Faster, higher, stronger MARK J. TERRILL / Associated Press Bryan Clay, who attempted a clearance in the pole vault yesterday, became the first American since Dan O'Brien in 1996 to win the decathlon and joined a line of U.S. champions that began at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics with Jim Thorpe. Click for larger image

What's Inside Composer says Chinese using his anthem arrangement McMahon to sell home Most e-mailed U-T stories Russian forces pull out of Georgian city of Gori 'Safe-haven' law applies to teens Private data of British prisoners lost by firm Owner of killer dog faces prison again Assembly to take break on convention week More News

2008 VOTE: PRESIDENT

CHICAGO – Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, a two-time presidential candidate who has collected substantial foreign policy credentials in his three decades in the Senate, will be announced this morning as Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, Democratic sources said late last night.

The far-reaching financial scandal that dominated this decade in San Diego government left streets in disrepair, political careers in free fall and city retirees insecure about their pensions. To get through it, the city relied heavily on one bank. Bank of America provided two-thirds of $1.5 billion that the city borrowed privately since 2004, and will earn $159 million by the time the last loan is paid off in 2032, a review by The San Diego Union-Tribune shows.

WASHINGTON – When John McCain forgot how many houses he owns and suggested that it takes $5 million to be considered rich, he did more than just trigger a heated fight with his Democratic opponent, fellow millionaire Barack Obama.

SACRAMENTO – These truly are the dog days of summer for lawmakers. Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Solana Beach, howled instead of voting no. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, thanked lawmakers for not “getting snippy” as he presented legislation requiring spaying and neutering of pets.

Dark underwater mountains rise off the coast of Baja California Sur, too deep for scuba divers and virtually unexplored. This week, scientists began diving hundreds of feet beneath the surface of the Gulf of California, searching for new species and insights that could help protect the region's commercial fisheries.