Joined by Lexington Mayor Jim Gray at the Clinton Global Initiative American event held in Chicago Thursday, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced a regional economic development study to improve both cities’ competitiveness in advanced manufacturing.

A grand jury today indicted four individuals in Louisville and Lexington on charges of lottery fraud.The indictments are part of an undercover investigation by the Kentucky Lottery Corporation. KLC personnel visited various lottery retailers and presented tickets that, when scanned at a lottery terminal, would instruct the store clerk to award a prize.

Under a new law signed by Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown, online retailers like Amazon are supposed to start collecting sales taxes, even when they're based outside the state. Amazon says the new law is unconstitutional, and it won't collect the tax. One way the company is trying to avoid it, is by severing ties with about 10,000 small businesses and individual blogs based in the state which link to Amazon.com through their websites.

Thousands of state workers in Minnesota are being told to stay home Friday after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a new state budget. That also means tax refund checks will not be going out and zoos and parks will likely be closed this holiday weekend. This is the second shutdown for Minnesota in six years.

The tiny European territory that lost its beloved Princess Grace in a car crash in 1982 is finally getting a new princess. Prince Albert II of Monaco, 53 and a longtime bachelor, will wed South African Charlene Wittstock over a weekend of royal ceremonies and celebrations.

Monaco hasn't seen an event like this since Albert's mother, Hollywood icon Grace Kelly, married his father, Prince Rainier, 55 years ago.

The NBA's labor deal has expired, and the basketball league has locked out its players. It's the second pro sports league shut down by labor strife. The other is the NFL.

Larry Crowne stars Tom Hanks, who also directed and co-wrote the movie. It co-stars Julia Roberts. This movie's love connection between student and teacher is one of the most unconvincing in memory.

The former head of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn has another court appearance Friday. He's charged with assaulting a hotel maid in Manhattan in May. Friday's proceeding is being described as one that could ease his bail conditions. Sources say government officials have uncovered inconsistencies and possible misstatements by his accuser.

Steve Inskeep talks to David Wessel of "The Wall Street Journal" about his recent trip to China, and the pressures on foreign businesses operating there.

As China's Communist Party celebrates its 90th anniversary, President Hu Jintao has warned that its long rule has led to grave corruption. With 80 million members, it's now the world's largest political party. But facing rampant corruption and growing dissatisfaction, can this revolutionary party survive?