Sen. Edward Kennedy has died after a long battle with a brain tumor. He was 77. The youngest of the Kennedy brothers, he became perhaps the most powerful liberal voice in the U.S. Senate of his time.

A cancer-stricken Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has asked Massachusetts leaders to change state law to allow a speedy replacement of him in the Senate, fearing a months-long open seat will deny Democrats a crucial vote on President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. In a note to Gov. Deval Patrick and other state leaders, Kennedy wrote “it is vital for this commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election.“

Car shoppers caught up in the frenzy of the “cash-for-clunkers” program will have more time and 2 billion more reasons to trade in their old gas guzzlers.

The Senate has confirmed Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic Justice on the Supreme Court. President Barack Obama is lauding the barrier-breaking confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court

The Senate is expected to add $2 billion to the “cash-for-clunkers” program Thursday, after considering some changes that are not likely to be approved. Majority Leader Harry Reid says a “significant majority” wants to move forward with the legislation, which would keep the program going until Labor Day.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Senate will vote to replenish the popular “cash-for-clunkers program” before leaving on a monthlong vacation later this week. Reid made his prediction after a meeting at the White House with President Barack Obama.

In Washington, the debate over the “Cash for Clunkers” program continues. President Obama is now helping to jump-start the program, after it became so popular, it’s running out of money. The U.S. House of Representatives approved more funding last week, but the Senate has yet to agree. ABC News’ T.J. Winick has more.

Customers with clunkers are continuing to look for trade-in deals. The tax rebate program has been suspended at many dealerships worried the goverment would not make good on trades done over the weekend into Monday. WJBF News Channel 6’‘s Paige Tucker reports.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is predicting the Senate will pass legislation adding $2 billion to save a financially strapped “clash-for-clunkers” car-buying program.

A Georgia mother is fighting for justice. In September 2001, Jacqueline Boatwright’s son, Anthony DeJuan, fell into a bucket of mop water while at a Hephzibah day care center. He was left with permanent brain damage. The center had no insurance, and now she is going to Washington hoping to change that. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.

Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd says he has been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer and will have surgery early in August

The Senate’s No. 3 Republican is breaking with the rest of his party’s leaders to support Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to approve Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice.

The Democratic National Committee is running more ads to criticize U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint only a few days after the South Carolina lawmaker claimed victory in knocking them off the air.

The No. 2 Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says he’ll vote against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says Sotomayor didn’t convince him she’d be able to set aside personal biases and prejudices to decide cases impartially. He says he still feels burned by his support for Justice David Souter, who Sotomayor would replace if confirmed.