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Crews are scrambling to clean up toxic contamination in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and many locals have been forced out of their homes and businesses for at least a year.

Lac-Mégantic Blast Leaves Impact On Town, Rail Industry

In early July, a train carrying American crude oil derailed and exploded in the heart of a small Canadian village. The deadly accident in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and its aftermath have triggered a wave of lawsuits and a sweeping review of rail safety standards in the U.S. and Canada.

Mekedes Getachew, 19, has been working at construction sites in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since she was 15 years old. Except for the heaviest lifting, she says, the laborers "all do the same work and we don't really say this is a man's job, but when it comes to salary there's a difference." She earns $1.50 a day. Men earn $2.

For Ethiopian Women, Construction Jobs Offer A Better Life

The fast-growing economy has created a demand for construction workers, and more women are taking those jobs. It's difficult work, but for some it offers a path to independence.

Egyptian men line up to vote at a polling station in the Shobra neighborhood of Cairo on Sunday.

With Resignation, Egyptians Head To Polls For Second Round Of Voting

The enthusiasm and joy of a historic free election had given way to resignation, during the second round of presidential voting in Egypt. With the high court's move to dissolve the country's parliament, some Egyptians have lost faith in their fledgling democracy.

<strong>The Shroom With A View</strong>: Mushrooms are fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies found all over the world. They can grow in practically any environment with moisture.

The Man Who Studies The Fungus Among Us

Botanist Nicholas Money's book Mushroom takes readers inside the world of the fungal organisms that appear overnight on lawns, are occasionally poisonous and appear in everything from Alice in Wonderland to some lifesaving medications.

A worker emerges from a shelter to see if there is any new damage to an area already hit by a tornado, in Athens, Ala., on Friday.

Storm Barrels Through Georgia; Death Toll Rises

A day of extreme weather is turning into a very long night for a wide swath of the country. Authorities say one town in southern Indiana is "completely gone."

Sen. Richard Lugar talks with Joe Purichia before voting on Tuesday in Greenwood, Ind.

Sen. Lugar Loses Primary To Tea Party Challenger, Ending 36-Year Career

Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana, currently the longest serving Republican senator, was known for reaching across the aisle.

Richard Flores, 47, had his civil rights restored at a clemency board hearing on June 28. Convicted of vehicular manslaughter in 1994, he served one year of house arrest. He had been waiting since then to have his right to vote restored.

For Many Florida Ex-Cons, Voting Booth Is Off-Limits

Florida's clemency board has made it harder for former felons to win back their voting rights.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and President Obama during Friday's news conference at the White House.

Obama: U.S. Forces To Take A Step Back In Afghanistan

The White House and Pentagon are weighing how many troops will need to stay after 2014. Today, the two leaders are meeting at the White House and taking questions at a joint news conference. President Obama said Afghan soldiers "are stepping up" and U.S. forces can now step back.

Israeli tanks on the border with the Gaza Strip earlier today. Israeli officials have said they are prepared to mount a ground offensive.

The Latest: Both Sides 'Ready To Escalate' As Israel And Hamas Fire Away

More rockets were fired at Israel from Hamas-controlled territory. Sirens are blaring in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Israel has aimed airstrikes at more targets in Gaza. And Egypt's prime minister, on a visit to Gaza, said his country would "spare no effort ... to stop the aggression."

American servicemen enjoy a hot cup of coffee at a Salvation Army hut in New York, circa 1918. During World War I, instant coffee was a key provision for soldiers on the front. They called it a "cup of George."

In WWI Trenches, Instant Coffee Gave Troops A Much-Needed Boost

One hundred years ago today, the U.S. entered World War I. American GIs marched into battle armed with one important — and then still-novel — item to give them a jolt of energy and raise morale.

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