bp says efforts to drill a relief well should be completed within the next 1 days, but officials there are keeping a close eye on tropical storm alex supposed to grow to a category 3 hurricane before making landfall later this week. the storm center is not expected to approach the area of the oil spill but the outer edges could disrupt clean-up operations. general stanley mcchrystal says he will retire from the army after 34 years of military service. federal authorities have arrested 11 alleged russian secret agents reportedly on long-term deep cover operations in the u.s. the supreme court knocked down a chicago law banning all handgun ownership even for oem defense. dick cheney has been released from a washington, d.c. hospital after being treated for a heart condition over the weekend. now back to hardball.