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Imploring both political parties to give ground, President Barack Obama declared Monday he would reject any stopgap extension of the nation's borrowing limit, adding fresh urgency for Republicans and fellow Democrats to resolve intense tax and spending disputes and head off economic calamity.

A rookie wage scale and free agency for veterans appear to be the biggest stumbling blocks to ending the NFL lockout.

President Barack Obama warned Monday there would be no deal on raising the government's debt limit if Republicans don't compromise and said he would not sign a short-term extension — raising the stakes on volatile negotiations with the clock ticking toward a Aug. 2 deadline.

Starting this month, Cambridge will become what is believed to be the first municipality in the country to pay its public employees a stipend in an attempt to defray the cost of the federal tax on health benefits for their same-sex spouses.

According to UWC, an association of national and state business organizations, the costs of unemployment insurance (UI) for employers has increased from $31 billion in 2008 to $160 billion in 2010. Nevertheless, most people don't much about this benefit, including human resources professionals.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday threw out a judge's order lifting the NFL lockout, possibly giving the league leverage in talks aimed at reaching a new labor deal.

Public employees hoping to form a bargaining unit to negotiate with employers will have to have a few more members in New Hampshire starting Friday.

Hiring slowed to a near-standstill last month, raising doubts that the economy will rebound in the second half of the year after a spring slump.