Washington

US to drop shooting case against Blackwater guard  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:44 EST

US prosecutors to drop manslaughter case against Blackwater guard in deadly '07 Iraq shooting. Prosecutors say they'll drop manslaughter charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide contractors charged in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting.

 

Reid health bill helps chiropractors, drugmakers  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:37 EST

Chiropractors get a lift in the Senate health care bill, thanks to a senator from the state practitioners consider the birthplace of their profession ? Iowa.

 

Reid health bill helps chiropractors, drugmakers  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:37 EST

Senate health bill helps chiropractors, biologic drugmakers but whacks insurance executives. Chiropractors get a lift in the Senate health care bill, thanks to a senator from the state practitioners consider the birthplace of their profession ? Iowa.

 

White House at odds with bishops over abortion  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:29 EST

The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

 

White House at odds with bishops over abortion  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:29 EST

Abortion dispute with Catholic bishops could hinder Obama's health care bill in Senate. The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

 

Moderate Dems pivotal in Saturday health care vote  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:22 EST

Three Democratic moderates to decide fate of health bill _ for now _ in crucial Saturday vote. Suitably opaque, Section 2006 takes up only a few dozen lines in a sweeping health care bill that runs to 2,074 pages and mentions neither Sen. Mary Landrieu nor her state of Louisiana.

 

Moderate Dems pivotal in Saturday health care vote  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:19 EST

Suitably opaque, Section 2006 takes up only a few dozen lines in a sweeping health care bill that runs to 2,074 pages and mentions neither Sen. Mary Landrieu nor her state of Louisiana.

 

Court filings: Accused spy couple to plead guilty  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:11 EST

Court filings: Couple accused of spying for Cuba to plead guilty. A retired State Department worker and his wife accused of three decades of spying for Cuba are preparing to plead guilty in the case, according to a Friday court filing.

 

Vehicle fuel efficiency up in 2008 model year  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58 EST

EPA: Fuel efficiency for new cars and trucks up slightly in 2008 model year. The fleet of new cars and trucks sold to U.S. consumers averaged 21 miles per gallon in the 2008 model year, a modest increase over the previous year, the Environmental Protection Agency reported Friday.

 

New questions arise in Pequot trading probe  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:57 EST

New wrinkle in insider-trading probe of Pequot hedge fund raises questions on SEC case. A new development related to the government's investigation of possible insider trading at a major hedge fund has raised questions in the case and caught the attention of two key senators.

 

Senate Dems moving ahead on crucial health vote  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:47 EST

Moderate Democrat commits on crucial health care vote as Senate Democrats move forward. With no margin for rebellion, Senate Democrats pushed toward a crucial weekend test vote on their sweeping health care bill Friday, and wavering moderates appeared to be falling in line on President Barack Obama's signature issue.

 

More states add jobs, but many for temporary staff  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:44 EST

28 states added jobs in October, but the employment gains may be short-lived. In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

 

Senate panel to mull Bernanke nomination on Dec. 3  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:37 EST

Senate panel will take up Bernanke's nomination to second Fed term on December 3. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's nomination to a second term will be the subject of a Senate Banking Committee hearing next month, the panel's chairman said Friday.

 

Army announces review of how it tests body armor  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:05 EST

Army says independent review sought by GAO will look at how body armor for troops is tested. The Army says there will be an outside review of how body armor for its soldiers is tested.

 

More states add jobs, but many for temporary staff  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:40 EST

In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

 

Ethics committee: No punishment for Burris  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:06 EST

Ethics committee admonishes Sen. Burris of Ill. in letter, but recommends no punishment. The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee recommended no action beyond the letter.

 

Sen. Nelson a 'yes' on health care test vote  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30 EST

Nebraska's moderate Sen. Ben Nelson to vote 'yes' on crucial health care test vote Saturday. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is a "yes" in a crucial weekend test vote on health care.

 

Sen. Nelson a 'yes' on health care test vote  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30 EST

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is a "yes" in a crucial weekend test vote on health care.

 

Report: 20-somethings can go 2 years between Paps  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:03 EST

First mammograms. Now ? in an apparent coincidence ? Pap smears.

 

Report: 20-somethings can go 2 years between Paps  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:03 EST

Guidelines say less frequent Paps OK to detect cervical cancer - every 2 years for under-30. First mammograms. Now ? in an apparent coincidence ? Pap smears.

 

Senate Dems moving ahead on crucial health vote  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:43 EST

Senate Dems moving ahead with Saturday's crucial health care vote amid signs of party unity. Senate Democratic leaders are looking ahead to a crucial test vote on health care amid indications the rank-and-file will stand together Saturday to give them the support they need.

 

Correction: Plavix story  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:32 EST

Correction: Plavix story. In a Nov. 17 story about drug interactions between heartburn medications and the blood thinner Plavix, The Associated Press misidentified Johnson & Johnson's Mylanta as part of the H-2 blocker drug family. Mylanta is an antacid.

 

Correction: Plavix story  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:32 EST

In a Nov. 17 story about drug interactions between heartburn medications and the blood thinner Plavix, The Associated Press misidentified Johnson & Johnson's Mylanta as part of the H-2 blocker drug family. Mylanta is an antacid.

 

Health care issues: Bundling payments  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:25 EST

Health care issues: Bundling payments. A look at key issues in the health care debate:

 

Health care issues: Bundling payments  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:25 EST

A look at key issues in the health care debate:

 

Past CNN head, Bush aide named to broadcast board  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:47 EST

Former CNN chairman, top press aide to Bush among Obama nominees to broadcast board. President Barack Obama has nominated a former press secretary to President George W. Bush and a past chairman of CNN to the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The independent agency oversees nonmilitary international broadcasts sponsored by the federal government, including Voice of America.

 

Obama drops by daughter Sasha's school for event  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:31 EST

Back from Asia, Obama pauses for daughter Sasha's school event on Friday. Fresh from his weeklong trip through Asia, President Barack Obama is taking time to catch up on dad duty.

 

White House at odds with bishops over abortion  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:37 EST

The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

 

White House at odds with bishops over abortion  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:32 EST

Abortion dispute with Catholic bishops could hinder Obama's health care bill in Senate. The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

 

Analysis: Outlook for tough Iran sanctions is dim  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:47 EST

Analysis: US approach to Iran is toughening but outlook for harsher anti-nuke sanctions is dim. The Obama administration is shifting the focus of its Iran policy from talk to sanctions, but the prospect of winning early international support for toughened new penalties appears dim.

 

Pentagon looking for Fort Hood management lapses  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:18 EST

Pentagon launches quick hunt for more Hasans, longer look at possible lapses in Fort Hood case. The Pentagon said Thursday it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage and lapses that might allow others to slip through bureaucratic cracks.

 

Gates says Afghan surge could happen swiftly  Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:53 EST

Pentagon chief says Afghan troop increase could swiftly follow Obama announcement. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any new U.S. forces President Barack Obama sends to Afghanistan could move into the country swiftly, despite logistical hassles that force almost all major deliveries of troops and supplies to go by air.

 

House moves to protect doctors from Medicare cuts  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:52 EST

House votes to block Medicare cuts to doctors, Republicans see a payoff to the AMA. The Democratic-controlled House voted Thursday to add more than $200 billion to the deficit to prevent steep Medicare payment cuts to doctors, a move Republicans denounced as a political payoff.

 

House moves to protect doctors from Medicare cuts  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:52 EST

The Democratic-controlled House voted Thursday to add more than $200 billion to the deficit to prevent steep Medicare payment cuts to doctors, a move Republicans denounced as a political payoff.

 

Obama faces showdowns on health, Afghanistan, jobs  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:06 EST

Tough decisions, showdown votes await Obama on health care, Afghanistan, jobs, banks. President Barack Obama will have scant time to rest up from his eight-day Asia trip. On Saturday, two days after his return to Washington, the Senate plans a make-or-break vote on his hard-fought plan to overhaul the nation's health care system. Obama also confronts a difficult choice on strategy and troop levels in Afghanistan, which will be criticized no matter what he decides.

 

The Botax? Nip/tuck levy to help health care plan  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:05 EST

And now the Botax? Once-shelved tax on face lifts, tummy tucks could help fund health bill. They call it the "Botax." The White House and Senate Democrats have turned to a proposal to tax breast implants, tummy tucks, wrinkle-smoothing injections and other procedures as they search for ways to pay for costly health care overhaul plans.

 

Obama faces showdowns on health, Afghanistan, jobs  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:05 EST

President Barack Obama will have scant time to rest up from his eight-day Asia trip.

 

FEC fines Fieger firm over campaign donations  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:41 EST

FEC fines fundraiser's Mich. law firm over donations to John Edwards' 2004 campaign. A Michigan law firm has agreed to pay a $131,000 fine to resolve an investigation into donations to former Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign.

 

The Botax? Nip/tuck levy to help health care plan  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:31 EST

They call it the "Botax."

 

Gov't rewarding firms checking immigrant status  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:22 EST

Homeland Security to give 'stamp of approval' to firms volunteering for immigration checks. The Homeland Security Department will give a seal of approval to businesses volunteering to use an electronic program to check workers' immigration status.

 

Foreclosures hitting more people with good credit  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10 EST

Foreclosure crisis weighs on economy as more people with good credit risk losing homes. The foreclosure crisis likely will persist well into next year as high unemployment pushes more people out of homes, pulls down housing prices and raises concerns about the broader economic recovery.

 

Obama administration pauses on Alaska drilling  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:05 EST

At oil company's request, Obama administration delays decision on Alaska offshore drilling. The Obama administration has delayed a decision on a request by Shell Oil Co. to drill for oil and gas in Alaska's rugged Chukchi Sea. The delay came after the oil company asked for time to respond to criticism of its plan to drill in the icy sea, a prime habitat for threatened polar bears.

 

US charges firms defrauded deaf phone fund  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:03 EST

Feds charge firms with stealing millions from fund to help deaf people make phone calls. Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced criminal charges against more than two dozen people accused of stealing tens of millions of dollars from a telephone service for the deaf.

 

Recalls: cookware, ski bindings  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:55 EST

Product recalls: cookware, ski bindings, Smoked Nova Salmon. The following recalls have been announced:

 

Govt wants speedy screening at more airports  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:49 EST

Govt wants to expand expedited screening of low-risk, arriving travelers at more airports. The Homeland Security Department wants to expand speedy screening of preapproved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States to most international airports in the country.

 

Details of state dinner scarce, White House mum  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:48 EST

Who's invited? Don't ask White House, which is mum on details of Obama's first state dinner. It's the hottest ticket in town. Just don't ask the White House who got them.

 

Govt wants speedy screening at more airports  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:43 EST

Govt wants to expand expedited screening of low-risk, arriving travelers at more airports. The Homeland Security Department wants to expand speedy screening of preapproved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States to most international airports in the country.

 

STIMULUS WATCH: Did White House overplay job data?  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:31 EST

STIMULUS WATCH: Did White House downplay errors in rush to take credit for job data?. The government watchdog overseeing economic stimulus spending said Thursday that, in its rush to take credit for saving hundreds of thousands of jobs, the Obama administration was overly confident in its job-counting and did not acknowledge significant errors in the figures.

 

House panel votes to audit Federal Reserve  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:26 EST

House panel wants Federal Reserve's books scrutinized. The House Financial Services Committee has voted to pull the curtain on the normally secretive Federal Reserve by subjecting the nation's central bank to a sweeping congressional audit.

 

Summary Box: Foreclosures surge  Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:20 EST

Summary Box: Foreclosures break record for 9th straight quarter, hit 14 percent nationwide. FORECLOSURES RISE: The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that 14 percent of homeowners with a mortgage were either behind on payments or in foreclosure at the end of September. That was a record-high figure for the ninth straight quarter.