New York Gov. David A. Paterson won't face charges for his involvement in the case of a former top aide who was charged with domestic violence.

The New York Times reports that retired Court of Appeals Judge Judith Kaye, who was assigned to investigate the case, found that Paterson engaged in "inappropriate conduct" by contacting the alleged victim in the case.

Paterson's former top aide, David W. Johnson, was suspended without pay after allegations that he assaulted his former companion Sherr-una Booker last October.

A federal judge handed a victory to supporters of illegal immigration yesterday by blocking a tough new law in Arizona that would have required police officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton also provided cover for federal lawmakers who have ducked and dodged the complex issue of how to curb illegal immigration and have forced states that border Mexico like Arizona to pass their own laws to deal with the issue.

Arizona leaders will likely appeal the ruling to overturn Bolton's order which takes effect just a day before the Arizona law was supposed to take effect.

Rep. Charles Rangel of New York is bellowing the standard defense that he is looking forward to fighting the serious ethics charges filed against him on Thursday by the House Ethics Committee.

But make no mistake that the political career of the 80-year-old lawmaker is in its final chapter.

Between the multiple charges that he used his office for personal gain and the upcoming primary fight against Adam Clayton Powell, Rangel is political toast.

This is a sad and bewildering chapter in black politics.

Fifty years of African independence will be celebrated next month as President Barack Obama hosts a forum for more than 100 young African leaders.

The event, Aug. 3-5, will feature the president hosting a town hall meeting with a group of young Africans to discuss how their countries should best develop over the next half-century. The African representatives come from civil society and the private sector of more than 40 sub-Saharan nations.

A New York City bank robber who let a bouquet of flowers do his talking for him is behind bars.

Police identified the suspect as Edward Pemberton, 44, who by no small coincidence, had worked in Manhattan's flower district.

At first glance, it sounds like good news: The unemployment rate tumbled in 39 states last month.

But don't look for the Champagne just yet. In fact, get ready for the bad economic times buffeting this country to get a little worse.

The unemployment rate has fallen because lots of Americans have simply given up looking for work. One study from NBC News said that five people are in competition for every available job.

Those odds have simply worn down some job seekers, who now have thrown in the towel on looking for work. About 650,000 people stopped looking for altogether, according to the Labor Department.

A New York City bank robber is letting a bouquet of flowers deliver his message to unsuspecting bank tellers: "Stick 'em up and give me the money."

The florist-gone-bad has been photographed by bank cameras holding a bunch of holiday fresh flowers wrapped in pink tissue paper and cellophane, but the message for tellers was anything but cheery.

It's the medical breakthrough that's been decades in the making: a new vaginal gel that appears to block the AIDS virus is boosting hopes worldwide that the dreaded disease can be brought under control .

The promise for the unlicensed drug is so great, especially in African nations, South Africa is considering its distribution before it is officially approved for use.

That is how badly medical experts and scientists want to get the gel, known as a microbicide treated with the drug tenofivir, out of the testing labs and in to the hands of women, especially in countries where men often refuse to wear condoms during sex.

Africa is home to most of the world's 33-million HIV cases.