NewsFirst5.com

Tagged News

• DEA probed in wake of Secret Service investigation

  May 21, 2012 7:37 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department inspector general's office said Monday it is investigating possible misconduct by Drug Enforcement Administration personnel in Colombia unrelated to the Secret Service incident with prostitutes at a Cartagena hotel. The Drug Enforcement Administration said the probe began based on information provided by the Secret... more »

• Obama calls on Congress to help small businesses

  May 16, 2012 11:32 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says Congress could help sustain the economy's "momentum" by passing legislation that would give businesses a 10 percent income tax credit if they create new jobs or increase wages this year. Obama made his pitch during a roundtable discussion with small business leaders in... more »

• April 2012 heats up as 5th warmest month globally

  May 15, 2012 1:05 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Meteorologists say unseasonable weather pushed last month to the fifth warmest April on record worldwide. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center calculated that April's average temperature of 57.9 degrees (14.4 degrees Celsius) was nearly 1.2 degrees (0.7 degrees Celsius) above the 20th Century... more »

• National strategy against Alzheimer's adopted

  May 15, 2012 12:59 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is declaring Alzheimer's one of the country's biggest health challenges. It's adopting a national strategy that sets the clock ticking toward better treatments by 2025 -- while offering help for suffering families today. A new website will provide families with information about dementia and... more »

• Judge refuses to strike Pettitte testimony in Clemens Trial

  May 14, 2012 11:26 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Roger Clemens has lost two legal moves in his perjury trial: his efforts to strike the testimony of his former teammate Andy Pettitte and to bring in information from the divorce of his chief accuser, Brian McNamee. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton rejected a defense motion Monday... more »

• Senate hearing set on Secret Service scandal probe

  May 13, 2012 12:01 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Senate committee with jurisdiction over homeland security says he's scheduled a hearing for May 23 to review the Secret Service investigation of the Colombia prostitution scandal. Sen. Joe Lieberman tells a Sunday morning news talk show that he believes the agency has done... more »

• AP source: Leaks probed in terrorism case

  May 9, 2012 8:58 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A law enforcement official said Wednesday investigators are conducting a probe into who leaked information about an al-Qaida plot in which an explosive device was to have been detonated on a U.S.-bound airline flight. The official spoke on condition of anonymity about the ongoing leak investigation, which... more »

• Biden scoffs at bin Laden view of VP's leadership

  May 6, 2012 11:42 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden says he hopes Osama bin Laden was wrong in his assessment that Biden would not be able to lead the nation if the president was killed. Biden says bin Laden was wrong about lots of things. It's an issue raised in some of... more »

• Congressional leaders say Taliban is stronger

  May 6, 2012 11:12 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The heads of the House and Senate intelligence committees say the Taliban has only grown stronger since President Barack Obama deployed 33,000 more troops to Afghanistan in 2010. The remarks by California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Michigan Republican Rep. Mike Rogers run counter to Obama's declaration... more »

• Obama's secret trip leaked, then the leak stopped

  May 1, 2012 8:11 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House attempt to keep President Barack Obama's trips under wraps for security purposes briefly unraveled Tuesday morning. An Afghanistan-based news organization, TOLOnews, tweeted a report early that Obama was already in Kabul. Others in the United States picked up on the Tweet. The White House... more »

• US settles over mortgage insurance denied to women

  April 30, 2012 7:57 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department has settled a first-of-its-kind discrimination case against the nation's largest mortgage insurer for requiring women on maternity leave to return to work before the company would insure their mortgages. The lawsuit filed last July against the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp. alleged a violation of... more »

• Weaker al-Qaida still plots payback for US raid

  April 29, 2012 11:45 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A year after the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida is hobbled and hunted. Officials say it's too busy surviving to carry out another Sept. 11-style attack on U.S. soil. But the terrorist network dreams of payback and U.S. counterterrorist officials warn that, in time,... more »

• Swing-state unemployment down, Obama's chances up

  April 22, 2012 11:34 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The improving economy is swinging the pendulum in President Barack Obama's favor in the 14 states where the presidential election will likely be decided. Recent polls show Obama gaining an edge over his likely Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, in several so-called swing states - those that are... more »

• Army probes drug use by soldiers in Afghanistan

  April 21, 2012 11:42 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Newly obtained data shows that the U.S. Army has investigated 56 soldiers in Afghanistan over the last two years on suspicion of using or distributing heroin, morphine or other drugs. During that time, eight soldiers died of drug overdoses. While the cases represent just a slice of... more »

• 3 Secret Service employees out amid scandal

  April 18, 2012 6:43 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Secret Service says three employees are out of the agency in the wake of a prostitution scandal in Colombia. Of the three workers forced out in the scandal, one is a supervisor who was allowed to retire. Another is a supervisor who has been designated for... more »

• Recruitment by for-profit colleges targeted

  April 18, 2012 12:30 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Two senators say for-profit colleges are using too much taxpayer money to recruit students. Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Kay Hagan, D-N.C., introduced a bill Wednesday to prohibit colleges of all kinds from using dollars from federal student assistance programs to pay for advertising. Federal student aid... more »

• 9 months later, Roger Clemens back for perjury retrial

  April 15, 2012 1:13 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the retrial of Roger Clemens. Clemens is back in court nine months after the first attempt by the government to prove that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner lied when he denied using steroids and human growth hormone before... more »

• Issa: Secret Service incident likely not the first

  April 15, 2012 12:55 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior House Republican says he doubts that a Secret Service scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia was a one-time incident. Rep. Darrell Issa warns the agency that protects the president that Congress will want to make sure it doesn't happen again. Issa, who leads the House Oversight... more »

• Bill Cosby: Trayvon Martin case about guns, not race

  April 15, 2012 11:31 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Actor and comedian Bill Cosby says the debate over the killing of Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer should be focused on guns, not race. In an interview aired Sunday, Cosby said calling George Zimmerman a racist doesn't solve anything. Cosby says the bigger question is... more »

• Don't wait for federal benefit checks in the mail

  April 15, 2012 11:14 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Starting next year, the check will no longer be in the mail for millions of people who receive Social Security and other government benefits. The federal government issues 73 million payments a month, but is phasing out paper checks for all benefit programs. So beneficiaries will have... more »

• AG vows thorough review in Trayvon Martin case

  April 11, 2012 11:11 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department will take appropriate action in the Trayvon Martin case if it finds evidence that a federal criminal civil rights crime has been committed. The attorney general made the comment in an appearance Wednesday before a civil rights organization founded... more »

• Political, legal fights over school vouchers' fate

  April 8, 2012 12:39 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Political fights and court battles are brewing around the country over using public dollars to make it easier for parents to afford private schools for their kids. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal recently won passage of legislation that expands statewide a voucher program in New Orleans as part... more »

• US manufacturing grows as output, employment rise

  April 2, 2012 11:04 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - US manufacturing grew in March at a faster pace than the previous month, driven higher by greater consumer and business spending on autos, machinery and other goods. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, says that its index of manufacturing activity rose to... more »

• Congress gets rough treatment at Supreme Court health care debate

  March 31, 2012 10:25 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court left little doubt during last week's marathon arguments over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul that it has scant faith in Congress' ability to get anything done. The views about Congress were evident in the questions from the justices. The justices appear to be... more »

• People line up to watch Court argument over health care reform

  March 25, 2012 12:30 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Much like tailgaters waiting for a football game, there is a line of people outside the Supreme Court. They are waiting for seats inside to watch arguments that start tomorrow over President Barack Obama's health care reform plan. Those braving the wind and rain came equipped with... more »

• Divided Congress settles for below-the-radar bills

  March 25, 2012 10:52 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is finding it hard to do what used to be easy. The Washington divide, hardened by election-year politics, has stifled the agendas of both parties. Lawmakers are limited to below-the-radar bills and modest ambitions. Complicating the legislative process are emboldened congressional conservatives, their ranks larger after... more »

• US believes accused soldier split killing spree

  March 24, 2012 4:47 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - American officials say U.S. investigators now believe the U.S. soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians split the slaughter into two episodes, returning to his base after the first attack and later slipping away to kill again. This scenario seems to support the U.S. government's assertion -... more »

• Senate moves toward vote on small business bill

  March 20, 2012 5:38 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A popular small business investment bill backed by President Barack Obama appeared headed for passage in the Senate after Democrats fell short in an attempt to rewrite it with stronger investor protections. The legislation makes it easier for small businesses to raise capital and go public. The... more »

• Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says mission on track

  March 20, 2012 11:18 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says winding down the decade-plus war is on track and the U.S. has no intention to stay in the country forever. Marine Gen. John Allen tells the House Armed Services Committee coalition forces are making progress in handing over security to... more »

• Stoned driving epidemic puts wrinkle in pot debate

  March 18, 2012 12:41 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Angeline Chilton says she can't drive unless she smokes pot. The suburban Denver woman uses medical marijuana to ease multiple sclerosis symptoms and says she'd never get behind the wheel right after smoking. But her case underscores a problem that no one's sure how to solve: How... more »

• Details emerge about suspect in Afghan massacre

  March 17, 2012 3:12 PM

  SEATTLE (AP) - Neighbors and court records are providing a conflicting, if incomplete, picture of the U.S. soldier accused of massacring 16 civilians in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was flown to the U.S. military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., yesterday where's he's been placed in his own cell. Neighbors... more »

• FDA asked to probe Texas stem cell company

  March 14, 2012 8:48 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration has received a complaint against the company that stored adult stem cells used by Texas Gov. Rick Perry in an experimental procedure last year. A University of Minnesota professor called on the FDA to investigate Houston-based Cell Tex Therapeutics, a company which... more »

• 2 managers of private-share funds charged by SEC

  March 14, 2012 8:43 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators are filing civil charges against two managers of investment funds that buy stocks of privately held Internet companies like Facebook. They are accused of misleading investors and failing to disclose fees. In addition the Securities and Exchange Commission settled charges with SharesPost, an online exchange... more »

• Panetta: Death penalty possible in Afghan shooting

  March 12, 2012 8:36 PM

  ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the death penalty is a consideration as the military moves to investigate and possibly put on trial a U.S. soldier suspected of gunning down 16 Afghans. In his first public remarks on the incident, Panetta said Monday the... more »

• AP source: US to bring trade case against China

  March 12, 2012 8:26 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is bringing a new trade case against China that seeks to pressure the rising economic power to end its export restrictions on key materials used to manufacture high-tech good. Senior administration officials say the U.S. will ask the World Trade Organization to facilitate talks... more »

• Gingrich: Afghanistan may be 'undoable' mission

  March 11, 2012 1:19 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich says he thinks U.S. involvement in the region around Afghanistan may be risking the lives of young troops in a mission that "may not be doable." Gingrich says the U.S. should reassess the region and ask whether there isn't "a harder, deeper... more »

• Government not keeping up with information requests

  March 11, 2012 11:35 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration isn't keeping pace with the increasing number of people asking for copies of government documents, emails, photographs and more under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. That's according to an Associated Press analysis of the latest federal data. Federal agencies did better last year... more »

• US soldier suspected of Afghan shooting spree

  March 11, 2012 11:21 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials say it was an American Army soldier who may have shot as many as 16 Afghans before dawn on Sunday in southern Afghanistan. Officials say the U.S. military there is treating at least five wounded. Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security... more »

• US officials: Syrian regime under stress, but Assad's inner circle and army still loyal

  March 10, 2012 1:19 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Top U.S. officials all the way up to President Barack Obama are predicting the Syrian regime's days are numbered, but recent U.S. intelligence reports suggest that the Syrian leader commands a formidable army that is unlikely to turn on him, an inner circle that has stayed loyal... more »

• Obama, GOP continue sparring over energy

  March 10, 2012 1:06 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama and Republicans traded accusations today in their weekly radio and Internet messages. Obama underscored his administration's work to develop alternative energy sources and increase fuel efficiency. He accused the GOP of using a "bumper sticker" approach to solving the nation's energy problems. He says... more »

• US preparing to restart military aid to Yemen

  March 10, 2012 12:38 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon is developing plans to restart programs that would fund military training and equipment in Yemen, nearly a year after they were shut down due to escalating chaos in the embattled country. While no agreements have been cemented, U.S. defense officials say military assistance, which could... more »

• Losing an hour, gaining daylight Play Video

  March 10, 2012 11:34 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - As if you weren't already sleep deprived, you'll get an hour less shuteye Saturday night no matter what time you turn out the lights. At 2 a.m. local time Sunday, daylight saving time, that harbinger of spring, arrives with the promise of longer, light-filled days well into... more »

• Restraining students in class? Activists say "no more"

  March 10, 2012 11:02 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Tens of thousands of students are strapped down or physically restrained in school. Disability advocates hope that a new Education Department report detailing the practice of "seclusion and restraint" will spur federal action to curtail it. The report reveals that 70 percent of students subjected to the... more »

• Union leaders seek to mend divisions over pipeline

  March 10, 2012 10:34 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Unions may be united in working to re-elect President Barack Obama, but their leaders also are trying to repair bitter divisions over his rejection of an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. Trade unions representing workers who stand to benefit from new construction jobs from the Keystone... more »

• US studies confirm Europe close on 'God particle'

  March 7, 2012 11:23 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - More scientists are getting closer in the search for the so-called God particle of physics that would help explain the fundamentals of the universe. But they still haven't quite found the elusive Higgs boson yet. Two teams of physicists using results from a now-closed American accelerator have... more »

• FBI offers $1 million reward for missing American

  March 6, 2012 11:10 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. is offering $1 million for information leading to the safe return of a former FBI agent who vanished in Iran five years ago. The case has increasingly frustrated investigators trying to bring him home. The reward announced Tuesday is the latest high-profile effort by the... more »

• GOP leader suggests force vs. Iran

  March 5, 2012 8:03 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate Republican leader said Monday the United States should use overwhelming military force against Iran if American intelligence shows that Tehran has decided to build a nuclear weapon or it has started to enrich uranium to weapons-grade level, a bold call certain to reverberate in U.S.-Israeli... more »

• Obama: Not hesitant on force to defend interests

  March 4, 2012 11:34 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says he prefers to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but he is making it clear that he won't "hesitate to use force" when necessary to defend the U.S. and its interests. Obama also says in a speech to a pro-Israel... more »

• Four straight: Romney wins Washington GOP caucus

  March 3, 2012 11:22 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Mitt Romney has won a double-digit victory in Washington state's Republican presidential caucuses. It's his fourth campaign triumph in a row and a fresh show of strength in the run-up to the 10-state Super Tuesday contests next week. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are battling for second... more »

• Gov. Christie says contested GOP convention is possible

  February 26, 2012 2:42 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn't ruling out the possibility the topsy-turvy GOP presidential race ends up in a contested party convention this summer if Mitt Romney loses Tuesday's Michigan primary. Christie, who's endorsed Romney, says he thinks Romney will beat Rick Santorum - and that would... more »

• Army IDs remains of last missing soldier in Iraq

  February 26, 2012 1:53 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S military says it has identified the remains of the last American service member unaccounted for in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Ahmed Kousay al-Taie was an Army interpreter who was born in Iraq and lived in Ann Arbor, Mich. He was kidnapped at gunpoint in October 2006... more »

• Rule could cost child support debtors only income

  February 26, 2012 12:51 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Advocates say thousands of poor and disabled men could lose their only income next year because of a change in how back child support is collected. Next year the government will start paying all federal benefits electronically. Under the old system, states could capture only 65 percent... more »

• Pressure builds for civilian drone flights at home

  February 26, 2012 11:26 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Heads up: Drones are going mainstream. Unmanned military aircraft have tracked and killed terrorists in the Middle East and Asia. Their civilian cousins are now in demand by police departments, border patrols, power companies, news organizations and others wanting a bird's-eye view that's too impractical or... more »

• Two American officers killed in Afghanistan; Taliban claims retaliation

  February 25, 2012 2:14 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is condemning what he calls the murder of two American military officers in Afghanistan's capital. Pentagon press secretary George Little says in a written statement that Panetta believes Saturday's killings in Kabul are unacceptable. The nationality of the gunman hasn't been confirmed. The... more »

• Tax-related ID theft complaints on rise

  February 25, 2012 11:04 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The government says the number of identity theft complaints involving tax and wage fraud is soaring even as law enforcement agencies are trying to crack down on the problem. Federal Trade Commission officials tell The Associated Press that 24 percent of the nearly 279,000 identity theft complaints... more »

• High court torn over law banning lie about medals

  February 22, 2012 12:07 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court appears to be sharply divided over a law that makes it a crime to lie about having been awarded top military honors. The justices engaged in spirited debate Wednesday over the constitutionality of a 2006 law aimed at curbing false claims about military exploits.... more »

• Treasury to release corporate tax plan Wednesday

  February 21, 2012 8:44 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration will propose lowering the current 35 percent corporate tax rate, while at the same time eliminating loopholes and subsidies and imposing a minimum tax on the overseas profits of American companies. Administration officials said the Treasury Department on Wednesday will detail aspects of President... more »

• Ruby slippers from 'Wizard of Oz' pulled from Smithsonian

  February 18, 2012 2:05 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Dorothy's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" are being removed from a Smithsonian exhibit to be conserved. Curators say the famous shoes are old and need to be prepared for a future display at the National Museum of American History. The last day to see... more »

• Dems, GOP look to play offense after payroll fight

  February 18, 2012 11:18 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional Republicans were bruised by the fight over the payroll tax and want to move on to other issues now. They're promoting legislation that they say would create jobs through transportation and energy projects, lower business taxes and help companies raise capital. Democrats say they've gained momentum... more »

• Tainted sprouts again linked to Jimmy John's

  February 15, 2012 8:43 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Raw sprouts from the sandwich chain Jimmy John's have been linked to an outbreak of foodborne illness - again. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that 12 cases of E. coli poisoning in five states are linked to raw clover sprouts eaten at... more »

• Player wins $336 million Powerball jackpot

  February 12, 2012 11:11 AM

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Lottery officials say someone who played the Powerball in Rhode Island has won the $336.4 million jackpot. The new multimillionaire has not stepped forward and the lottery has not said where the winning ticket was sold. To win, the player had to match all of... more »

• US to play bigger role against companies' cyberthreats?

  February 5, 2012 2:19 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A new Senate proposal would give the government more power to regulate the computer security of critical industries. The plan, which is expected to be released in coming days, would try to make sure that computer systems that run power and nuclear plants, electrical grids and other... more »

• Obama could alter stance of federal appeals courts

  February 5, 2012 12:08 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A second term for President Barack Obama would allow him to expand his replacement of Republican-appointed majorities with Democratic ones on the nation's appeals courts, the final stop for almost all challenged federal court rulings. Despite his slow start in nominating judges and Republican delays in Senate... more »

• AP Analysis: Border Patrol OT up as arrests drop

  February 4, 2012 11:30 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - An Associated Press analysis of Border Patrol records finds that agents have racked up daily overtime at a cost of about $1.4 billion in the past six years while the number of arrests of illegal border crossers has fallen to the lowest level in nearly 40 years.... more »

• Top senators agree on tough penalties for Iran

  January 30, 2012 8:06 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A top Senate Democrat and Republican have agreed on a bill to impose sweeping new penalties on Iran. The Banking Committee chairman, Sen. Tim Johnson, and Sen. Richard Shelby announced the legislation late Monday that would target Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and would apply sanctions to more... more »

• Fed: Slightly lower growth, unemployment in 2012

  January 25, 2012 2:30 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve has downgraded its outlook for economic growth this year but is slightly more optimistic about the unemployment rate. The Fed expects the economy to grow between 2.2 percent and 2.7 percent this year. That's down from November's forecast of between 2.5 percent and 2.9... more »

• Scout honored for saving grandmother

  January 24, 2012 7:39 PM

  A local Boy Scout received a Spirit of the Springs Award for heroic actions last spring that may have saved the life of his grandmother. Jordan Evans was walking in Fountain Creek Regional Park last May with his grandmother and cousin when a tree toppled and landed on the... more »

• US says it not to blame for failed Russian probe

  January 18, 2012 7:50 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department says the U.S. had nothing to do with the failure of the Mars moon probe that crashed to Earth this week, adding that U.S. officials responded to a Russian request to help recover it. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Wednesday the U.S.... more »

• Obama campaign seeks ad rates in states

  January 17, 2012 8:25 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama campaign has requested advertising rates in a number of key states, a sign that it could be close to airing its first television commercials of the 2012 campaign. The president's campaign has sought the advertising information in 14 states that are expected to be... more »

• Ron Paul leaves campaign trail to vote on debt ceiling

  January 17, 2012 8:16 PM

  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Ron Paul is stepping off the presidential campaign trail to vote against raising the federal debt ceiling. The Texas congressman will fly to Washington early Wednesday. He planned to return to South Carolina on Thursday morning, two days before the state's first-in-the-South primary. Paul... more »

• Lawyer in WikiLeaks case wants to depose Hillary Clinton

  January 16, 2012 8:02 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A lawyer for an intelligence analyst charged with leaking classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks wants to question Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before his client is tried. David Coombs, a lawyer for Pfc. Bradley Manning, included a request to question Clinton as part of... more »

• Debate ramps up on payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, again

  January 15, 2012 10:59 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - How will the White House and Congress come up with the money to extend an average $20-a-week Social Security payroll tax cut without adding to the government's long-term debt. Republicans are trying to cut federal employee benefits. President Barack Obama wants to hit airline passengers with... more »

• White House concerned over online piracy bills, censorship

  January 14, 2012 11:56 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration says it would oppose pending legislation that would undermine "the dynamic, innovative global Internet." The White House says in a blog post Saturday that while online piracy by foreign websites presents a "serious problem," it is concerned with legislation that "reduces freedom of... more »

• Safety of popular air shows, races under scrutiny this week

  January 8, 2012 11:31 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Some victims of last year's air show crash in Nevada say they want to attend future air races even though that event was the worst air race accident in the U.S. in more than 50 years. But a lawyer for some victims says he's told his clients,... more »

• Buffs beat Huskies for fifth straight win

  January 6, 2012 3:42 AM

  BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Carlon Brown scored 18 points and Colorado used balanced scoring to defeat Washington 87-69 on Thursday night. Spencer Dinwiddie and Austin Dufault had 13 points each Colorado (10-4, 2-0 Pac-12), which had five players in double figures. Askia Booker added 12 and Nate Tomlinson 11 for... more »

• Colorado couple accused of stealing from corpse arrested

  December 25, 2011 10:37 AM

  HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A couple accused of stealing credit cards, an iPhone and a pistol from a corpse they discovered in western Colorado has been arrested in Washington state. The Grand County Sheriff's Office reported Saturday that 29-year-old Jerod Morris Reeves and 35-year-old Kimberly Mae McCaffery were... more »

• Official: US limits intel value of drones

  December 18, 2011 10:43 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. official says Iran will find it hard to exploit any data or technology aboard the captured CIA stealth drone because of measures taken to limit the intelligence value of drones when they operate in hostile territory. The official also says the U.S. is convinced that... more »

• Obama: Relations with tribes at turning point

  December 3, 2011 3:51 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says his administration offers a turning point in the tangled relationship between Washington and Native American tribes. Obama told tribal leaders that as president, he's "got your back." Obama spoke Friday to the nation's 565 tribal leaders. The president said he has... more »

• States suing over health care law collect funding

  November 29, 2011 12:11 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal officials are awarding more money to help states carry out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The surprise? The list includes seven states suing to overturn the landmark law. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday that 13 states will split grants totaling... more »

• Fitch keeps AAA US credit rating but dims outlook

  November 28, 2011 7:56 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Fitch says it will keep its rating for long-term U.S. debt at the top AAA level, despite a congressional panel's failure to agree on long-term deficit cuts. But it is lowering its outlook to negative. The rating agency says it has less confidence in the federal... more »

• Medicare's drug coverage "doughnut hole" shrinking

  November 27, 2011 10:55 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Medicare's prescription coverage gap is getting smaller and easier to manage this year for millions of older and disabled people with high drug costs. That gap - known as the "doughnut hole" - will shrink about 40 percent for those unlucky enough to land in it... more »

• The Muppets are heading to the White House

  November 21, 2011 12:00 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Muppets are heading to the White House. Ahead of Thanksgiving, the White House will host a special screening for military families of "The Muppets" movie. Guests at Tuesday's screening will also include Kermit the Frog and Jason Segel, one of the stars of the... more »

• C-SPAN: Put high court health care arguments on TV

  November 15, 2011 8:18 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - C-SPAN is asking the Supreme Court to let it broadcast live next spring's arguments over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The not-for-profit network's CEO, Brian Lamb, made the request by letter on Tuesday. There was no immediate response from the justices. Lamb says the... more »

• Is oil and gas drilling responsible for OK quakes?

  November 7, 2011 6:13 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Experts say the flurry of earthquakes in Oklahoma can't be blamed on man's thirst for oil and gas. The weekend quakes were far stronger than the weak tremors caused by drilling - especially the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking. The shaking caused by... more »

• Obama heads to G-20 amid questions on Greece

  November 2, 2011 8:00 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is en route to France for an economic summit that's shadowed by the European debt crisis and Greece's surprise plans to put a bailout deal to a popular vote. The Group of 20 industrialized and developed nations meets Thursday and Friday in Cannes.... more »

• FDA backs Vytorin for kidney disease patients

  October 31, 2011 12:41 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration says Merck's cholesterol drug Vytorin helps reduce heart attack, stroke and related problems in patients with kidney disease, a potential new use for the blockbuster drug. The agency's review also found no new safety concerns with Vytorin, which came under scrutiny... more »

• Paul wants to phase out federal student loans

  October 23, 2011 2:39 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential contender Ron Paul wants to end federal student loans. The congressman from Texas says that federal lending for college is a failed program that has put students $1 trillion in debt when there are no jobs and when the quality of education has deteriorated.... more »

• Ex-Senator aide gets hours in jail for baseball trip

  October 18, 2011 7:48 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A former aide to Missouri Republican Sen. Kit Bond is spending an afternoon behind bars for taking a trip to the World Series paid for by lobbyists. U.S. District Judge Richard Roberts sent 37-year-old Trevor Blackann to the Washington federal courthouse lockup for five hours Tuesday... more »

• High court to rule on Stolen Valor Act

  October 17, 2011 11:34 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court will decide whether a law making it a crime to lie about having received military medals is constitutional. The justices said Monday they will consider the validity of the Stolen Valor Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming support in 2006. The federal appeals... more »

• Price throws 4 TDs in Huskies rout of Colorado

  October 15, 2011 7:45 PM

  SEATTLE (AP) - Keith Price continued his assault on Washington's record book with four first-half touchdown passes, and Washington made its case for a national ranking with an impressive 52-24 rout of Colorado on Saturday. The Huskies rolled up nearly 400 yards in the first half and led 38-10 at... more »

• House approves free trade pact with South Korea

  October 12, 2011 7:41 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has approved a free trade agreement with South Korea, the world's 13th largest economy and the seventh largest trading partner with the U.S. The South Korea vote Wednesday came after the House also passed free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama. The Senate was... more »

• Bilingual voting ballots ordered in 25 states

  October 12, 2011 7:39 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - In the run-up to the 2012 elections, the federal government is requiring that 248 counties and other political jurisdictions in 25 states provide bilingual ballots to Hispanics and other minorities who speak little or no English. That's down from the previous list compiled a decade ago... more »

• FDA adds new warnings to Bristol cancer drug

  October 11, 2011 12:10 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health officials are warning doctors about a rare but dangerous side effect of a Bristol-Myers Squibb leukemia drug that can cause abnormally high blood pressure in patients' lung arteries. The Food and Drug Administration said the company's drug Sprycel will carry a new warning about... more »

• Study: 69M must travel longer to a trauma center

  October 5, 2011 7:49 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A new study finds that about a quarter of Americans now have to travel farther to reach the nearest hospital trauma center. That's important because just one hour can spell the difference between life and death for victims of severe injury. And ordinary emergency rooms may... more »

• Senate reaches deal on vote to avoid FAA shutdown

  September 15, 2011 6:23 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate has reached a deal to permit a vote on a bill necessary to prevent another shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as federal transportation programs. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid announced the agreement on the Senate floor Thursday evening. The announcement came... more »

• Afghan official: talks on track for longterm pact

  September 10, 2011 12:41 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A top Afghan official says the U.S. and Afghanistan are narrowing their differences over how the two countries will cooperate after U.S. combat forces leave by 2015. The United States and Afghanistan remain divided over terms for their relationship after most U.S. forces leave the country... more »

• Deal reached to avert transportation shutdown

  September 10, 2011 12:40 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A key Republican lawmaker says House and Senate leaders have reached a deal that averts a looming shutdown of federal highway and aviation programs. Representative John Mica of Florida, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, says the agreement clears the way for passage next week of... more »

• Consumer borrowing up for 10th straight month

  September 8, 2011 4:53 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans borrowed more money in July than any other month in more than three years. But they cut back on using their credit cards. The Federal Reserve says consumer borrowing rose nearly $12 billion in July. Greater demand for school and auto loans fueled the increase.... more »