AP - Senate Democrats struggled to avert a showdown steeped in race and corruption Monday as a defiant Roland Burris declared, "I'm a United States senator" and flew to the capital to claim President-elect Barack Obama's old seat in Congress.

AP - President-elect Barack Obama plunged into rare pre-inaugural crisis talks with congressional leaders Monday, declaring the national economy was "bad and getting worse" and embracing tax cuts now expected to reach $300 billion. He predicted lawmakers would approve a mammoth revitalization package within two weeks of his taking office.

AP - Republican and Democratic House members said Monday that the alleged $50 billion fraud involving Wall Street figure Bernard Madoff reflects deep, systemic problems at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

AP - A Minnesota board on Monday certified results showing Democrat Al Franken winning the state's U.S. Senate recount over Republican Norm Coleman, whose lawyer promised a legal challenge that probably will keep the race in limbo for months.

AFP - The new US Senate is set to convene in a swirl of allegations of corruption, voter fraud and dynastic nepotism that threatens to dog the early days of Barack Obama's presidency.

AP - Motorists are driving less and buying less gasoline, which means fuel taxes aren't raising enough money to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs.

Reuters - More countries should offer to take in Guantanamo prisoners to help U.S. President-elect Barack Obama close the detention camp for terrorism suspects, the U.N.'s torture investigator said on Monday.

A federal judge on Monday gave prosecutors an additional three months to obtain a corruption indictment against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

NBC News has learned that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton chief of staff Leon Panetta to be his CIA director.

President-elect Barack Obama's decision to fill the nation's top intelligence jobs with two men short on direct experience in intelligence gathering surprised the spy community and signaled the Democrat's intention for a clean break from Bush administration policies.

President-elect Barack Obama plans to include about $300 billion in tax cuts for workers and businesses in his economic recovery program, as his team seeks to win over Congressional skeptics.

Illinois U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris is leaving for Washington on Monday afternoon for a high-stakes showdown on Capitol Hill about whether he'll succeed President-elect Barack Obama in Congress.

Spending taxpayer money fast enough is one of the biggest hurdles President-elect Barack Obama's team faces in putting together an economic recovery measure.

Former eBay Inc. chief executive Meg Whitman plans to run for governor of California, a person with knowledge of her political aspirations said Monday.

President-elect Barack Obama met  with congressional leaders Monday, declaring the national economy was "bad and getting worse" and embracing tax cuts now expected to reach $300 billion.

A prosecutor says disgraced financier Bernard Madoff violated bail conditions by mailing about $1 million worth of jewelry and other assets to relatives, and wants him jailed.

The Minnesota state Canvassing Board certified results showing Democrat Al Franken the winner of the state's contested Senate race on Monday.

The President-elect's fast-track cabinet has an unexpected opening, with the New Mexico Governor, Obama's choice for commerce secretary, withdrawing under pressure of a federal investigation.

Griffin B. Bell, the shrewd lawyer who grew up with Jimmy Carter and became U.S. attorney general after Carter was elected president, died at an Atlanta hospital Monday. He was 90.

With a brief glance out his car window, President-elect Barack Obama bid a brief hello last night to the town he will now call home and to his new neighbors.

The first lady is finally telling her side of the story. Laura Bush's memoir, which is expected to be published in 2010, will provide an intimate account of her eight years in the White House, revealing her recollections of personal and historical moments.

The first family, who are leaving the White House this month, will be without one of their longtime members:  their cat India. The 18-year-old black American shorthair, which was named  after pro ballplayer Ruben Sierra, died Sunday at the White House.

First things first: President-elect Barack Obama's two daughters have checked into their new school in Washington.

The Obama family has arrived in Washington. and a source says that there's a good chance that the first family could ultimately decide to get two dogs at once.

Six candidates want to lead the Republican Party back to glory after grueling election losses, but message and character continue to challenge the GOP.

The commerce secretary-designate has withdrawn his nomination because of an investigation into whether Bill Richardson exchanged New Mexico state government contracts for campaign financing.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says speed is key to a stimulus package, but one won't be ready for Barack Obama on his first day as president.

The Senate's majority and minority leaders are getting together to figure out what to do about Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's choice to replace President-elect Barack Obama.

The first President Bush said he would like to see his other son, Jeb, become president one day, but if now's not the time he'd be an "outstanding senator."

The nation's capital already has a transportation system busting at the seams. Doubling or tripling the masses is going to be a real test.

After months of speculation over his plans, Terry McAuliffe announced his intentions in a video posted on his Web site.

Minnesota law lets the losing recount candidate file an "election contest" that would throw the whole race into the courts, effectively blocking final certification of a new senator.

Al Franken's lead over Norm Coleman now stands at 225 votes after gaining 176 votes more than Coleman in Saturday's review of the formerly sealed absentee ballots. 

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet will take over for Sen. Ken Salazar who was promoted to interior secretary in the Obama administration