NEW YORK - July 5, 2011 - Two years ago, U.S. officials said the worst recession since the Great Depression ended. The stumbling recovery has also proven to be the worst since that economic disaster of the 1930s.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (PNN) - July 1, 2011 - Minnesota's state government began a broad shut down on Friday going into the Independence Day holiday after Democrat Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to reach a budget deal.

Parts of the government had already begun to shut down on Thursday ahead of the midnight budget deadline, including some websites and dozens of highway rest stops on one of the biggest travel days of the year.

NEW YORK - June 29, 2011 - Silver prices that have slumped from a 31-year high in April may drop a further 11% by the end of next month, according to technical analysis by Fain Shaffer, the president of Infinity Trading Corp.

NEW YORK - June 28, 2011 - How should the United States deal with its growing debt problem? Ron Paul thinks declaring bankruptcy might be a good idea.

The Texas congressman and Republican presidential candidate was discussing Greece's fiscal trouble with Iowa radio host Jan Mickelson on Monday when he was asked, "If bankruptcy is the cure for Greece, is it also the cure for the United States?"

ATHENS, Greece - June 28, 2011 - Greek police clashed with groups of hooded youths in central Athens on Tuesday at the start of two days of strikes and protests against cuts demanded by international lenders as the price for more financial aid.

As Greece teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, Parliament is due to vote this week on a package of spending cuts, tax increases and privatizations agreed to as part of a massive bailout aimed at averting the euro zone’s first default.

LONDON, England - June 27, 2011 - Rumors are rife that the deutsche mark may be re-introduced in Germany and the euro shelved as the country's official currency.

There is speculation that deutsche mark bank notes are being printed again in preparation for ditching the euro. It's said that Germany's Central bank, Bundesbank, has been ordered to print marks as part of contingency plans to leave Europe's single currency, the Daily Express reported.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - June 27, 2011 - Police in Pennsylvania say dozens of teenagers invaded a Sears store with the "flash mob" making off with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

Police said they believe the raid on the store in the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby Thursday was organized through social networking, though which site was involved was unclear, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday.