Michele Norris

The health care industry stepped forward Monday with big cost savings to help President Obama pass an overhaul plan. The pledge came at a White House meeting of groups representing health insurers, hospitals, doctors, drug-makers and a major labor union.

A Justice Department inquiry into the conduct of lawyers involved in writing the "torture" memos is nearly complete. A draft of the report, according to more than one source, will conclude that the attorneys will be referred for possible disciplinary action to bar associations.

The World Health Organization has raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. President Obama has said the government is closely monitoring the new swine flu virus, and while it's cause for concern, it's not a cause for alarm.

The crew of a U.S.-flagged ship that was seized by pirates Wednesday off Somalia retook the vessel, but the ship's captain was still being held hostage. It was the first such hostage-taking incident involving Americans in more than 200 years.

President Obama made a surprise visit to Iraq Tuesday, telling U.S. Troops that it was time for Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country. Obama also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who later said he assured the president that progress on security will continue.

New York Gov. David Paterson said Friday at least 12 people were killed in an attack on an immigration-services center in Binghamton, N.Y. News reports say a gunman entered the building while firing, and took hostages.

The government said Friday the economy shrank at an annual rate of 6.2 percent. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department announced it is converting some preferred shares it owns in Citigroup to common stock, a move that helps stabilize the bank, but increases risks for taxpayers.

Rumors that some of the nation's biggest banks might have to be nationalized pushed the Dow Jones industrial average down. The market bounced back a bit after White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration strongly believed in a privately held bank system.

Israel held elections Tuesday and preliminary results show both Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima's Tzipi Livni claiming victory. The results are a sign of the difficult coalition government talks to come.

Pat Quinn has been sworn in as Illinois' new governor, replacing Rod Blagojevich who was ousted on charges of abuse of power. Quinn is considered a reformer and a political maverick, an outsider even in his own party.

Hillary Clinton has taken charge at the U.S. State Department. The secretary of State named George Mitchell to be a special envoy to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke to be a representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

US Airways CEO Douglas Parker offered few new details on flight 1549, which crashed into the Hudson River. All the passengers were declared safe, and many were able to walk away once they were rescued.