When in the course of career events it becomes necessary for professionals to dissolve the economic bands that have connected them to the corporation, and to assume the powers of free agency, these free agents should declare the ideals for which they quit their day jobs, even without the benefit of severance pay.

Many would consider it a dream job: playing video games all day long in search of the Next Big Thing. But Brian Kingsley, a 10-year veteran game developer for megapublishers, became disenchanted with his career after seeing great game after great game passed over because the sales executives couldn't attach a brand to the creations.

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Kosovo declared itself a nation on Sunday, mounting a historic bid to become an "independent and democratic state" backed by the U.S. and key European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.

Maybe it’s the part about the "pursuit of happiness" that landed us in all this trouble.

PARIS (AP) -- The French government declared a state of emergency Tuesday after nearly two weeks of rioting, and the prime minister said the nation faced a "moment of truth."

Independent voters, whose fast-growing numbers are making them more and more important in deciding partisan elections, should be afforded the opportunity to vote in party primary elections.

RICHMOND, Va. - A rare 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence belongs to a Virginia technology entrepreneur, not the state of Maine, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Guillermo Zepeda wanted to thank the country for giving him so much — so he memorized the Declaration of Independence.

Republicans managed to hang on to legislative District 21 after all. A final count of votes from the Nov. 7 election shows incumbent Warde Nichols defeated Democratic challenger Phil Hettmansperger by 863 votes to represent the district that covers most of Chandler, the Sun Lakes community, and portions of west Mesa and Queen Creek.

Scott Beaulier and Peter Boettke: Rather than incur painful, gradual inflation taxes, we would prefer to see politicians come clean. Debts will be erased once and for all, and the legitimacy of the state will, in one fell swoop, be called into question. 

JERUSALEM - Israel's foreign minister won a narrow victory early Thursday to be head of the country's governing party, giving her the chance to be the nation's first female leader in 34 years and sending a message that peace talks with the Palestinians could likely continue.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt - In a crucial step heralded as a fresh start to peacemaking, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas promised Tuesday to halt all acts of violence and agreed to meet again soon to tackle the tougher issues that for decades have blocked the road to peace.

Looking back over our history, our arrival at this July Fourth — free, secure and prosperous and celebrating Independence Day with fireworks and flags — now seems like an inevitable historical progression.

A response to “At Least Celebrate Colonists’ Sentiment” (July 7 letters by Tim Mavrides):

Once again, Independence Day is here, bringing fireworks and barbecues. Of course, the Fourth of July is more than hoopla — it’s a time to reflect on the many freedoms we enjoy in this country. Yet, for many people, one important type of freedom — financial freedom — is still elusive. So you may want to use this holiday as an occasion to think of those steps you can take to eventually declare your own financial Independence Day.

For America to achieve energy independence, citizens and elected officials must embrace the idea that it's going to require sacrifice, a former U.S. Energy Department official said Thursday.

Arizonans continue to desert the two main political parties.

Trucker Robert Griffith is on the road three weeks out of four, pulling oversize loads like crane booms, railroad ties and air-conditioning ducts. One of his biggest worries: How he'll find the money to buy his daughter a prom dress.

NEW YORK - The nation's largest fireworks display exploded in a spectrum of color over the East River, temporarily stealing the spotlight from New York's world-famous skyline and helping to create a brilliant end to a day of July Fourth celebrations nationwide.

Prescott had been the territorial capital of Arizona only five weeks when the first July 4 celebration was held there.