Bernanke's Perry Problem  —  As I write this, investors around the world are anxiously awaiting Ben Bernanke's speech at the annual Fed gathering at Jackson Hole, Wyo. They want to know whether Mr. Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, will unveil new policies that might lift …

Pataki not running-Perry talking with Trump-Romney, Bachmann staying the course-Huntsman's purple tie-Kimball: Never Quit-GOP turning on Palin  —  SCORE EXCLUSIVE - TRUMP TALKING WITH PERRY: Rick Perry has been speaking with Donald Trump by phone since wading into the presidential race, a Trump representative told Morning Score.

A New York Hurricane Could Be a Multibillion-Dollar Catastrophe  —  Time to think about the unthinkable.  What if a major hurricane were to pass close to New York City, as several forecasting models now suggest that Hurricane Irene might?  —  Apart from the inevitable loss of life …

President Rick Perry?  —  A few weeks ago it was possible to believe that Mitt Romney would win the New Hampshire primary and cruise easily to the Republican nomination.  It's harder to see that now.  —  There have been a slew of polls showing Gov. Rick Perry of Texas surging to double-digit national leads.

Giant rat killed by pitchfork in Marcy Houses is believed to be Gambian pouched rat  —  It sounds like an urban legend: giant mutant-looking rats roaming a city housing project.  —  Only there's a picture.  —  A photo making the rounds shows Housing Authority worker Jose Rivera minutes …

CERN: ‘Climate models will need to be substantially revised’  —  New atomsmasher research into cloud formation  —  CERN's 8,000 scientists may not be able to find the hypothetical Higgs boson, but they have made an important contribution to climate physics, prompting climate models to be revised.

Carmakers' rebound is driving jobs in U.S.  —  The industry that once needed bailing out could be the one to stave off recession.  —  Taxpayers bailed out much of the U.S. auto industry.  Now the carmakers might be what saves the nation's economy from falling back into recession.

Nigeria U.N. office hit by massive bomb; 16 dead  —  Rescuers lower a United Nations worker wounded in a car-bomb attack at the U.N. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, Aug. 26, 2011.  (Twitpic/NEXT)  —  ABUJA, Nigeria - A car laden with explosives rammed through two gates and blew …

NLRB OKs new rule, faces new controversy  —  The National Labor Relations Board, already under attack from conservatives concerned about regulatory overreach, is requiring that businesses must post information in the workplace telling employees about their rights to unionize.

Health Law Puts Governors in Pickle  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry, along with a slew of other Republican governors, faces a dilemma: Do they apply for millions of dollars in federal grants by September to begin establishing state-run health insurance exchanges, or let the deadline slide …

Economic Growth Slows to Crawl, GDP Increase at 1%  —  The U.S. economy grew much slower than previously thought in the second quarter as business inventories and exports were less robust, a government report showed on Friday, although consumer spending was revised up.

For Some in G.O.P., a Tax Cut Not Worth Embracing  —  WASHINGTON — It is hard to find a tax cut that Congressional Republicans dislike.  Unless it is a tax cut pushed by President Obama.  —  In a turning of the tax policy tables, Democrats are increasingly hammering on Republicans who oppose …

Welfare drug-testing yields 2% positive results  —  TALLAHASSEE —  Since the state began testing welfare applicants for drugs in July, about 2 percent have tested positive, preliminary data shows.  —  Ninety-six percent proved to be drug free — leaving the state on the hook to reimburse the cost of their tests.

Guitar Frets: Environmental Enforcement Leaves Musicians in Fear  —  Federal agents swooped in on Gibson Guitar Wednesday, raiding factories and offices in Memphis and Nashville, seizing several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars.  The Feds are keeping mum, but in a statement …

Tougher Questions for the Candidates  —  In my latest column, I wrote about asking our presidential candidates more questions regarding their religious beliefs.  Here's the general questionnaire I sent to the candidates:  —  1. Is it fair to question presidential candidates about details of their faith?