The assembly speaker takes over for the senate president pro tem, who takes over for the lieutenant governor, because they all have other obligations during Gov. Jerry Brown's trade trip to Mexico.

Do you feel like you wander aimlessly through life, or is there a reason you're here? Psychologists say people with a sense of purpose may stress out less. Or they may lead healthier lives.

Congress has a number of big pieces of legislation to deal with before leaving on its annual summer recess. The Highway Trust Fund, border security and the VA are all on the to-do list.

Argentina says it cannot pay certain debts and will fall into default by July 31 if it can't come to an agreement with creditors. This would be Argentina's second default in 13 years.

The Supreme Court has been granting more rights to corporations, including some regarded as those solely for individuals. But Nina Totenberg finds the company-to-person shift has a long history.

People sometimes avoid information because they're afraid of bad news. But this "information aversion" can lead people to avoid medical tests that could save their lives.

Offering a homeless person an apartment with access to a doctor and social services may be cheaper than paying for emergency room visits and jail or shelter stays. But should Medicaid help with rent?

At the East Bay School for Boys, teachers try to channel students' frenetic energy into resilience and creativity. They call shop class "work," and emphasize softer skills like empathy.

This past week, a group called Student Veterans of America announced a list of for-profit colleges that they claim are recruiting vets while simultaneously closing and selling off campuses. NPR's Eric Westervelt speaks with SVA president D. Wayne Robinson.

The Harrier Jump Jet is known for vertical take-offs and landings. It also has an accident-prone track record, but that didn't dissuade one pilot from buying his dream plane.

A jury gave Courtney Lockhart life in prison in 2010, but a judge sentenced him to death instead. Lockhart has appealed to the state Supreme Court, hoping it will reconsider judicial override rules.

The State Department says the photos show burn marks from the firing of multiple rocket launchers inside Russia and resulting craters on the other side of the border.

A district court judge says the law that prohibited people from carrying handguns outside their homes violates the Second Amendment.