US News

Pope to make first visit to US

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:02:02 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit to the United States as pontiff next year, and plans to visit the White House, ground zero and speak at the United Nations, Archbishop Pietro Sambi told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Monday.

N.H. poised to influence GOP race

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:10:40 GMT

USATODAY.com New Hampshire is known for turning Republican presidential primaries upside down.

It could happen again in 2008.

Veterans Day Honors All Americans' Military Service

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:04:49 GMT

VOA News The United States is observing Veterans Day, a day to remember and celebrate those who have served in the country's military.

Feds launch criminal investigation into San Francisco oil spill

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:55:52 GMT

A federal criminal investigation has been opened into an oil spill in San Francisco Bay that began when a cargo ship that hit the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge last week, the U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday.

Norman Mailer, Towering Writer With Matching Ego, Is Dead

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:35:00 GMT

New York Times Norman Mailer, the combative, controversial and often outspoken novelist who loomed over American letters longer and larger than any other writer of his generation, died early yesterday in Manhattan. He was 84...

Broken Supply Channel Sent Arms for Iraq Astray

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:22:25 GMT

New York Times As the insurgency in Iraq escalated in the spring of 2004, American officials entrusted an Iraqi businessman with issuing weapons to Iraqi police cadets training to help quell the violence.

Thompson Hopes to Woo Independents

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:33:21 GMT

Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said Sunday "the political pendulum is swinging" against his party, and Republicans needs to work harder to win over independent voters.

Ship's speed is focus of Bay Area oil spill probe

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 22:55:39 GMT

Coast Guard investigators were trying to determine whether a cargo ship's speed and possible communication problems led to a collision that resulted in the San Francisco Bay's worst oil spill in nearly two decades.

Obama to Push Higher Social Security Tax

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:09:38 GMT

Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday he will push for higher Social Security taxes if elected, viewing it as the best option for improving the retirement program's finances.

Supreme Court Could Take Guns Case

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:09:14 GMT

ON (AP) - Supreme Court justices have track records that make predicting their rulings on many topics more than a mere guess. Then there is the issue of the Second Amendment and guns, about which the court has said virtually nothing in nearly 70 years.

That could change in the next few months.

Explosion on Navy cruiser injures 6 in Calif.

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:03:09 GMT

An explosion in the hull of a Navy cruiser during routine maintenance injured six workers on Saturday, one of them critically, authorities said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: 'Bush clearly does not understand the Constitution'

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:00:04 GMT

"The time is long overdue," says Sanders, "for [Congress] begin to stand up and explain to this president, who thinks that he can veto virtually every piece of legislation we send him; that ignores the Constitution of this country -- I think it is time that we begin to stand up."

U.S. military says finding more Iranian arms in Iraq

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:46:30 GMT

The quantity of Iranian bomb-making components being found in Iraq is increasing despite a fall in attacks and 20 Iranian-trained agents are still operating south of Baghdad, a top U.S. general said on Sunday.

Coast Guard: Ship disaster due to human error

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:46:18 GMT

A preliminary investigation found human error caused a cargo ship to crash into the Bay Bridge, leading to San Francisco Bay's worst oil spill in nearly two decades, the U.S. Coast Guard said Saturday as rescue teams raced to save hundreds of seabirds and locals questioned why it took the Coast Guard four hours to report how significant the spill was.

Officer a suspect in missing wife case

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:50:02 GMT

Kathleen Savio tried to get someone to believe that her life was in danger. She told authorities, who charged her with domestic battery instead of her husband Drew Peterson. Savio told her family that if she died, no matter what it looked like, her death would be no accident.

Illness breaks out aboard NCL cruise ship

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:10:41 GMT

State health officials said they were contacted to run laboratory tests for Norwegian Cruise Lines to determine what sickened more than 400 of the 2,500 passengers aboard the Pride of Hawaii.

Vietnam Memorial turning 25 as artifacts grow

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:23:45 GMT

Since the memorial was completed in 1982, it has become a de facto shrine with more than 100,000 offerings for the dead and messages from survivors left by the millions who visit it each year.

Thompson Sets Social Security View -

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:52:42 GMT

WSJ.com Although former Sen. Fred Thompson entered the presidential race late, he ventured Friday into an area few rivals have tread: advocacy of a fundamental overhaul of Social Security.

Health Insurer Tied Bonuses To Dropping Sick Policyholders

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:47:01 GMT

KTLA One of the state's largest health insurers set goals and paid bonuses based in part on how many individual policyholders were dropped and how much money was saved.

Honor those who served

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:41:36 GMT

IThey say the war on terror may never have an Armistice Day like the one that effectively ended the first World War 89 years ago Sunday, at the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month."

That means the current war footing could become the norm for the United States. If so, the nation faces many more casualties on faraway battlegrounds. Over time it also will risk seeing military service taken for granted, as if defending the nation is just another career choice and the military just another workplace.

They are anything but....