COVER
In the U.S., Crisis in the Statehouses (Cover)
Schools, health services, libraries — and the salaries that go with them — are all on the chopping block as states and cities face their worst cash squeeze since the Great Depression
ESSAY
Barack Obama's Big Fat Afghan Dilemma (Commentary / In the Arena)
The generals are frustrated. The Karzai government is a mess. Was Joe Biden right after all?
The Risks and Rewards of Synthetic Biology
In the beginning, Craig Venter 'created life' in a lab. Cue the eternal clash of science and ethics
NATION
Investigation: When the Adopted Can't Adapt (The Well / Society)
Many U.S. parents of neglected Russian orphans hope love will conquer all. But what happens when love is not enough?
Their Three Sons (The Well)
Five years after they married, the Massis began to build their family
World Series of Poker: Attack of the Math Brats (The Well / Sports)
How a generation of number-crunching online upstarts has come to dominate high-stakes professional poker
Poker Faces
A new generation of stars takes over high stakes Texas Hold 'Em
WORLD
Mexico's Meth Warriors (World)
Fueled by Evangelical zeal and America's appetite for meth, a provincial Mexican gang breaks into the big time
TO OUR READERS
Inside the Red Border
A new coffee-table book celebrates TIME's extraordinary legacy of art, photography and writing over the past 87 years
LETTERS
Inbox (Inbox)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Box Office Blues: The Blockbusters That Weren't (Movies)
The first few weeks of summer have been one disappointment after another for Hollywood. Why the blockbusters — and box office — are doing so poorly
Author Jennifer Egan Does the Time Warp — Again (Books)
Jennifer Egan's new book boldly pushes the limits of narrative, memory and PowerPoint
Betty White's Comeback and TV's Ageism (Tuned In)
TV loves Betty White's comeback story. But that doesn't mean it's back in love with older viewers
Drake (Phenomenon Watch)
Short List
TIME'S PICKS FOR THE WEEK
SOCIETY
Game Changer: PlayStation Makes a Move on the Wii (Life / Techland)
After test-driving Sony's new Move motion-control system for PlayStation 3, we at Techland don't think Sony is chasing Nintendo. Rather, it's taking gaming to the next level
Learning How to Grow Medical Marijuana (Life / Assignment Detroit)
How yesterday's auto-industry workers are training to become Michigan's legalized-marijuana suppliers
Losing Your Cents (Life / Shopping)
Online penny auctions sell lots of items dirt cheap, but the bidding wars can cost you
SPECIAL SECTION
How Frankenfood Prevailed (Global Business / Agriculture)
A hungrier world validates Monsanto's tech-driven strategy
The Race Is On (Global Business / Insurance)
Car-insurance discounters gain ground as changing consumer habits transform the industry
Business Books (Global Business)
To copy or not to copy? Making the case for successful imitators and innovators
PEOPLE
10 Questions for Billie Joe Armstrong (10 Questions)
The punk front man and bandmates star in Green Day: Rock Band. Billie Joe Armstrong will now take your questions
BRIEFING
Verbatim
The World
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
Ernest Fleischmann (Milestones)
The Skimmer
Milestones (Milestones)
Brief History: The Resource Curse
The President's Spill Speech: The Target Audiences
Mark Halperin's take on Barack Obamas first Oval Office Address
The Moment
6|16|10: Washington