frightening.  —  Take a looksee here if you don't believe me.  —  The highlights of this bill, allegedly crafted to save us …

Poll: Americans believe Obama will deliver despite down times  —  WASHINGTON — Americans are as down as they've been in decades about the state of the country and its polarized politics, even as they express soaring confidence that Barack Obama will be able to turn things around.