North America News

Obama prods House to pass health care bill

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says now is the time for Congress to "answer the call of history" and approve legislation revamping the country's health care system.

Obama urges House to `answer the call of history' and pass health care bill

WASHINGTON - Obama urges House to `answer the call of history' and pass health care bill

NY case spotlights Dead Sea Scrolls, fake e-mails

NEW YORK - Students and university officials started getting e-mails last year in which a prominent Judaic studies scholar seemed to make a startling confession.

Perry says he's humbled after visiting wounded

TEMPLE, Texas - Texas governor Rick Perry has visited with wounded victims from the Fort Hood shooting.

Spat over 'terrorists' halts Conn. 9/11 memorial

HARTFORD, Conn. - An effort to honor a Sept. 11 victim in Connecticut has been halted by the unexpected conflict arising from the victim's father insisting that his son's memorial say he was murdered by "Muslim terrorists."

Pelosi: Obama visit inspired Democrats

WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders say President Barack Obama, who made a quick trip to Capitol Hill, inspired their party to pass health care legislation.

George W. Bush visits Fort Hood, wounded soldiers

FORT HOOD, Texas - Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, have visited wounded soldiers and their families after the mass shooting at Fort Hood.

Another attack leaves US Muslims fearing backlash

Colo. man who threatened Obama makes weapons plea

DENVER - A man who threatened to kill Barack Obama last summer just before the Democratic National Convention in Denver has pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges.

Navy ship built with WTC steel to go into service

NEW YORK - A military band played and sailors fired off cannons as the Navy began a ceremony to commission its newest assault ship forged with tons of steel from the World Trade Center.

Muslim leader had troubling talks with suspect

Obama to push lawmakers on health care vote

WASHINGTON (AFP) - - President Barack Obama, his top domestic priority in the balance, was to make a rare in-person plea Saturday for wary lawmakers to cast an historic vote for legislation to remake US health care.

Fla. police: Graffiti artist left work incomplete

PALM BAY, Fla. - Police in Florida say a graffiti artist who apparently ran out of paint midway through a spray-painted creation left a note to potential critics to explain the unfinished work.

Alaska island village hit by suspected swine flu

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Suspected swine flu is sweeping a traditional Eskimo whaling village on a remote Alaska island _ prompting an urgent medical mission to deliver help.

Lawyer: Fla. office shooting suspect mentally ill

ORLANDO, Fla. - The engineer accused of fatally shooting one employee and wounding five others at the firm where he once worked is "very mentally ill" and crumbled under the stress of his divorce, bankruptcy and unemployment, his attorney said Saturday.

States where juveniles serve life terms

Distribution, by state, of juvenile offenders sentenced to life in prison without parole, and the number of juvenile offenders serving such sentences for crimes in which no one was killed: State Life Life-nonfatal crimes Ala. 62 0 Ariz. 32 0 Ark. 73 0 Calif. 250 4 Colo. 48 0 Conn. 9 0 Del. 7 1 Fla. 266 77 Ga. 8 0 Hawaii 4 0 Idaho 4 0 Ill. 103 0 Ind. 2 0 Iowa 44 6 Ky. 5 0 La. 335 17 Md. 13 0 Mass. 57 0 Mich. 346 0 Minn. 2 0 Miss. 24 2 Mo. 116 0 Mont. 1 0 Neb. 24 1 Nev. 16 0 N.H. 3 0 N.C. 44 0 N.D. 1 0 Ohio 2 0 Okla. 48 0 Pa. 444 0 R.I. 2 0 S.C. 26 1 S.D. 9 0 Tenn. 4 0 Texas 4 0 Utah 1 0 Va. 48 0 Wash. 28 0 Wis. 16 0 Wyo. 6 0 Federal Prisons 37 0 ___ Source.

High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

WASHINGTON - Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

House opens debate on historic health bill

WASHINGTON - The House has opened debate on President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul that would extend insurance to tens of millions of Americans and enact dramatic changes to the country's medical system.

House opens debate on health care overhaul bill

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul moved toward a vote in the House Saturday after anti-abortion lawmakers won a chance to knock out language that would let federally subsidized health care plans cover abortions.