Engineers in the Gulf of Mexico have abandoned efforts to fish out pieces of drill pipe stuck in the damaged Macondo well and early next week will begin trying to remove the blowout preventer -- a crucial step in finally sealing the well.

It has been nearly a decade since Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked two planes that took off from Logan International Airport and flew them into the World Trade Center. Now, Logan is viewed as one of the safest airports in the country — a distinction that can be both a blessing and a curse.

About 30 National Guard soldiers are expected to hit the Arizona-Mexico border Monday, a first wave of reinforcements sent by the Obama administration to bolster border security.

Scientists released a mixture of gases into the Boston subway system Friday as part of a series of tests they hope will lead to a quick way to detect and thwart chemical or other airborne attacks on US transportation systems.