American Morning
Intelligence holdup a risk?
There are concerns over the future of President Obama's pick to lead the country's top spy office. Could do delay be a potential risk to the country? Barbara Starr reports.
U.S., Russia swap spies, reports say
Moscow, Russia (CNN) - A spy swap between the United States and Russia took place Friday at the airport in Vienna, Austria, Russian state media reported.
A plane carrying 10 Russian agents, who were expelled from the United States for intelligence gathering, took off from Vienna, apparently bound for Moscow, Russia, state TV reported.
A separate plane carrying four people convicted of spying for the United States took off from Vienna, too, bound for a destination in the West, according to Russia Today, the state television station.
The elaborately choreographed transfer - reminiscent of a scene from the Cold War - took about an hour, Russian state media reported.
The 10 pleaded guilty in the United States on Thursday for failing to register as foreign agents and were ordered out of the country. They then boarded a U.S.-chartered flight accompanied by U.S. Marshals, a federal law enforcement source said.
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[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/09/lebron_jersey_art.jpg caption="James will now play in Miami."]
LeBron 'King James' picks Miami Heat
(CNN) NBA superstar LeBron James announced Thursday night that he will take his high-priced services to the Miami Heat.
James, who has played forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers all his career, announced his decision during a much-ballyhooed ESPN special entitled "The Decision."
The superstar free agent said a conversation with his mother Thursday morning sealed the deal.
"I think I decided this morning," James said. "Then I talked with my mom. Once I had that conversation with her I think I was set."
James will be playing with shooting guard Dwyane Wade and power forward Chris Bosh in Miami. "We're going to be a really good team."
Late Thursday, Wade showed his excitement about the news. "I look forward to playing alongside LeBron, Chris Bosh and our teammates, and together representing the great city of Miami. There's magic in the number 3," he said.
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE Blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
Louisiana officials debate oil protection plan
Oil pools in between booms in Barataria Bay June 19, 2010 near Grand Isle, Louisiana. (Getty Images)
(CNN) – A new fight is brewing over how to protect the Gulf's fragile wetlands from the oil gusher. Some Louisiana officials want to build rock barriers to block the oil. BP said it would pay for the project, but the Army Corps of Engineers says it's not going to happen. And it doesn't look like this fight is over yet. Deano Bonano is homeland security director for Jefferson Parish. He joined us on Thursday's American Morning to debate the issue, along with Denise Reed, wetlands specialist and director of the Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences. Watch 
Does unemployment money help or hurt?
(CNN) – By the time Congress returns to work next week, 2.1 million unemployed Americans will have lost their jobless benefits. That's because lawmakers failed to pass an extension before taking their summer break. That has a lot of Americans angry. But some economists insist unemployment extensions have to stop, claiming they add to the deficit and keep people out of work longer. Others call that perspective cruel, considering this economy. On Thursday's American Morning we were joined by two experts who squared off over the issue; Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute. Watch
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