In the News: Mar-04

Wartime troop brain injures could reach 360,000 - 4 Mar 2009 at 2:57pm - WASHINGTON -- The number of U.S. troops who have suffered wartime brain injuries may be as high as 360,000 and could cast more attention on such injuries among civilians, Defense Department doctors said Wednesday.

Obama picks Florida's Fugate to head FEMA - 4 Mar 2009 at 2:51pm - WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday tapped Florida emergency manager Craig Fugate to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency, turning to a Republican appointee who has steered the Southern state through numerous hurricanes since 2001.

Obama orders major changes in federal contracting - 4 Mar 2009 at 2:47pm - WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the way the U.S. government awards contracts to businesses, reversing a Bush administration policy that in some cases led to federal investigations of procurement practices and no-bid contracts.

United States rejoins U.N. rights council - 4 Mar 2009 at 2:27pm - The United States returned Wednesday to the U.N. Human Rights Council, a body it left nine months ago saying it was biased against Israel and had failed to confront notorious rights abusers. The United States informed the council it will resume participating in meetings as an active observer. Observer status means the United States can engage in debate but not vote.

Feds unveil plan to help 9 million stay in homes - 4 Mar 2009 at 2:20pm - WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration kicked off a new program Wednesday that's designed to help up to 9 million borrowers stay in their homes through refinanced mortgages or loans that are modified to lower monthly payments.

Brown: Sen. Kennedy awarded honorary knighthood - 4 Mar 2009 at 11:24am - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told Congress that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has been awarded honorary knighthood.

Thought for the day:
In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination. -Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)