Following his election last November, then President-elect Barack Obama continually advocated for federal spending on infrastructure projects to stimulate the depressed economy and, at the same time, to not just rebuild America’s failing infrastructure but to also establish a Twenty-First Century country.

The national credit crisis is hitting the housing market again, this time resulting in bankruptcy -- for builders.

Blueprint America -- with Weekend America -- in a report on modern day gas prospecting in the hills of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Gas exploration has been happening in Pennsylvania since the 1800s. However, a new technology and new price incentives have made possible the exploration of the Marcellus shale. It is a geological formation – the size of Greece – stretching from New York to West Virginia and holding what could become the nation’s most prolific natural gas reservoir.

Will green energy happen? Blueprint America -- with NOW on PBS -- looks at the reality of renewables -- energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, and rain.

Congressional officials have released a draft of the $825 billion federal stimulus package, a combination of spending and tax cuts. Some of spending components include $87 billion for a temporary increase in aid to states for Medicaid costs; and $79 billion in aid to local school districts and public colleges to prevent cutbacks.

The confirmation of President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for Transportation Secretary was delayed just before the hearing was to begin. Former Congressman Ray LaHood (R., IL) had his confirmation hearing postponed until at least next week as the Senate Commerce Committee is still waiting to get some background paperwork from the President-elect’s transition team – information that is traditionally provided on nominees.

The bipartisan organization Building America's Future, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I.), California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R.), and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (D.), just released the results of a national survey indicating that Americans are willing to pay more taxes to fix the nation's infrastructure.

In a Blueprint America special, David Brancaccio (NOW on PBS) interviews Nobel Laureate and The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman about President-elect Barack Obama's proposed stimulus package - how government spending on infrastructure projects will impact America's economy in these hard times.

Blueprint America -- with host David Brancaccio (NOW on PBS) -- interviews economist Paul Krugman on the effect a stimulus in infrastructure spending will have on the American economy.

On Saturday, December 27, Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Arizona welcomed passengers aboard their brand-new light rail system. The 20-mile, $1.4 billion dollar rail system is a first for the state; until now, Phoenix had been the largest U.S. city without public trains.