Ill. prison to get Gitmo detainees
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has ordered the federal government to acquire an underused state prison in rural Illinois to be the new home for a limited number of terror suspects now held at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The federal government will acquire Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., transforming the prison in a sleepy town near the Mississippi River into a prison that meets "supermax standards," according to a letter to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair.
Obama to work to solidify support for health bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of turmoil, President Barack Obama is calling Senate Democrats to the White House to say it's time to come together and pass legislation embracing a wholesale remodeling of America's health care system. The meeting set for Tuesday afternoon comes a day after Senate Democratic leaders suggested they were ready to abandon the last vestiges of a government-run insurance program that liberals have long sought, in order to placate moderates and secure the 60 votes they need to overcome united GOP opposition.
Poll: Action on climate will heat up economy, jobs
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans believe steps taken to reduce global warming pollution will help the U.S. economy than say such measures will hurt it. It's a sign the public is showing more faith in President Barack Obama's economic arguments for limiting heat-trapping gases than in Republican claims that the actions would kill jobs. In an Associated Press-Stanford University poll, 40 percent said U.S. action to slow global warming in the future would create jobs. Slightly more, 46 percent, said it would boost the economy.
Congress rushes to finish work for year
WASHINGTON (AP) — Funding the military, ensuring the jobless don't run out of benefits and maintaining the government's authority to borrow are just a few of the outstanding items as Congress rushes to finish its work in the dwindling days of this year. With the Senate focused solely on health care legislation and no time left to consider bills separately, several of the most important unfinished issues will be attached to a $626 billion defense spending bill the House is expected to take up Wednesday.
House Dem: Short-term debt limit hike will pass
WASHINGTON (AP) — The No. 2 Democrat in the House said Tuesday that Congress will pass a two-month, $200 billion-plus increase in the government's ability to borrow as one of its final acts before closing shop for Christmas. It's a change of plans for Democrats, who had hoped to enact a far larger increase of up to $1.9 trillion to avoid having to cast another unpopular vote to increase the debt limit before next year's midterm elections.
Female vets face homelessness, dearth of services
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The $15,000 that former Army Pvt. Margaret Ortiz had in the bank when she left Iraq is long gone, spent on alcohol and cocaine. By the time she found her way to a program run by the nonprofit U.S. Vets for homeless female veterans in this Southern California city, she'd slept in San Diego on the beach or anywhere she could find after a night of partying. One morning, she woke up behind a trash bin, her pants torn, with no memory of what happened.
AP source: Feds eye NY trial for Gitmo suspect
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors are considering sending a Guantanamo Bay detainee named Majid Khan — who grew up in Maryland before allegedly enlisting with al-Qaida — to face trial in New York, a person familiar with the discussions said Monday. Khan is one of fewer than 20 detainees at the U.S. detention center in Cuba labeled high-value by the U.S. government, meaning someone thought to be a senior member of al-Qaida, or someone with extensive knowledge of the terror network.
Obama promotes home energy efficiency program
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Tuesday that home insulation "is sexy," his newest appeal for Congress to pass incentives for homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient. "Here's what's sexy about it. It saves money," the president said at a Northern Virginia Home Depot store. He was joined at the outlet by members of Congress representing Virginia and labor and business leaders involved in services to lower use of natural resources consumed by homeowners.
Biden: US policy is to advance Afghan stability
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday the United States had no choice but to substantially increase its presence in Afghanistan because America would be "in real trouble" if the Karzai government fails. But Biden also acknowledged in a nationally broadcast interview that much of the terrorist threat originates in neighboring Pakistan, and said the Obama administration is redoubling efforts to get greater cooperation from Islamabad.
50 million blinds recalled as strangulation hazard
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government and the window covering industry on Tuesday recalled more than 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds because of the risk children may be strangled by the cords. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said five deaths and 16 near-strangulations from Roman shades have been reported since 2006, while three deaths connected to roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.
