Washington

Jobless rate tops 10 pct. for first time since '83  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:05 EST

The unemployment rate has hit double digits for the first time since 1983 ? and is likely to go higher.

 

Obama: Gov't working to ease pain of joblessness  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:02 EST

Obama bemoans double-digit joblessness, says he'll persevere in quest to revive economy. President Barack Obama said new figures released Friday showing national unemployment has hit the double-digit mark are a sobering reminder of the challenges still facing the U.S. economy.

 

Jobless rate tops 10 pct. for first time since '83  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:59 EST

The unemployment rate has hit double digits for the first time since 1983 ? and is likely to go higher.

 

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Business aided by jobless bill  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:55 EST

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Jobless aid bill has tax breaks to real estate industry, other businesses. Emergency help for the jobless will be a huge windfall for Realtors, homebuilders, mortgage bankers and others, and that's no accident.

 

Family calls suspects actions deplorable  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59 EST

Family calls suspected Fort Hood shooter's actions despicable and deplorable. The family of the suspected Fort Hood shooter says "the actions of their cousin are despicable and deplorable."

 

Moment of silence set Friday for Fort Hood victims  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:33 EST

Defense Secretary Gates sets moment of silence Friday for the Fort Hood shooting victims. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has declared a moment of silence for U.S. military forces worldwide as a show of respect for the Fort Hood victims.

 

Obama to address economy, Fort Hood shooting  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:24 EST

Obama to address economic help, unemployment, Fort Hood shooting in Rose Garden statement. President Barack Obama is expected to talk about the Fort Hood shootings and the double-digit unemployment figures at the White House later this morning.

 

White House adviser: Job numbers disappointing  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:17 EST

White House adviser: Job numbers disappointing, but there are some signs of budding confidence. White House economic adviser Christina Romer (ROH'-mur) says the 10.2 percent unemployment rate for October is a stark reminder of how much more needs to be done to get people back to work.

 

Worldwide sting turns up millions in smuggled cash  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:15 EST

Law enforcement officials around the world seize $3.5 million in cash smuggling sting. A crackdown in more than 80 countries turned up $3.5 million hidden in carry-on and checked bags as people smuggled illicit money across international borders.

 

Health care issues: Age and sex rating  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:02 EST

A look at key issues in the nation's health care debate:

 

Health care issues: Age and sex rating  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:01 EST

Health care issues: Age and sex rating. A look at key issues in the nation's health care debate:

 

Ft. Hood Gen: Gunman went on 'measured' shooting  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:24 EST

Ft. Hood Commander: Man suspected in shooting carried out 'very calm and measured' rampage. The base commander at Fort Hood says survivors of the shooting rampage have told him that the Army psychiatrist suspected in the violence carried out his gunfire in "a very calm and measured approach."

 

Obama to sign homebuyer, jobless bill assistance  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:23 EST

Obama to sign bill extending jobless benefits, homebuyer tax credit. President Barack Obama is set to sign a $24 billion economic stimulus bill providing tax incentives to prospective homebuyers and extending unemployment benefits to the longtime jobless who have been left behind as the economy veers toward recovery.

 

States with jobless rates of 8.5 percent and above  Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:11 EST

27 states with jobless rates of 8.5 percent and above. Legislation President Barack Obama is set to sign Friday would extend unemployment insurance benefits by 14 weeks for jobless people in all states who have exhausted their benefits. The jobless living in 27 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, that have unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher would receive an additional six weeks. States receiving the additional benefits:

 

Obama delays Capitol Hill pitch on health care  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:27 EST

Obama pushes back trip to Capitol, plans to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Friday. President Barack Obama is pushing back a trip to Capitol Hill aimed at discussing the proposed health care overhaul with lawmakers.

 

Obama delays Capitol Hill pitch on health care  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:27 EST

President Barack Obama is pushing back a trip to Capitol Hill aimed at discussing the proposed health care overhaul with lawmakers.

 

Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:22 EST

There are many unknowns about Nidal Malik Hasan, the man authorities say is responsible for the worst mass killing on a U.S. military base. Most of all, his motive. But details of his life and mindset, emerging from official sources and personal acquaintances from officials and are troubling.

 

Congressman: 2 soldiers released from custody  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:12 EST

Texas congressman's office says military releases 2 soldiers picked up after shooting spree. The office of a Texas congressman says two soldiers who were taken into custody following a deadly rampage at Fort Hood have been released.

 

Southern Dems cast wary eye at election results  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:00 EST

Southern Democrats who could be particularly vulnerable in 2010 antsy after Virginia landslide. Southern Democrats who watched the trouncing of their party's gubernatorial nominee in Virginia this week are starting to worry that a rising anti-Democratic tide in the South may reverse their hard-fought gains from the last two national elections.

 

'Kill the bill' protesters target health care  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:49 EST

Chanting 'Kill the bill,' thousands rally at Capitol to protest health care overhaul bill. Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives incensed over the Democrats' health care overhaul protested at the Capitol on Thursday, arguing that the legislation amounts to a government takeover of the nation's medical system.

 

First lady praises employees at Energy Department  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:51 EST

On tour of federal agencies, first lady Michelle Obama praises Energy Department employees. On a visit to the Energy Department on Thursday, first lady Michelle Obama quizzed middle-school students about red blood cells and nanotechnology during a practice science quiz competition.

 

Obama set to sign a big tax break for homebuyers  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:43 EST

Buy a house, get a check _ House passes $6,500 tax break for homebuyers; Obama to sign Friday. Missed out on Cash for Clunkers? Congress has another deal for you: Buy a home before May 1 and collect up to $6,500 from the government. If you're a first-time homebuyer, get up to $8,000.

 

New Afghan violence makes Obama decision tougher  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:05 EST

Worsening Afghan violence, allies' worries, make Obama's decision on troops more difficult. President Barack Obama's next move on Afghanistan is growing more difficult by the day. Deadly attacks this week deepened British and U.N. alarm over their commitments, and fresh worries about Iraq could delay the exit of U.S. troops there, squeezing an already overstretched military.

 

Senate rejects bid aimed at Sept. 11 terrorists  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:38 EST

Backing Obama, Senate rejects GOP bid to require military trials for Sept. 11 terrorists. The Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday turned back a GOP-led effort to bar Sept. 11 terrorists from being prosecuted in civilian federal courts.

 

House Moves On Federal Gay Partner Bill  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:00 EST

The House is moving quickly to approve a federal gay partner benefits bill. The House is moving quickly to approve a federal gay partner benefits bill, TheHill.com reported. The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO), which would extend benefits to the gay spouses of federal employees, might be up for a floor vote before the end of the year, the website reported. Openly lesbian Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin introduced the legislation in May and has testified in favor of the legislation both in the House and Senate. In June, President Obama signed an executive order that extends some benefits but the order changed little; it offered federal employees sick leave to take care of a sick partner or a non-biological child, but partners remain blocked from access to primary health insurance and pension programs. At the time, Obama mentioned the bill, saying Congress would need to fill in the gaps. Openly gay Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank has praised Obam

 

Senate Democrats advance climate bill without GOP  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:18 EST

Democrats ignore Republican boycott, push climate bill through a key Senate committee. Senate Democrats sidestepped a Republican boycott Thursday, pushing a climate bill out of committee in an early step on a long and contentious road to passage. Other committees still must weigh-in on the measure, but the partisan antics early on threatened to cast a pall over the bill ? one of President Barack Obama's top priorities ? as it makes its way to the Senate floor and as nations prepare to meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, next month to hammer out a new international treaty to slow climate change.

 

'Kill the bill,' protesters target health care  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:43 EST

Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives incensed over the Democrats' health care overhaul protested at the Capitol on Thursday, arguing that the legislation amounts to a government takeover of the nation's medical system.

 

Northwest pilots appeal license revocation  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:39 EST

Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis file appeals of pilot license revocations. The Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles are appealing their license revocations with the National Transportation Safety Board.

 

Liberal lawmakers defy Obama on Patriot Act  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:36 EST

Liberal members on House Judiciary Committee defy administration on Patriot Act change. Defying the Obama administration, the House Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to remove from the USA Patriot Act a tool for tracking non-U.S. citizens in anti-terrorism investigations.

 

Obama: US must reverse course with Indians  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:32 EST

Obama: US must reverse course with Indians to end poverty, unemployment, marginalization. President Barack Obama assured American Indians on Thursday that they have a place in his White House and on his agenda, telling tribal leaders their marginalized community deserves more from its government.

 

New gene therapy halts 2 boys' rare brain disease  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:12 EST

French scientists appear to halt rare brain disease in 2 boys with new gene therapy approach. French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence. The surprise ingredient: They disabled the HIV virus so it couldn't cause AIDS, and then used it to carry in the healthy new gene.

 

New gene therapy halts 2 boys' rare brain disease  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:11 EST

French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence.

 

Army: 12 die in dual shootings at Fort Hood, Texas  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:04 EST

Army says 12 killed and 31 wounded in pair of shootings at Fort Hood; One shooter killed. The U.S. Army says 12 people have been killed and 31 wounded in a shooting rampage on the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. Lt. Gen Bob Cone said at a news conference that one shooter has been killed and two suspects were apprehended on Thursday. He says they are all U.S. soldiers.

 

US mulls DNA tests for some refugees  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:02 EST

Obama administration considers genetic testing for some, mainly African, refugee applicants. The Obama administration is considering using DNA tests for some foreign refugee applicants following a Bush-era pilot program that found massive fraud among those claiming family links to join relatives already in the United States.

 

Banks borrow more from emergency Fed program  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:58 EST

Commercial banks increase borrowing from Federal Reserve's emergency lending program. Banks borrowed slightly more from the Federal Reserve's emergency lending program over the past week, while reducing their use of other credit programs designed to ease the financial crisis.

 

Anti-abortion activists arrested at Pelosi's suite  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:38 EST

U.S. Capitol Police have arrested a dozen anti-abortion activists outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office after a massive protest against the Democrats' health care bill.

 

Anti-abortion activists arrested at Pelosi's suite  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:37 EST

Anti-abortion protestors arrested outside Pelosi's office, rallying against health care bill. U.S. Capitol Police have arrested a dozen anti-abortion activists outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office after a massive protest against the Democrats' health care bill.

 

Army: 7 dead in dual attacks at Fort Hood, Texas  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:29 EST

Army: 7 dead in pair of attacks at Fort Hood, Texas, base. At least seven people were killed and 20 wounded in a pair of shootings Thursday at the Fort Hood, Texas, the Army said.

 

Thousands rally to protest health care bill  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:11 EST

Thousands rally at Capitol to protest health care overhaul bill. Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives rallied at the Capitol on Thursday against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan, labeling it a government takeover of the nation's medical system.

 

Senator: No fed money for US-China wind project  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:58 EST

Senator warns against US-China wind farm project in Texas getting economic recovery grants. A Democratic senator on Thursday called on the Obama administration to reject an expected request for federal economic stimulus money as part of a $1.5 billion West Texas wind energy project, saying it will generate Chinese, not American, jobs ? a claim strongly disputed by the project's developer.

 

AP sources: Suicide eyed in Ky. census worker case  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:55 EST

AP sources: Suicide eyed in Kentucky census worker hanging; no anti-gov't motive seen. Investigators probing the death of a Kentucky census worker found hanging from a tree with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest increasingly doubt he was killed because of his government job and are pursuing the possibility he committed suicide, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

 

Clinton sees families of hikers detained in Iran  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:42 EST

Clinton has emotional meeting with families of 3 American hikers held in Iran. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had an emotional meeting on Thursday with the families of three American hikers detained in Iran since late July and renewed appeals to Iranian authorities to release them.

 

Congress extends jobless benefits to record levels  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:37 EST

Congress extends jobless benefits up to 20 weeks, reaching record levels. Congress on Thursday decisively approved an extension of unemployment benefits for almost two million people out of work nearly a year or more as the U.S. continues to lose jobs.

 

House votes to expand homebuyer tax credit  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:57 EST

House votes to extend homebuyer tax credit into spring, expand it beyond first-time buyers. Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers ? $6,500 cheaper.

 

Obama to sign bill extending homebuyers credit  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:56 EST

Obama to sign bill on Friday that extends help for jobless, homebuyers. The White House says President Barack Obama on Friday morning will sign a bill that expands a popular homebuyers tax credit and extends unemployment benefits.

 

Senate blocks census citizenship question  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:44 EST

Senate blocks GOP proposal to require that census ask about citizenship status in 2010 count. Senate Democrats Thursday blocked a GOP attempt to require next year's census forms to ask people whether they are U.S. citizens.

 

Lax laws allow US companies to be used for crimes  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:54 EST

Officials: criminal enterprises benefiting from loose requirements for creating corporations. Lax state laws allow arms traffickers, drug kingpins and money launderers to use U.S. companies to hide their illicit activities from investigators, government officials said Thursday.

 

Doctors' group supports House health care bill  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:34 EST

American Medical Assn. supports House health care bill; stops short of full endorsement. The American Medical Association says it supports the House Democratic health care bill, but it can't give a full endorsement yet.

 

Doctors' group supports House health care bill  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:34 EST

The American Medical Association says it supports the House Democratic health care bill, but it can't give a full endorsement yet.

 

Senate blocks census US-citizenship question  Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:52 EST

Senate blocks GOP proposal to require that census ask about citizenship status in 2010 count. Senate Democrats have blocked a GOP attempt to require next year's census forms to ask people whether they are a U.S. citizen.

 
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