Hilary Mantel's fictional account of life at court during King Henry VIII's reign is fresh look at this oft-told period of English history. "Wolf Hall" discovers

Vice President Joe Biden hailed America's fighting men and women Monday as the "spine of this nation," while President Barack Obama's Land of Lincoln tribute got washed out by a severe thunderstorm and high winds.

The rate Medicare pays doctors will be cut by 21 percent starting Tuesday. Physicians in San Diego County warn seniors may have trouble getting care if Congress doesn't rescind the cut.

Immigrants rights activists say the story of a man who died after being tasered by border officials is another example of why the nation's immigration system must change.

Actor, artist, and art collector Dennis Hopper died on Saturday. Hopper grew up in San Diego, acted at The Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse, and exhibited his artwork at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

Can drugs make us smarter? Some students are taking drugs developed for people with cognitive deficits like ADHD to help them learn faster and remember better. As part of our monthly series on ethics and science and technology, we'll look at the social, medical, and ethical implications behind the use of smart drugs.

Two people died in a fire today in a modular home in this small community east of Julian, a Cal Fire battalion chief said.

Memorial Day marks the start of the summer tourist season for San Diego. We'll find out how the recession has impacted local tourism and what's ahead for the summer.

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma can no longer offer full burial services to service men and women, and the closest national cemetery is in Riverside County. A new 313-acre national cemetery near MCAS Miramar will begin burial operations this summer, at the same time construction continues on the first phase of the cemetery-columbarium there, which will be completed in 2011.

Memorial Day ceremonies will be held around San Diego County today to commemorate the U.S. men and women who gave their lives in military service.

Israeli naval commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists to the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 10 passengers in a predawn raid that set off worldwide condemnation and a diplomatic crisis.

Summer brings with it a greater risk of drowning, especially for families with backyard pools.

Culture Lust rounds up some of San Diego's best, most interesting, and most surprising art stories from the weekend so you've got plenty of material for this week's water cooler chatter.