U.S. - Time

The Republican is taking a chance on Sarah Palin because he hopes she can turn his campaign into a cause-celeb for independent women

As another storm heads its way, New Orleans is still vulnerable - but not quite as vulnerable as it was before Katrina

The Democratic gathering showed a shift in strategy, toward a more familiar campaign theme: throw the bums out

His surprise VP choice should appease social conservatives and help close gender gap. But there are risks too

Analysis: McCain's choice for veep shakes up the race in unexpected ways. But he's taking a big gamble on a candidate new to the national stage

TIME's political columnist says Obama was wise to drop the dreamy rhetoric - because he's in for the brawl of his life

Viewpoint: Three years after the Katrina disaster, the fate of the ravaged city has been strangely absent from the campaign

Storms and invading insects are ravaging one of Florida's archetypal industries, and the costs are showing up in your orange juice

Frustrated by unequal funding in Illinois, Windy City parents and students plan to protest in the suburbs

After days of carping among their supporters, she lifts the crowd with a strong endorsement of the Democratic nominee

In Denver for a day, the former presidential candidate showed why many believe he will be John McCain's running mate - skewering the Dems in pitch-perfect soundbites, with a smile

Should You Become a Co-Ho?

Across the U.S., campuses are chucking trays from their dining halls - to reduce food waste and to save water and energy

Despite 20-year-old rules regulating against the gender exclusive sign on publicly accessible roads, solo maleness still persist

Or something close to it. Some are calling on the Pentagon to build a quick-strike, non-nuclear weapon that can attack targets anywhere on the planet

The Senator from Delaware's blunders are well known, but he gives the ticket decades of foreign policy knowledge

A TIME correspondent actually had a good recent experience flying commercial - even if others had to suffer in the process

Many parents and students are making the mistake of paying for higher education with the help of credit cards

The city is a pioneer of pay for performance, but a teachers' contract fight threatens its role model status

The Great American Yard Sale

A new report shows that the increasingly high-stakes activity is the leading cause of severe school-sports injuries, even as it continues to avoid much-needed regulation

Viewpoint: McCain ridicules Obama as "the One," even as he compares himself to Churchill. But there's nothing wrong with candidates aspiring to greatness

While Obama's opinion seems to be an artful dodge, McCain's plain pro-life stance might steer him into troubled waters

Four-Day School Weeks

There aren't very many of them, despite the gains of women nationwide. But in a growing number of localities, females have banded together - and brought about change

Do all those old jokes work against Al Franken in his race for a Senate seat in Minnesota? You betcha

In a stunning reversal of its own ruling, a California court says it's O.K. for uncredentialed parents to homeschool their kids. But regulatory questions remain

Analysis: The White House's proposed overhaul of the Endangered Species Act is its latest end-run around Congress to undo one of the real success stories of the green movement