Military divorces increasing from war stress
WASHINGTON (AP) — The divorce rate in the armed forces continues to edge higher, despite efforts by the military to help struggling couples. There were an estimated 27,312 divorces among roughly 765,000 married members of the active-duty Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, the Pentagon reported Friday.
White House: State dinner crashers met Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — This time, the picture is the story. After the Secret Service insisted that President Barack Obama was never endangered by a security breach that allowed a couple to crash his first state dinner, the White House has released a photo showing that not only did the pair get close to Obama, they actually shook hands and talked to him.
White House endorses IAEA censure of Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says a vote by the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board to censure Iran over its disputed nuclear program shows the "growing international deficit of confidence" in Iran's intentions. Iran has refused to immediately halt construction of a newly revealed nuclear facility. It also has ignored U.N. Security Council resolutions urging it to stop enriching uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon.
Insuring young key to health care overhaul plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The young invincibles. That's what the insurance industry calls them. They're the 13.7 million Americans under 30 who don't have health insurance because, they firmly believe, they just don't need it. Why waste money on something they're too healthy to ever use?
Nader noncommittal to Conn. Senate run
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Consumer activist and Connecticut native Ralph Nader said Friday he is "absorbing" the reaction he's receiving about a possible bid for the U.S. Senate, saying he wants to first gauge the level of grassroots support before making a decision. Many people have called on Nader to jump into the hotly contested race to challenge Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd, who has been struggling in recent polls. Nader said he's getting increasingly more requests from Connecticut Green Party members, independents and supporters of Ned Lamont, the upstart Democrat who challenged Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 election.
Tis the season: White House Christmas tree arrives
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is open for Christmas. A day after celebrating Thanksgiving, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha received the official White House Christmas tree: an 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir delivered from a farm in Shepherdstown, W.Va., by traditional horse-drawn carriage.
Obama set to meet with Australian prime minister
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will meet with the Australian prime minister at the White House on Monday. The White House said in a statement Friday that Obama and Kevin Rudd will discuss a range of issues, including the war in Afghanistan and the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen.
Off the mound, Pirates pitcher pursues farm policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — An e-mail requesting an internship arrived at the Agriculture Department this summer with an impressive resume: Princeton University degree in operations research and financial engineering, 3.8 college GPA, 1520 SATs. Ross Ohlendorf didn't mention his 95 mph sinking fastball, but it probably wouldn't have hurt his chances. Department officials were impressed that the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher wanted to work for them in the offseason.
No decisions in high court's horn of plenty
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time under Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court failed to issue opinions before Thanksgiving in any of the cases that were argued in recent months. The court operates under no deadlines, but usually produces an opinion or two by the middle of November, especially if Roberts or the equally speedy Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is writing for a unanimous court.
Obama telephones thanks to 10 US service members
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama enjoyed a quiet first Thanksgiving at the White House, telephoning U.S. servicemen and women stationed around the world and spending time in the company of his family and friends. Obama placed calls from the Oval Office to 10 U.S. servicemen and women — two each in the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Marines and the Coast Guard — stationed in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in the Persian Gulf.
