Mass. Republican wins vital Senate seat
Republican Scott Brown was declared the victor in a bitter election battle Tuesday for the Massachusetts Senate seat.† Brown won the special election over Democrat Martha Coakley for the seat left vacant by late Senator Ted Kennedy.
Brown trumped Coakley 52 percent to 47 percent after 90 percent of the precincts reported results.† The victory comes as a shocking turn of events after a Republican scramble late in the campaign.† Political analysts cite the flagging economy and healthcare reform as major issues.
Report predicts unemployment to continue
Though economists expect the unemployment rate to peak in 2010, the United Statesí road to economic recovery is still expected to be a lengthy process.
A new report issued by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and research group Global Insight indicates that joblessness rates in California and Nevada will stay at or above 10 percent until at least 2013.† Double-digit unemployment currently plagues many of the nationís largest cities.
The groups released the report one day before a meeting with President Obama concerning increased aid for small and large cities.