national news

Population growth has slowed to its lowest levels since before the baby boom, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Wednesday. The country’s population increased about 2.8 million to 311.6 million between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 – a growth rate of 0.92 percent, the lowest since the mid-1940s.

Legendary news anchor Jim Lehrer announced Thursday that he is stepping down from his post as anchor of PBS' 'NewsHour' after an incredible 36-year run, the longest in network TV history. The 76-year-old anchor, whose last day will be June 6, will continue to moderate the show's weekly news panel on Fridays, according to the Washington Post.

Newspapers across the country reacted to the demise of Osama bin Laden on Monday morning, with front page headlines from the triumphant (Newark's "Star-Ledger" quotes Obama's speech with "'Justice Has Been Done'") to the minimal ("Dead," the "Boston Herald" and many others plainly state) to the profane ("Rot in Hell!" exclaims the "New York Da