Congress Gets an Upgrade - WSJ.com

WASHINGTON -- Congress plans to spend $550 million to buy eight jets, a substantial upgrade to the fleet used by federal officials at a time when lawmakers have criticized the use of corporate jets by companies receiving taxpayer funds.

The purchases will help accommodate growing travel demand by congressional officials. The planes augment a fleet of about two dozen passenger jets maintained by the Air Force for lawmakers, administration officials and military chiefs to fly on government trips in the U.S. and abroad.

Reality check: Trucks win in Cash for Clunkers game - Aug. 7, 2009

Because of distorted sales figures, Ford's Escape cross-over SUV, not the Focus small car, tops the list for most popular 'clunker' buy.

Frost on the sweet corn? Not quite, but July was chilly in Minnesota - TwinCities.com

July saw the Midwest's lowest average temperatures on record, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, which covers nine states. From Ohio to Missouri, temperatures averaged 68 degrees, or 4.7 degrees below normal.

For Minnesota, the mean statewide temperature for July was the third-lowest on record, coming in at 64.1 degrees — about 4.8 degrees below the average temperature dating back to the 1890s. The record was 62.2 degrees, set in 1992.

[Intrade: Another record low (11)] - A cap and trade system for emissions trading to be established before midnight ET on 31 Dec 2009