Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a survivor of the weekend shooting of 20 at a Tuscon political event, is breathing without the support of a respirator, and is responding to verbal commands.

President Barack Obama traded one Chicagoan for another as the White House chief of staff Thursday, selecting mayoral brother William Daley and a background deep in business and political experience to succeed mayoral contender Rahm Emanuel.

Tom DeLay, former U.S. House Majority leader and a Houston Congressman, was sentenced to three years imprisonment today for misappropriation of campaign funds.

Winter storms are battering much of the south today, with the National Weather Service issuing severe winter storm warnings for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.

The prestigious Car of the Year award for North America has been bestowed on the Chevrolet Volt, a gas/electric hybrid that can go up to 50 miles without using any gasoline.

Last year was rough for Ray's Waldwick Pizza. The walk-in refrigerator broke down and so did the air conditioner. Sales had declined.

Hispanics are now the largest ethnic minority in the United States and during the past decade, U.S. Hispanic purchasing power has rapidly increased. This report takes an in depth look at how today's Hispanic Economy is transitioning into an economic power in the U.S. Click here for the executive summary and table of contents!

The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States is expected to grow 41.8 percent in the next six years to 4.3 million, with total revenues surging 39 percent to more than $539 billion, according to new estimates by HispanTelligence. Spurred by growing entrepreneurial trends and affluence among the nation's largest minority population, the increase is expected to come at a robust rate of 8.5 and 8.7 percent, respectfully, over the next couple years.

The diversity that we have represents the growth of our business ... we're very proud of that," says Pat Harris, vice president and global chief diversity officer at McDonald's.

Diversity and inclusion programs are proving to have a much broader effect than once thought. "There's no doubt in my mind (spending with minority-owned businesses) has a positive net effect on local economies," says Joyce Ibardolasa, director of diversity and inclusion, PG&E.