(CNN) — President Barack Obama took his economic relief plan on the road to Colorado Wednesday, highlighting new measures designed to help college graduates manage student loan debt.

One of the president’s measures will push up the start date for more favorable terms on a special loan repayment program based on income. Another measure is designed to encourage graduates with two or more kinds of federal loans to consolidate them and get a small break on interest rates.

Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama and congressional leaders from both parties launched a new round of negotiations on a deficit reduction deal Thursday and quickly scheduled a second meeting for Sunday, signaling a shared desire to ensure the federal debt ceiling gets raised to avoid possible default next month.

The 90-minute White House meeting was described as “very constructive” by Obama and “productive” by House Speaker John Boehner, who has emerged as the chief Republican negotiator. However, no details of the talks were officially announced, and White House spokesman Jay Carney said there was no breakthrough.

(CNN) — Could the United States government run out of money, stop paying its creditors worldwide and just shut down?

“The strength of the American dollar as a world currency is grounded on the unconditional guarantee by the United States to pay its debts,” said Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.

“A default on that commitment, a near default, a threat of default, no matter how short, would be a first in the history of the United States.”

Washington (CNN) — Financial reform? Not exactly. The bill before Congress does nothing to address the fundamental background causes of the crash of 2008.

Wall Street may have been the instrument of the crash. But the crash was made elsewhere: in Washington’s failed policies for middle-class families — and in China’s distorted rush for economic growth.

The story is not a simple one. But I hope you will pay attention to the details. If you don’t, you may find that the pocket that has been picked is your own.

(AP) President Barack Obama on Friday renewed his call for the government to stop backing private loans to college students and replace them with direct financial aid to young people, a challenge to a decades-old program with strong congressional support.

Obama’s plan to eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan program could save $48 billion for taxpayers over the next decade, but critics warn it could turn the Education Department into a national bank. Lenders and some college officials oppose the proposal, which Obama backed as a U.S. senator and pushed during the presidential campaign.