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Some views of President Obama's performance, the economic stimulus plan, personal worries
Feb 19, 2009 03:06 AM
Some views of President Barack Obama's performance, the economic stimulus package and personal worries:
FAA faulted for delays on safety recommendations for flying turboprop planes in icy conditions
Feb 19, 2009 03:04 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — On Halloween 1994, an American Eagle flight en route to Chicago in freezing rain went into a high-speed dive and crashed near Roselawn, Ind., killing all 68 people aboard.
Analysis: Democrats on record pace for ethical missteps, lucky elections are 2 years away
Feb 19, 2009 03:03 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration and the new Congress are quickly handing over to Republicans the same "culture of corruption" issue that Democrats used so effectively against the GOP before coming to power.
Getting to know you: Obama stops in Canada to talk economy, war on first foreign trip
Feb 19, 2009 03:03 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama's first foreign trip as president — a down-to-business visit with an essential economic ally, Canada — is light on time but loaded with touchy matters.
With Obama at the helm, Democrats strike different tone on Katrina funding in stimulus bill
Feb 19, 2009 03:02 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama will spread billions of dollars across the country to spruce up aging roads and bridges. But there's not a dime specifically dedicated to fixing leftover damage from Hurricane Katrina.
Unable to block stimulus bill, GOP prepares to leap on any waste or abuse in spending
Feb 19, 2009 03:02 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are preparing to pounce on any wasteful spending in the $787 billion stimulus package as they refocus their criticisms of a measure whose success could hurt their 2010 election prospects.
Reps. Vilscosky, Lofgren, Sen. Nelson to return donations from donors linked to lobbyist
Feb 18, 2009 05:32 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday they will return campaign contributions from donors tied to a Washington lobbying firm under investigation for funneling campaign contributions through sham donors.
White House says Burris needs to tell Ill. details of his involvement with Blagojevich
Feb 18, 2009 05:24 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Sen. Roland Burris needs to tell Illinois constituents the extent of his involvement with the administration of disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-uh-vich).
Partisanship grows amid call for 'truth commission' to investigate Bush administration
Feb 18, 2009 02:59 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic-proposed "truth commission" to investigate the Bush administration is generating more partisanship in a Congress already filled with it.
Defense chief hoping for better relations with Russia under new administration
Feb 19, 2009 02:39 AM
KRAKOW, Poland (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he sees a chance for better relations with Russia with a new president in the White House, but warned that Moscow is trying to "have it both ways" by offering help in Afghanistan and undermining U.S. efforts there at the same time.
Swat deal considered a step backward in conflict with extremists
Feb 18, 2009 02:12 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pakistan's startling accord with Taliban fighters that would impose Islamic religious law on the strategic Swat valley looms as a setback for the Obama administration's hopes to mount a united front against militants there and in Afghanistan.
Clinton, in Indonesia, says America under new management, ready to engage
Feb 19, 2009 01:31 AM
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham on Thursday relentlessly hammered home the Obama administration's message that America is under new management and ready to listen and engage the world.
Obama administration axing proposed Bush rules on meat, food labels, wants more info on labels
Feb 18, 2009 01:18 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is calling for stricter labels on fresh meat and other foods that would show more clearly where an animal or food came from.
AG Holder will visit Guantanamo Bay detention facility
Feb 18, 2009 12:46 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder is headed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, next week to examine the detention facility.
Obama launches $75 billion foreclosure rescue to save homes, stem national economic crisis
Feb 18, 2009 11:55 PM
MESA, Ariz. (AP) — President Barack Obama threw a $75 billion lifeline to millions of Americans on the brink of foreclosure Wednesday, declaring an urgent need for drastic action — not only to save their homes but to keep the housing crisis "from wreaking even greater havoc" on the broader national economy.
Clinton says Obama might want to wait to savor popularity in Indonesia
Feb 18, 2009 11:48 AM
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says President Barack Obama is so loved in Indonesia and his job is so difficult that he might want to put off a visit there until he needs a break from the stresses of work.
Peanut products recalled for possible salmonella contamination
Feb 18, 2009 11:18 PM
The following recalls have been announced because the products could be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems:
Correction: Peanut recall story
Feb 18, 2009 10:09 AM
In stories Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 about the recall of peanut products as a part of the salmonella outbreak, The Associated Press — relying on information from the company — reported an erroneous UPC code for the six-bars-per box product of Slim-Fast optima caramel crispy peanut MEAL on-the-go bars. Slim-Fast now says the recalled product has the UPC code 0834603790.
People close to Republican US Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri say he'll run for US Senate in 2010
Feb 18, 2009 10:07 PM
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — People close to Missouri congressman Roy Blunt say he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Roland Burris 'welcomes' investigations into how he got Senate post from ex-Gov. Blagojevich
Feb 18, 2009 10:05 AM
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An increasingly embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris said he "welcomes" the chance for authorities and elected officials to look into how he landed a coveted Senate appointment from ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
US commander: troops at best 'stalemated' in Afghanistan; insurgents resilient, adaptable
Feb 18, 2009 09:36 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan offered a grim view Wednesday of military efforts in southern Afghanistan, warning that 17,000 new troops will take on emboldened Taliban insurgents who have "stalemated" U.S. and allied forces.
Attorney General Holder says US is a nation of cowards on matters of race
Feb 18, 2009 09:36 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Holder, the nation's first black attorney general, said Wednesday the United States was "a nation of cowards" on matters of race, with most Americans avoiding candid discussions of racial issues. In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives.
Feds cite poor communication between captain and pilot in Bay Bridge ship crash and oil spill
Feb 18, 2009 09:15 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A medically unfit pilot, an ineffective captain and poor communications between the two were the cause of a November 2007 accident leading a ship to spill thousands of gallons of fuel oil into the San Francisco Bay, safety officials said Wednesday.
Energy secretary promises to begin spending from stimulus package within 2-3 months
Feb 18, 2009 08:15 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Wednesday he's ready to push out some of the billions of dollars from the economic recovery plan within a couple of months, with money for projects to build and improve power lines and help for low-income families to cut energy use.
More the same in Illinois: Burris allegations feel like Blagojevich scandal all over again
Feb 18, 2009 07:42 PM
CHICAGO (AP) — Should he resign? Can he be forced out? Will he face criminal charges?
First lady welcomes DC schoolchildren to White House for Black History Month celebration
Feb 18, 2009 07:14 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Foot-stomping music filled the East Room of the White House on Wednesday as first lady Michelle Obama hosted nearly 200 schoolchildren for a Black History Month celebration featuring Sweet Honey in the Rock, an award-winning female a cappella ensemble.
Report: FDA quietly scaled back quality enforcement at medical device testing labs
Feb 18, 2009 07:10 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — An independent watchdog group says the government has quietly scaled back enforcement of federal quality regulations at labs that develop medical devices.
Obama administration provides only muted response on Pakistan's truce with Taliban militants
Feb 18, 2009 06:23 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — While human rights groups and European officials criticize Pakistan's truce with Taliban fighters, the United States has had little to say.
FDA advisers recommend slight change in seasonal flu vaccine
Feb 18, 2009 05:54 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Government medical advisers on Wednesday issued their recommendations for next season's flu vaccine, the front line defense against a disease that kills an estimated 36,000 people a year.
Federal appeals court bars bringing 17 Turkic Muslim detainees from Guantanamo Bay to US
Feb 18, 2009 05:52 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that 17 Turkic Muslims cleared for release from Guantanamo Bay must stay at the prison camp, raising the stakes for an Obama administration that has pledged to quickly close the facility and free those who have not been charged.
Retired general, FBI chief want Obama to investigate Bush administration's detainee policies
Feb 18, 2009 05:50 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The former general who investigated abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison is joining an ex-FBI director and others in seeking a presidential commission to investigate the Bush administration's treatment of terror detainees.
Analysis: Mortgage holders, once a target of Obama, get incentives in his foreclosure plan
Feb 18, 2009 05:29 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The same mortgage lenders that candidate Barack Obama accused last year of causing the housing mess would get a windfall from President Obama's government under his foreclosure rescue program.
Criminal offenders in federal courts more likely Hispanic due to immigration, enforcement
Feb 18, 2009 05:25 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hispanics outnumber other ethnic groups among criminal offenders in the federal courts due in part to the crackdown on illegal immigration, according to a study released Wednesday.
Report finds real-world CSI's lack consistent standards, training
Feb 18, 2009 03:50 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Crime labs nationwide must be overhauled to prevent the types of mistakes that put innocent people in prison and leave criminals out on the street, researchers have concluded.
Sources: Feds interviewed Pettitte in inquiry whether Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs
Feb 18, 2009 03:48 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have interviewed Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte as they investigate whether his former teammate Roger Clemens lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
AP Interview: EPA chief says agency will pass judgment on risk posed by global warming
Feb 18, 2009 03:10 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Lisa Jackson, the new EPA administrator, the next step for the agency when it comes to climate change will be decided by a single question: Do heat-trapping gases pose a risk?
Razor-thin stimulus vote highlights stakes of Senate recount for Coleman, Franken in Minn.
Feb 18, 2009 03:06 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Neither side is giving an inch in Minnesota's protracted Senate election fight, and the tiny margin used to secure the newly passed economic stimulus package is a vivid reminder of why.
2 top Ohio Democrats running for US Senate in 2010 seeking to replace Sen. George Voinovich
Feb 17, 2009 08:23 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Two of Ohio's most prominent Democrats said Tuesday they intend to run in 2010 for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. George Voinovich.
White House: Government-backed bankruptcy could be option for struggling automakers
Feb 17, 2009 01:58 PM
DENVER (AP) — The White House says it has not closed the door to a government-backed bankruptcy for struggling automakers.
Hillary Clinton delivers sharp warning as North Korea escalates rhetoric
Feb 17, 2009 01:08 PM
TOKYO (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton talked tough on her first overseas trip as America's top diplomat, delivering a sharp warning to North Korea on Tuesday over its threat to conduct a missile test.
In rare praise of Venezuela, US calls referendum democratic
Feb 17, 2009 12:45 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says the referendum that cleared the way for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election was democratic. It was rare praise for a U.S. antagonist after years of criticism from the Bush administration.
Obama signs $787 billion stimulus bill, readies $50 billion proposal to help homeowners
Feb 18, 2009 12:32 AM
DENVER (AP) — Racing to reverse the country's economic spiral, President Barack Obama signed the mammoth stimulus package into law Tuesday and readied a new $50 billion foreclosure rescue for legions of Americans who are in danger of losing their homes.
Obama's past comments on Japan, North Korea
Feb 17, 2009 11:41 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said during the campaign that he would work to rebuild alliances and establish an effective framework in Asia to deal with security threats.
Obama finds Shaq's size 23 sneaker a shoe difficult to fill
Feb 17, 2009 09:54 PM
PHOENIX (AP) — What's the ideal gift for a basketball-obsessed president? Try a size 23 sneaker personally autographed by Shaquille O'Neal.
Republicans using economic stimulus debate to restore image of fiscal discipline
Feb 17, 2009 09:15 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking political traction, Republicans are using the economic stimulus package to try to restore an image of fiscal discipline tarnished by a free-spending GOP Congress under former President George W. Bush.
Highlights of $787 billion stimulus plan
Feb 17, 2009 09:07 PM
Highlights of the $787 billion bill signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama. Additional debt costs would add about $330 billion over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years.
Product recalls: kosher chicken pasta meal, Evenflo Activity Centers
Feb 17, 2009 06:16 PM
The following recall has been announced:
Beyond jobs: Obama wants stimulus to make schools do better
Feb 17, 2009 06:01 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama wants to do more than save teachers' jobs or renovate classrooms with his economic recovery bill. He wants to transform the federal government's role in education.
Education spending in President Obama's stimulus bill
Feb 17, 2009 04:58 PM
The economic recovery bill passed last week will spend at least $100 billion on education. Here is how the money will be spent:
NRC issues rules for new reactors to withstand impact from a large aircraft
Feb 17, 2009 04:00 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday required makers of new nuclear power plants to design the reactors so they can withstand the impact from a commercial jetliner.
Government's economic stimulus plan likely to affect all Americans with tax cuts, spending
Feb 17, 2009 03:58 PM
An examination of how the economic stimulus plan will affect Americans.
Defense officials say Obama approves several thousand new troops for Afghanistan war
Feb 17, 2009 03:42 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense and congressional officials say President Barack Obama has approved an increase in U.S. forces for the flagging war in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is expected to announce on Tuesday or Wednesday that it will send one additional Army brigade and an unknown number of Marines to Afghanistan this spring. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the total is about 17,000 troops.
Army commanders rethinking plan to cut US troops in Europe, want to leave at current 42,000
Feb 17, 2009 03:33 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army is again reconsidering its plan for drawing down troops in Europe and thinking of leaving more troops there than earlier planned.
PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama's plan to let public track spending will be incomplete at first
Feb 17, 2009 03:29 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama promised taxpayers they could track each of the billions and billions of dollars in spending Congress has approved to stimulate the nation's flailing economy and save its banks. It's a promise that's going to be difficult, if not impossible, to keep.
Justice names new attorneys to handle prosecutorial misconduct allegations in Stevens case
Feb 17, 2009 03:23 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is assigning the corruption case of former Sen. Ted Stevens to a different legal team to handle allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.
AP Exclusive: Despite Obama call for open government, Justice resists disclosing Bush secrets
Feb 17, 2009 03:03 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite President Obama's promise of more open government, the Justice Department is resisting pressure to release documents the Bush administration kept secret about domestic wiretapping, data collection on travelers and U.S. citizens, and interrogation of suspected terrorists.
Obama returns to capital, aide says decision on new troops to Afghanistan looming soon
Feb 16, 2009 02:36 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama plans to make a decision soon about sending additional troops to Afghanistan, his chief spokesman said Monday.
THE INFLUENCE GAME: Labor and business, joined in health care cause, now at odds on specifics
Feb 16, 2009 11:41 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Labor unions and business groups have teamed up in a multimillion-dollar national lobbying campaign to pressure President Barack Obama and Congress for big changes in the nation's health care system. But as they get down to the specifics, their strange-bedfellows alliance is quietly at odds.
Former President Clinton gives President Barack Obama high marks on handling economic problems
Feb 16, 2009 09:34 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said Monday he thinks the country will surmount the current economic crisis, but sees the threat of terrorism and global instability as a longer-term problem.
States must set priorities, manage expectations as they divide up money from stimulus plan
Feb 16, 2009 09:19 AM
NEW YORK (AP) — It may sound like a nice problem for states — figuring out how to spend the billions in infrastructure funding they'll receive as part of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan.
New York's pro-gun Sen. Gillibrand moves 2 rifles from under her bed after news report on them
Feb 16, 2009 07:14 PM
NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, whose pro-gun stance has attracted criticism from fellow New York Democrats, has moved two rifles she kept under her bed for protection because of news reports about the weapons.
Administration pushes ahead with economic plan including bank rescue and mortgage relief
Feb 16, 2009 04:29 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is not letting widespread criticism of the rollout of its revamped bank bailout plan slow down its efforts to address the worst financial crisis in seven decades.
Historians rank Lincoln as best president, George W. Bush 36 out of 42
Feb 15, 2009 02:05 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Just days after the nation honored the 200th anniversary of his birth, 65 historians ranked Abraham Lincoln as the nation's best president.
White House officials seek revisions to limits on executive compensation imposed by Congress
Feb 15, 2009 12:47 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a stricter approach to limiting executive bonuses than it had favored, the Obama administration wants to revise that part of the stimulus package even after it becomes law, White House officials said Sunday.
Stalled effort to clean up abandoned mines expected to get kick-start through stimulus bill
Feb 15, 2009 11:46 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — When the Beal Mountain mine opened in 1988 near Butte, Mont., its owner promoted open-pit cyanide leaching for extracting gold from ore as modern and environmentally friendly.
Axelrod: Order from Obama coming soon to lift federal ban on funding for stem cell research
Feb 15, 2009 10:58 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Expect an executive order soon from President Barack Obama on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
For Obama, playing basketball is more than exercise; also helps relieve stress
Feb 15, 2009 10:08 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama without a basketball?
Gibbs: Stimulus points toward recovery but says economy still not at bottom
Feb 15, 2009 09:57 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says he thinks "it's safe to say" the economy hasn't bottomed out yet. But he predicts the $787 billion stimulus measure that the president plans to sign on Tuesday will put the country on the road to recovery.
McCain cites bad bipartisan start with Obama, calls for new beginning
Feb 15, 2009 09:44 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama failed to include Republicans in writing the big economic stimulus bill.
Clinton says North Korea needs to dismantle nuclear programs as first trip gets under way
Feb 15, 2009 09:30 PM
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned North Korea on Sunday that it needs to live up to its commitments to dismantle its nuclear programs.
Senior Obama adviser says positive impact of economic stimulus package will be quickly evident
Feb 15, 2009 08:45 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's senior White House adviser says Americans will soon see positive effects of the massive economic stimulus plan passed last week by Congress.
Obama visits University of Chicago campus to shoot hoops with friends
Feb 15, 2009 08:25 PM
CHICAGO (AP) — President Barack Obama dropped by the University of Chicago campus Sunday for two hours of basketball with friends.
Estimates of abandoned mines in 13 states
Feb 15, 2009 05:10 AM
Estimate by the Government Accountability Office of the number of abandoned hardrock mines and hazards by state:
Congress goes further than Obama in limiting executive pay for failing banks' executives
Feb 14, 2009 02:54 PM
CHICAGO (AP) — President Barack Obama's economic team tried to keep Democratic allies negotiating the stimulus bill from limiting paychecks for executives at banks in need of a bailout. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and economic aide Lawrence Summers failed.
In message airing during NBA all-star game, Obama urged people to commit to community service
Feb 14, 2009 01:59 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's another call for public service from President Barack Obama.
President and Mrs. Obama plan White House concert to honor Stevie Wonder
Feb 14, 2009 12:48 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is planning a concert this month to honor Stevie Wonder, whose music provided part of President Barack Obama's campaign soundtrack.
US to participate in planning for UN racism conference despite anti-Israel concerns
Feb 14, 2009 10:50 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration said late Saturday it would participate in planning for a U.N. conference on racism despite concerns the meeting will be used by Arab nations and others to criticize Israel.
Aviation industry ponders the role of ice in probe of plane crash into NY home
Feb 14, 2009 07:36 PM
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Every time ice is suspected of bringing down a plane, the volume rises on how best to protect aircraft from the all-too-common and all-too-disastrous phenomenon. And each time, the conversation fades before significant changes are made.
West Wing: Proximity to power more important than room with a view
Feb 14, 2009 07:16 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of the most coveted office space on the planet doesn't necessarily come with a picture window, a decent TV — or even much room to work.
The recovery plan: Washington gives nation an $800B jolt of economic shock therapy
Feb 14, 2009 06:06 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — America is bringing shock and awe to the home front, using dollars instead of bombs.
After harrowing week at home, Geithner finds more receptive audience among finance officials
Feb 14, 2009 05:05 PM
ROME (AP) — This was no Roman holiday for Timothy Geithner.
Highlights of compromise House-Senate economic stimulus plan
Feb 14, 2009 04:55 AM
Highlights of a $787 billion compromise version of President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan. Additional debt costs would add about $330 billion over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years.
Study: Immigration officials deported over 100,000 parents of US-born children in last decade
Feb 14, 2009 04:46 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Immigration officials are reviewing whether to gather more information about parents they deport whose children may be U.S. citizens and are left behind.
Obama administration sees stimulus bill as a head start toward health reform
Feb 14, 2009 04:07 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is using the economic stimulus package to show it has made serious progress on the president's health agenda, perhaps softening the blow if Congress fails to comprehensively address the issue this year.
Obama calls king of Spain, apologizes for missing his upcoming trip to Fla.
Feb 13, 2009 08:06 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama told Spain's King Juan Carlos on Friday he's sorry he will miss the king's upcoming visit to Florida, the White House said.
Congress is out, so it's bon voyage as lawmakers make official visits overseas
Feb 13, 2009 04:55 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — See ya!
Sen. Kennedy not planning to make final Senate vote on economic stimulus
Feb 13, 2009 02:33 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Edward Kennedy, battling brain cancer, is in Florida and will miss the final Senate vote on the economic stimulus package.
Obama to outline plan to help struggling homeowners on Wednesday
Feb 13, 2009 01:52 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama will outline his plan to help struggling homeowners on Wednesday.
President Obama says plane crash underscores fragility of life, offers condolences to families
Feb 13, 2009 01:29 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Friday offered condolences to the families and friends of those killed in a commuter plane crash in upstate New York. He called one of the victims, a Sept. 11 widow whom he saw just last week, "an inspiration to me and to so many others."
Obama's approach to missile defense in Europe seen as hinting at delay or deal with Russia
Feb 13, 2009 01:13 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scuttle the planned U.S. missile defense system in Europe. Use the costly Bush administration project as a bargaining chip in broader security talks involving Russia.
House leaders urge GM, Chrysler to produce 'credible' plans to restructure companies
Feb 13, 2009 12:10 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — House leaders are urging General Motors and Chrysler to submit credible restructuring plans next week to the Obama administration.
Solana says Clinton and Lavrov to meet next month amid opening for US-Russian relations
Feb 13, 2009 11:47 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-Russian relations are looking up.
CORRECTION: Lithuania defense minister story
Feb 13, 2009 10:57 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a Feb. 11 story about an interview with the Lithuania defense minister, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry had said the country is considering accepting as many as 10 Guantanamo Bay prisoners. A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Jurgita Dapkute, had confirmed that Lithuania was considering taking detainees, but did not specify how many. The number 10 should have been attributed to Lithuanian media.
Senate Roll Call: How they voted on the economic stimulus bill
Feb 13, 2009 10:52 PM
The 60-38 roll call by which the Senate on Friday passed an $787 billion economic recovery plan.
Court officials say evidence linking vaccines to autism is weak and unpersuasive
Feb 13, 2009 09:53 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bitter feuding over a possible link between vaccines and autism won't go away despite a strong rejection of that theory by a special federal court.
Gregg says he pulled out as commerce secretary because he was 'a little too conservative'
Feb 13, 2009 09:00 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Judd Gregg said Friday that he pulled out of the job of commerce secretary after realizing that "I'm just going to be a little too conservative" for President Barack Obama's administration.
Maryland woman charged with illegal export of miniature aircraft controls to China
Feb 13, 2009 08:06 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Maryland woman was charged Friday with exporting miniature controls for small unmanned aircraft to China.
Stimulus plan includes new car incentives; tax breaks not expected to give major sales boost
Feb 13, 2009 06:11 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers are expected to receive a tax break for the purchase of a new car this year but it may not have much impact on the steep decline in auto sales.
Critics say huge increase for weatherization in economic stimulus won't be spent wisely
Feb 13, 2009 05:21 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Critics of the $787 billion economic stimulus program are not really balking over caulking: They just don't think pouring substantially more money into home weatherization will give a quick kick to the reeling economy.
Auto suppliers ask Obama administration for up to $25.5 billion in aid
Feb 13, 2009 05:13 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Auto suppliers asked the Obama administration Friday for up to $25.5 billion in loans and government guarantees to stabilize the battered U.S. auto industry.
For Obama, it's back to the drawing board for 3rd time to search for commerce secretary
Feb 13, 2009 05:08 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Add this to Barack Obama's to-do list: Find a commerce secretary — for a third time.
F-22 fighter jets could be facing funding cuts as Pentagon plans for 2010
Feb 13, 2009 05:02 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon spokesman said Friday the military must tighten its budget belt by looking at ways to share equipment and services instead of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines each paying for its own.
Analysis: Gregg withdrawal hands a new distraction to Obama amid economic crisis
Feb 13, 2009 04:58 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Quick, who headed the Commerce Department under President George W. Bush?
Lawmakers add tax breaks for motorcyles, motor homes to stimulus to help home-state industries
Feb 13, 2009 04:49 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Add motorcycles and motor homes to the list of things buyers can get federal tax breaks for, courtesy of lawmakers and lobbyists who won eleventh-hour additions to the stimulus bill to help home-state industries.
Supreme Court says Justice Ginsburg's cancer has not spread; she returns home after surgery
Feb 13, 2009 04:45 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's cancer was found at the earliest stage and has not spread beyond her pancreas, the court said Friday.
To victors go the spoils: Who's up and who's down as stimulus package heads to Obama's desk
Feb 13, 2009 04:08 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama is scoring a monster victory three weeks into his presidency with the economic stimulus deal. But he's taken some hits along the way and ultimately will be judged on whether he is able to cure an economy that is mired in recession.
Ohio senator returns from mother's memorial for decisive vote
Feb 13, 2009 03:53 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Sherrod Brown is returning from his mother's memorial services for what could be the decisive 60th vote needed to send the $787 billion economic stimulus plan to President Barack Obama.
Obama laughs about his failed pick to lead Commerce Dept. during Lincoln speech
Feb 12, 2009 09:58 PM
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Hours after his pick for commerce secretary dropped out of consideration, President Barack Obama joked that maybe Abraham Lincoln would have liked the job.
Gregg: 'Huge error on my part' to take commerce job in Obama administration
Feb 12, 2009 05:44 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — "A huge error on my part."
Lawmakers strip $50 billion pro-nuclear loan guarantee program from stimulus package
Feb 12, 2009 05:22 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A proposal to increase a loan guarantee program for innovative energy projects by $50 billion has been stripped from the economic recovery package after environmentalists argued it would primarily benefit the nuclear industry.
'Buy American' clause in stimulus package stirs concern over possible trade war
Feb 12, 2009 05:02 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Organized labor and many Democrats are selling a "Buy American" clause in the economic stimulus package as a commonsense measure in legislation designed to put Americans to work. Industry groups offer a starkly different outlook, seeing it as protectionism that could lead to destructive trade wars.
Obama's selections for top administration posts who later withdrew from consideration
Feb 12, 2009 04:50 PM
President Barack Obama's choices for Cabinet posts and other top administration positions who have withdrawn from consideration:
Statement from Gregg on withdrawal of nomination as Commerce secretary
Feb 12, 2009 04:24 PM
Here is the statement from Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., on his decision Thursday to withdraw his nomination as Commerce secretary:
Love, White House style: Obamas inspire fascination with openly affectionate marriage
Feb 12, 2009 04:02 PM
NEW YORK (AP) — She's a busy mother of two and a full-time executive at a film distribution company, but sometimes Susan Margolin can't help it: She Googles Barack and Michelle Obama, not to check on his latest policy initiatives, but to see what they're doing as a couple.
SPIN METER: Congress televises rhetoric, but dealmaking remains behind the scenes
Feb 12, 2009 03:33 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a serious scene: Around a blue felt-covered table, under an ornate crystal chandelier, sat 10 of the most powerful members of Congress, before them four-inch stacks of paper, apparently the bill that will spend the most taxpayer dollars of any legislation in the nation's history.
US Navy seizes suspected pirates for second day in a row in Gulf of Aden
Feb 12, 2009 01:58 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second day in a row, the U.S. Navy on Thursday captured suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden after a merchant ship sent a distress call saying it was under attack.
Special court rules against families who claim measles vaccine caused children's autism
Feb 12, 2009 10:12 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A special court has ruled against parents with autistic children, saying that vaccines are not to blame for their children's neurological disorder.
Stimulus offers billions in tax cuts for workers, homebuyers, college students and businesses
Feb 12, 2009 09:24 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of workers would soon see an extra $13 in their weekly paychecks and thousands of small businesses operating in the red could get tax refunds under the economic recovery bill nearing completion in Congress. Businesses won't fare as well as they did in earlier versions of the legislation. But most of the tax cuts for families and individuals were preserved, though some were reduced.
Government veteran Leon Panetta confirmed by Senate to head CIA
Feb 12, 2009 09:18 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Leon Panetta as director of the CIA on Thursday, placing the nation's top spy agency in the hands of a government veteran valued for his skills as a lawmaker and policy manager rather than an expert at intelligence-gathering and analysis.
As public digests mammoth spending plan, Obama eyes next goals, hurdles
Feb 12, 2009 07:33 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Now what?
Intel official: Afghanistan, Pakistan losing ground, economic crisis is biggest looming threat
Feb 12, 2009 07:30 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan are losing ground to insurgents and terrorists but the most immediate threat to U.S. security interests is the festering global economic crisis, the nation's top intelligence official told Congress on Thursday.
Will the stimulus work? It will help, but don't expect quick turnaround for jobs, economy
Feb 12, 2009 06:57 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — No, the big stimulus plan won't "save or create 3.5 million jobs," as the president and congressional Democrats claim — at least not this year.
Poorest Americans should get more food stamps, unemployment help, tax credits in stimulus bill
Feb 12, 2009 06:02 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 37 million Americans live in poverty, and the vast majority of them are in line for extra help under the giant stimulus package coming out of Congress. Millions more could be kept from slipping into poverty by the economic lifeline.
Gregg withdrawal of nomination as commerce secretary creates uncertainty in plans for census
Feb 12, 2009 05:56 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Partisan bickering is complicating next year's high-stakes census count of the nation's population.
Administration official says Obama to name Seattle police chief to be nation's drug czar
Feb 12, 2009 05:41 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has selected Seattle's police chief to be the nation's next drug czar, an administration official said Thursday.
US intel chief: US wants to make sure military conflict 'unattractive' to China and Taiwan
Feb 12, 2009 05:31 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's top intelligence official suggested Thursday that China's massive military spending will spur continued U.S. arms sales to Taiwan to maintain a military balance in the potentially dangerous Taiwan Strait.
Congressman invites baseball star Alex Rodriguez to anti-steroids event
Feb 12, 2009 05:26 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressman has extended an invitation to baseball star Alex Rodriguez to discuss steroids — at an anti-drug event in Maryland.
NTSB: Birds sucked into engines of airliner that ditched in Hudson River were Canada geese
Feb 12, 2009 05:23 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bird remains found in both engines of the US Airways jetliner that ditched into New York's Hudson River last month have been identified as Canada geese, federal safety officials said Thursday.
E-mails: State Department official asks to delay Gitmo detainee release to avoid bad publicity
Feb 12, 2009 05:22 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the U.S. was accused of human rights abuses, a State Department official advised the military to delay sending Guantanamo Bay prisoners home in order to avoid more bad publicity.
Obama administration urged to extradite 'Merchant of Death' from Thailand for trial in US
Feb 12, 2009 05:19 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Russian businessman known as the "Merchant of Death" is a wanted man in Washington.
White House regrets Sen. Judd Gregg's 'change of heart' as commerce secretary
Feb 12, 2009 05:19 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it regrets what it calls Sen. Judd Gregg's "change of heart." Gregg on Thursday abruptly withdrew from consideration to be commerce secretary. In a statement, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says it was Gregg who first "reached out to the President" and offered to be commerce secretary.
Congress kills plan, approved in Senate stimulus bill, to recover Wall Street bonuses
Feb 12, 2009 05:19 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have killed a plan that would have forced financial institutions to compensate taxpayers if they paid their executives large bonuses after receiving federal bailout money.
Pentagon investigators head to Afghanistan to assess US training of local security forces
Feb 12, 2009 05:02 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — A team of Pentagon investigators will travel to Afghanistan next month to determine whether the U.S. is doing enough to train and equip local security forces.
Egypt says Clinton to attend Gaza aid conference in Cairo
Feb 12, 2009 04:17 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will attend an international donors conference next month in Cairo aimed at raising money to rebuild Gaza after Israel's recent military operations against Palestinian militants there, a senior Egyptian official said.
With spring training around corner, steroids are front and center: Tejada pleads guilty
Feb 12, 2009 03:47 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Miguel Tejada's steroids-related conviction had nothing to do with using a banned substance.
Obama raised $4.5 million for transition to White House
Feb 12, 2009 03:29 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama raised $4.5 million from private donors to help him and his team make the transition to the White House.
Rice says Obama's election is heartening to people around the world
Dec 28, 2008 05:02 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the country is not "race-blind" and "we shouldn't deceive ourselves that we're race-blind," but said the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president was a key moment in history.
Text of President Bush's statement on auto industry rescue package
Dec 19, 2008 10:02 AM
Text of President George W. Bush's remarks delivered Friday at the White House on financial assistance to troubled auto makers:
Bush says Iraq war 'decisively on its way to being won'
Dec 06, 2008 10:25 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President George W. Bush said Saturday the U.S.-Iraqi security pact approved this week calls for 150,000 American troops to be withdrawn from Iraq in two stages — all by the end of 2011.
Senate OKs bill with automakers loans, end to coastal drilling ban, aid for disaster victims
Sep 28, 2008 07:33 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Automakers gained $25 billion in taxpayer-subsidized loans and oil companies won elimination of a long-standing ban on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as the Senate passed a sprawling spending bill Saturday.
