Ken Stanford

A war-weary Congress generally backs President Barack Obama's outreach to Iran, but with tougher U.S. economic measures against Tehran on the way, the president's diplomatic task could get harder if he doesn't make quick progress.

Weak hiring and worries about a protracted government shutdown pushed the U.S. stock market lower Wednesday.

Tom Clancy, whose high-tech, Cold War thrillers such as "The Hunt for Red October" and "Patriot Games" made him the most widely read and influential military novelist of his time, has died. He was 66.

Though federal day-use parks and campgrounds on Lake Lanier have been closed because of the government shutdown, that is not true of state and local parks on the federally-operated reservoir. In addition, all state parks and historic sites - except one - remain open because they are not affiliated with the National Park System.

The stock market is opening lower as the government shutdown enters a second day with little hope for a resolution in sight.

The Georgia Public Service Commission Tuesday delayed until Wednesday the start of a public hearing on a rate hike request from Georgia Power.