A break in the windy weather helped fire crews make progress Friday against a massive wildfire whipping across eastern Arizona as thousands of people waited to return to their homes.

Fire officials said the blaze that has chewed through hundreds of square miles was 5 percent contained as of Friday afternoon. Helicopters and a large tanker were dropping fire retardant, while ground crews set back fires to burn up other materials that could allow the wildfire to spread.

FRANKFORT — Based on a strong General Fund tax revenue trend for fiscal year 2011, Gov. Steve Beshear announced Friday afternoon that it appears no furloughs for state employees will be necessary in 2012.  “I am pleased to see that revenues continue to improve beyond budgeted expectations," Beshear said in a press release from his office. "It appears that we will end the current fiscal year with unexpected funds, though the amount, of course, won’t be known until we close the books after June 30.

South Carolina's Supreme Court has settled a standoff between Republican Gov. Nikki Haley and the state Legislature. The Legislature won, but the battle seems to be only heating up. Just as the Legislature was wrapping up its regular session earlier this month, Haley ordered the Legislature to return to session. In return, the Senate president pro tempore filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court, saying Haley's order violated the separation of powers. The court sided with the Legislature.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who leaves office at the end of the month, sharply criticized NATO Friday. He noted that all members of the alliance voted for the Libya mission, but less than half have participated. Just 11 weeks into the mission, the "mightiest military alliance in history" is beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the U.S. once more to make up the difference. The U.S. is "in the midst of a deep economic crisis of our own," he said.

The NBA is on the verge of a possibly very long, contentious lockout. Melissa Block talks to CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell for more.

Anthony Weiner, John Edwards, Arnold Schwarzenegger — men behaving badly, right? It may be more complex than that. Research shows power causes men and women to take risks and imagine themselves as more attractive. New survey research shows that, given power, women are as likely as men to stray.

Thousands of Sarah Palin's emails from her time as the governor of Alaska were released Friday in Juneau, Alaska. The several foot-high stacks of paper were distributed to reporters on hand trucks.

The Justice Department has agreed to a plea deal with Thomas Drake, a former National Security Agency employee originally charged with 10 felonies, including violating the Espionage Act. Jane Mayer, staff writer for The New Yorker, joins Melissa Block to talk about how Thomas Drake became accused of being an enemy of the state.

Melissa Block speaks with our regular political commentators, E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution, and David Brooks of The New York Times.

The Normal Heart is almost comic, which is one reason it's so devastating.