News Cycles: Top Stories

Dems sweeten health bill, set showdown Sunday vote (AP)

AP - Historic health care change in the balance, Democrats plowed fresh billions into insurance subsidies for consumers on Thursday and added a $250 rebate for seniors facing high prescription drugs, last-minute sweeteners to sweeping $940 billion legislation headed for a climactic weekend vote.

Obama backs senators' immigration overhaul outline (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama, facing criticism from advocates of immigration reform, pledged Thursday "to do everything in my power" to get immigration legislation moving in Congress this year.

US rep: Pa. Jihad Jane terror suspect cooperated (AP)

AP - A woman accused of trolling the Internet as Jihad Jane and agreeing to marry a suspected terrorist and kill a Swedish artist targeted by radical Muslims cooperated with authorities, a congressman said.

US, Russia clash over startup of Iran nuke plant (AP)

AP - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and her Russian counterpart clashed openly Thursday over the planned launch this summer of Iran's first, Russian-built nuclear power plant, highlighting a split in views over how to steer Iran away from nuclear weapons.

New Dem lawmakers feeling heat on health care (AP)

AP - Freshman Rep. Steve Driehaus is getting it from all sides on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The Ohio Democrat opened his local newspaper, The Cincinnati Enquirer, on Wednesday to find a giant ad urging him to vote against the bill — featuring a photo of him with his two young daughters. Tea party protesters stormed his office and berated his staff.

Feds: Brakes weren't applied on crashed NY Prius (AP)

AP - Computer data from a Toyota Prius that crashed in suburban New York City show that at the time of the accident the throttle was open and the driver was not applying the brakes, U.S. safety officials said Thursday.

Private drama plagues Oscar winner Sandra Bullock (AP)

AP - Sandra Bullock is on a career high. America's Sweetheart and "Miss Congeniality" was repeatedly anointed as Hollywood royalty this year, sweeping awards season and capping it off with an Oscar for her role as a devoted mom in "The Blind Side."

Fess Parker, TV's `Davy Crockett,' dies at 85 (AP)

AP - Fess Parker, a baby-boomer idol in the 1950s who launched a craze for coonskin caps as television's Davy Crockett, died Thursday of natural causes. He was 85.

Pondexter lifts Washington over Marquette 80-78 (AP)

AP - Washington's remarkable late-season run has extended right into the NCAA tournament, thanks to a big shot by the Huskies' senior leader.

NCAA: Wake extends its lead against Wake Forest (AP)

AP - Wake Forest took a 50-40 lead over Texas 5 minutes into the second half, holding Longhorns leading scorer Damion James to five points — 13 below his average — on 1-of-7 shooting.

Healthcare bill to cut deficit: CBO (Reuters)

Reuters - Congressional budget analysts said on Thursday a broad healthcare overhaul would cut the U.S. deficit over 10 years and sharply expand insurance coverage, boosting the momentum for final passage in the House of Representatives.

Israel, U.S. seek to defuse settlement dispute (Reuters)

Reuters - Israel tried to defuse a dispute with the United States on Friday over plans to expand settlements, saying it would propose "confidence-building" steps to the Palestinians to encourage a renewal of peace talks.

Chicago man pleads guilty in Mumbai attack (Reuters)

Obama backs "framework" to revamp immigration (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama, under pressure to keep a campaign promise to revamp U.S. immigration policy, embraced a "promising, bipartisan framework" on Thursday offered by two senior senators.

Brewing tensions between the Tea Party and GOP (Reuters)

Reuters - Some Tea Partiers say they can pinpoint the precise moment when they made it clear to the Republican Party they had no intention of being its lapdog.

Obama scraps Asia-Pacific trip for healthcare push (Reuters)

Reuters - Bowing to political pressure at home, President Barack Obama on Thursday scrapped his trip to Indonesia and Australia next week to stay in Washington for a final push for a healthcare overhaul.

"Jihad Jane" pleads not guilty to terrorism (Reuters)

U.S. says driver error possible in NY Prius crash (Reuters)

Deadly Gaza rocket, air strikes cloud peace talks (AFP)

AFP - International talks on the Middle East set for Friday took on new urgency after Israeli warplanes targeted the Gaza Strip in response to a fatal rocket attack.

Obama drops Indonesia, Australia trip over health care (AFP)

AFP - US President Barack Obama dramatically postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, so he can battle for a historic health reform bill that could shape his legacy.