Updated: 03/11/10 8:44 AM
A final agreement nearly in hand, President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders are about to embark on one last sales job that will determine the outcome of the president's signature health care overhaul.
Biden implores Israel, Palestinians to make peace
Updated: 03/11/10 10:30 AM
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday implored Israelis and Palestinians to move beyond a diplomatic spat that has marred his trip to the region, urging the sides to waste no time in resolving their decades-old conflict despite daunting obstacles.
Gates: Iran support for Taliban 'pretty limited'
Updated: 03/11/10 5:15 AM
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Iranian support for the Taliban in Afghanistan isn't much of a problem for the United States - yet.
NJ man accused of raping, beating 5 daughters
Updated: 03/11/10 6:20 AM
A New Jersey man with apocalyptic visions is accused of years of terrorizing his family, raping his five daughters and impregnating three, beating his children with wooden boards and even moving at one point to avoid child welfare investigators.
Other World & Nation News
Greece hit by strikes over austerity plan
Updated: 03/11/10 6:15 AM
Protesters clashed with riot police as more than 10,000 people marched through central Athens Thursday during a nationwide general strike against the government's harsh new austerity measures.
Census campaign targets tech-savvy Hispanic youth
Updated: 03/11/10 8:45 AM
Groups pushing for robust Hispanic participation in the 2010 census are enlisting a new corps of foot-soldiers in their battle to reach that hard-to-count demographic: tech-savvy, smart-phone-toting young people.
Mexico's Slim becomes 'world's richest' person
Updated: 03/11/10 6:45 AM
Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the first man from a developing nation to become the world's richest person - a shift that underlines the loosening of America and Europe's stranglehold on the top spots in the billionaires' club.
Ga.'s system to defend the poor still reeling
Updated: 03/11/10 6:15 AM
Georgia's public defender system is still trying to recover its financial footing five years after a courthouse gunman racked up a $3 million taxpayer-funded defense tab on the way to his conviction.
Afghanistan welcomes Pakistani role in peace talks
Updated: 03/11/10 6:55 AM
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that Pakistan has a key role to play in peace talks with the Taliban, a possible attempt to quash speculation that his government was trying to sideline its neighbor.
State
- Ravitch proposes borrowing $6 billion to tackle deficit
- $200 million Attica debt now costs state $566 million
- Judge dismisses suit on Maid of Mist licensing
- Ravitch says he met with Cuomo about budget
- Paterson keeps normal schedule, rejects calls for his resignation
- Paralympian from Lancaster going for the gold
- Fate in doubt as Paterson is teetering
- State inspectors sent to county jail
- Paterson vows to stay in office
- Paterson insists he won't resign; head of State Police retires
International
- Haitian kidnappers release 2 European aid workers
- UK man plans round-the-world trip in rotorcraft
- UN wildlife watchdog considers ban on bluefin tuna
- France's Sarkozy faces whipping in regional vote
- German schools angry over church abuse scandal
- Bomb planted outside store kills 4 in NW Pakistan
- Libya demands diplomatic concessions from Swiss
- Court OKs extradition of Swede in Auschwitz case
- Vatican criticizes condom machines in Rome school
- BA employee in court on suicide bombing charge
National
- State Department: civilians suffer in Afghan war
- Police: Va. Tech gets threats in online postings
- Mich. congresswoman called to Detroit grand jury
- Talks continue over future of troubled RI school
- Jet to NC returns to NY airport after hitting bird
- Woman cited in icy Ohio crash that flipped officer
- Wis. high court sides with dealer in Volvo dispute
- La. pension system sues to stop FirstEnergy deal
- Ex-New Orleans officer pleads in shooting cover-up
- KC superintendent says school closings are painful
Strange Stories
- PETA offers anti-meat trash cans for Colo. parks
- Police: Burglar uses church equipment to view porn
- Okla. electric crews say bobcat caused outage
- Police: Drunk woman lets 14-year-old son drive
- Midnight knitter pulls the wool over NJ shore town
- Police: Calif. robber holds up 11 people, gets $6
- Man allegedly robs pharmacy, puts cash on counter
- Woman delivers surprise baby, picks up other son
- Pet shop owner claims fish is 43, weighs 20 pounds
- NYC chef creates breast milk cheese
Columns
Eagles on the mend
In a moment when there seems to be so few success stories, this one is worth trumpeting:
State environmental officials say New York’s population of bald eagles may be at its
highest level since efforts began to restore them more than 30 years ago.
More Columns
Another Voice
- Michelle M. Crowell: State must not drop commitment to foreign languages
- Larry Beahan: Proposed bond act would help reclaim environment
- Richard E. Dobson: Sheriff needs to take charge of the jail crisis
- Larry Minnix: America’s seniors can’t afford to wait for reform
Everybody's Column
- Cut postal management before reducing service
- Opponents of bridge must not be ignored
- Time to stop calling bottle deposit a tax
- Writer wrong to judge all in North Collins
My View
- Dennis P. Aures: Show evokes memories of long-ago mornings
- Lynn Minter: Prejudice hits home for a young widow
- Parker Reed: My tax dollars are spent on important programs
- D. John Bray: Arm injury leaves me under house arrest

