Senate OKs health care measure, reaching milestone
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history. The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
Winter storm starts to spread across Midwest
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A major winter storm lumbering across the nation's midsection promised a white Christmas for some but brought headaches for residents without power and travelers crawling along slick, icy roads and dealing with canceled and delayed flights. The worst of the storm was heading northeast across the region Thursday, bringing heavy snow, sleet and rain to a large swath of the Plains and the Midwest. A foot or two of snow was possible in some areas by Christmas Day.
Boy finally reunited with American dad in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian family delivered a 9-year-old boy to his American father in Brazil on Thursday, ending a five-year custody battle. Sean Goldman was brought into the U.S. consulate by several of his Brazilian relatives, making it into the compound's front door as scores of reporters and cameramen tried to get close. His father, David Goldman of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, was waiting for him inside.
Congress raises debt ceiling to $12.4 trillion
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Thursday to raise the ceiling on the government debt to $12.4 trillion, a massive increase over the current limit and a political problem that President Barack Obama has promised to address next year. The Senate's rare Christmas Eve vote, 60-39, follows House passage last week and raises the debt ceiling by $290 billion. The bill permits the Treasury Department to issue enough bonds to fund the government's operations and programs until mid-February. The Senate will vote again on the issue on Jan. 20.
Pakistan Christians celebrate Christmas in fear
GOJRA, Pakistan (AP) — No Christmas decorations brighten the tent camp sheltering Christians left homeless by the worst violence against minorities in Pakistan this year. Instead, there is a pervasive sense of fear. The Christians have received cell phone text messages warning them to expect a "special Christmas present," they say, and are terrified of their tents being torched or their church services being bombed.
3 dead after Philippine sea collision; 24 missing
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Three floating bodies were found as search-and-rescue teams combed the waters of Manila Bay on Thursday for at least 24 people missing after a passenger ferry collided with a fishing boat. Forty-six passengers and crew of the wooden-hulled ferry MV Catalyn B were plucked from the water and brought to the coast guard's Manila headquarters, said coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo. The coast guard alerted all vessels in the area to look for those still missing.
Man in wheelchair surrenders after Va. standoff
WYTHEVILLE, Va. (AP) — A disabled man in a wheelchair who authorities say held three people for more than eight hours inside a small-town Virginia post office surrendered to police after freeing the hostages unharmed. Warren "Gator" Taylor of Sullivan County, Tenn., was being questioned and authorities did not have a motive, state police Sgt. Michael Conroy said.
FTC taking closer look at Google's AdMob purchase
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. antitrust regulators are taking a closer look at Google Inc.'s proposed $750 million purchase of mobile phone marketer AdMob, the latest sign of greater government vigilance as Google tries to expand its advertising empire. The Federal Trade Commission sought more information about the deal this week, according to a Wednesday post on Google's blog.
NJ lawmakers ask MTV to cancel 'Jersey Shore'
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — MTV is getting more pressure to cancel its "Jersey Shore" reality show. The latest criticism comes from the New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus, which says the show promotes derogatory ethnic stereotypes and is "wildly offensive."
TCU's Patterson is AP Coach of the Year
NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Patterson guided TCU to its best season in 70 years on the way to becoming the first Associated Press Coach of the Year from outside the six conferences with automatic BCS bids. Patterson led the Horned Frogs to a perfect regular season, their second Mountain West Conference title, their first BCS appearance and even had them vying for a spot in the national championship game.
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