Agency weighs skirting Congress on immigration (AP)

AP - The Obama administration, unable to push an immigration overhaul through Congress, is considering ways it could go around lawmakers to let undocumented immigrants stay in the United States, according to an agency memo.

Petters seeks new trial after Ponzi conviction (Reuters)
Reuters - Lawyers for convicted U.S. Ponzi schemer Tom Petters on Friday asked an appeals court to send the case back for a new trial, saying they were not able to fully present arguments against some of his accusers.

Venezuela sends troops to Colombian border: Chavez (AFP)

AFP - President Hugo Chavez has said that Venezuela has deployed military units and troops to the Colombian border, because outgoing President Alvaro Uribe is "capable of anything," as a row escalates between the two.

House approves oil spill reform bill (Reuters)

Reuters - The House of Representatives on Friday approved the toughest reforms ever to offshore energy drilling practices, as Democrats narrowly pushed through an election-year response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Snooki of 'Jersey Shore' arrested in NJ beach town (AP)

AP - "Jersey Shore" cast member Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has been arrested in the New Jersey beach town where the MTV show is based.

NY reps. bicker over 9/11 responder bill's defeat (AP)

AP - The House's rejection of bill that would have provided up to $7.4 billion in aid to people sickened by World Trade Center dust has opened a sharp rift between two New York congressmen, Republican Peter King and Democrat Anthony Weiner.

Floods kill more than 400 in Pakistan's northwest (Reuters)

Reuters - Heavy monsoon rains have triggered the worst floods in decades in Pakistan's northwest, killing more than 400 people and forcing thousands from their homes as authorities struggle to reach stranded villagers.

Obama urges Iran to release three U.S. hikers (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama on Friday called on Iran to immediately release three Americans who were detained a year ago after straying across the border while hiking in the mountains of northern Iraq.