AP coverage of US Airways splashdown in Hudson River gets APME deadline reporting award

NEW YORK — AP’s fast, multidimensional coverage of the splashdown of a passenger jet into the Hudson River has been honored for Deadline Reporting by the Associated Press Managing Editors Association.

RI’s Touro Synagogue, oldest existing Jewish house of worship in US, opens new visitors center

NEWPORT, R.I. — The Touro Synagogue was barely 25 years old when George Washington offered a vision of religious tolerance in a letter he sent its congregants.

Analysis: Some Obama health care math doesn’t compute; he may be headed for same trap as Bush

WASHINGTON — Some of President Barack Obama’s health care numbers don’t seem to add up. And that’s complicating his efforts to pass his top domestic priority.

Filipinos pledge to carry on Corazon Aquino’s legacy at wake by safeguarding democracy

MANILA, Philippines — Weeping mourners have been paying their respects at the wake of former President Corazon Aquino, with some pledging to carry on her legacy by protecting the democracy she helped install 23 years ago.

Philippines, world leaders mourn democracy icon, former President Corazon Aquino, dead at 76

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of Filipinos lined up for hours Sunday to see the body of former President Corazon Aquino — the beloved democracy icon who swept away a dictator and inspired nonviolent resistance to autocratic rule.

Philippines mourns democracy icon, former President Corazon Aquino, dead at 76

MANILA, Philippines — Military honor guards carried former President Corazon Aquino’s flag-draped casket to a school gym Saturday for public viewing, as Filipinos mourned the beloved democracy icon who swept away a dictator and fought off seven coup attempts.

White House says Aquino played ‘crucial role’ in restoring Philippine democracy

WASHINGTON — The White House said Friday that former Philippines President Corazon Aquino will be remembered for her “crucial role” in moving the country to democratic rule through non-violent protest.

Final House panel acts to approve sweeping health care legislation

WASHINGTON — Democrats have pushed sweeping health care legislation through a key congressional committee, clearing the way for a September showdown on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

Democrats push sweeping health care bill to brink of passage in key congressional committee

WASHINGTON — After a bruising struggle, Democrats pushed sweeping health care legislation to the brink of passage in a key congressional committee on Friday, clearing the way for a September showdown in the House on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

Analysis: Obama’s rare foray into racial matters shows what can happen if he enters the fray

Perhaps the biggest “teachable moment” from the Henry Louis Gates Jr. saga was for President Barack Obama: If you want to improve race relations, you have to enter the fray.

Overwhelming popularity, Web site meltdown were among ‘cash for clunkers’ glitches

NEW YORK — This was one government stimulus plan that yielded quick results. Maybe too quick.

Obama, Biden, Cabinet retreat across street from White House to discuss past and future agenda

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, senior officials and Cabinet members were gathering away from the White House this weekend to discuss administration progress at the six-month mark and plot a course ahead.

House panel poised to act on health care as Dems seek to limit increases in cost of insurance

WASHINGTON — Democrats sought to limit increases in the cost of insurance sold under a sweeping health care bill Friday as they labored to clear the final committee obstacle to a September showdown on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

US general preparing appraisal of Afghan war that may include request for more US troops

WASHINGTON — The U.S. general put in charge of turning around the war in Afghanistan is likely to recommend significant changes in the campaign and may include a request for more U.S. forces that the White House is expected to resist.

Black Harvard professor, white policeman to talk again after Obama’s ‘beer summit’ on race

WASHINGTON — The black scholar and the white police sergeant who arrested him agreed to disagree and promised to talk again, a gracious conclusion to the first round of an eye-opening dialogue on race that allows President Barack Obama to get back to selling his health care plan to skeptical Americans.

White House trying to keep ‘cash for clunkers’ program alive amid funding concerns

WASHINGTON — The government’s popular “cash for clunkers” program may be running out of money after only a matter of days as car shoppers flock to dealerships to take advantage of the rebates.

Ready to move on, Obama, the policeman and the professor hope for positive lesson from dispute

WASHINGTON — With mugs of beer and calming words, President Barack Obama and the professor and policeman engulfed in a national uproar over race pledged Thursday to move on and try to pull the country with them.

Policeman calls White House meeting productive, says focus is on the future

WASHINGTON — The police officer at the center of a national dispute over race and law enforcement says a much-anticipated meeting at the White House was productive and all parties are looking forward.

Obama says ‘friendly, thoughtful’ chat with Gates and Crowley contributes to positive lesson

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is hailing his meeting with professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and policeman James Crowley as a “friendly, thoughtful conversation.”

Ready to move on, Obama welcomes policeman and professor but say it is no ‘beer summit’

WASHINGTON — With mugs of beer and more-carefully chosen words, President Barack Obama tried to push himself and the nation beyond an uproar over race, chatting in his garden Thursday with the black professor and the white policeman whose dispute had ignited a fierce, consuming debate.

Analysis: Obama hopes beers at the White House will be a toast, of sorts, to changing topics

WASHINGTON — “If you ever reach total enlightenment while drinking beer, I bet it makes beer shoot out your nose,” the comedic philosopher Jack Handey once theorized.

Poll: More people than not disapprove of Obama’s handling of black scholar’s arrest

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s approval rating among white Americans has fallen as they have watched him wade into the racially tinged dispute between a white Cambridge, Mass., police officer and a well-known black Harvard scholar, according to a poll released Thursday.

States rate poorly on online stimulus info _ with Illinois the worst, Maryland the best

CHICAGO — On a scale of zero to 100, it can’t get worse than the big goose egg.

Add beer, and Harvard professor’s arrest is a late-night comedy topic

NEW YORK — Late-night comics found a few things to laugh about in the racially charged arrest of a Harvard professor — once beer was added to the equation.

Billions in federal stimulus not enough to keep states from cutting health care programs

HARTFORD, Conn. — Aurice Barlow knows what happens when someone can’t afford dental care.

Senate committee approves legislation to protect federal whistleblowers from retaliation

WASHINGTON — A Senate committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to protect federal employees from being punished for blowing the whistle on waste and corruption.

Lawmakers report health care progress; Obama pitches retooled message in NC, VA visits

RALEIGH, N.C. — Congress reported progress on legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care Wednesday as President Barack Obama introduced a retooled message asserting his plan would protect Americans and limit insurers’ power.

Obama pitches retooled health care message in NC, VA visits; senators report progress

RALEIGH, N.C. — Senators reported progress on legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care Wednesday as President Barack Obama introduced a retooled message asserting his plan would protect Americans and limit insurers’ power.

Obama retooling health care pitch to emphasize consumer protections in visits to NC, VA

RALEIGH, N.C. — Senators reported progress on legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care Wednesday as President Barack Obama introduced a retooled message asserting his plan would protect Americans and limit insurers’ power.

With his political clout on the line, Obama takes health care pitch back to the people

WASHINGTON — His health care vision and political clout on the line, President Barack Obama is using virtually every tool available in a publicity campaign to pressure Congress for swift legislative approval and to rally a public wary of the ongoing Washington tussle over his top domestic priority.