DC board says ‘no’ to putting gay marriage ban on ballot, citing human rights law

DC board won’t allow gay marriage ban on ballot

European, Asian markets mixed as investors look to economic indicators for signs of recovery

LONDON — European and Asian markets were steady Tuesday after being spooked by a trade dispute between the U.S. and China the previous day and as investors focused on economic indicators for signs of a global recovery.

Marvel vs. Disney: A corporate purchase unites distinctly different takes on American life

“Wish upon a star,” Jiminy Cricket, Disney’s arthropod muse, likes to say.

CAPITAL CULTURE: Conga line forms here; East Room the nation’s most important all-purpose room

WASHINGTON — Sure, the West Wing gets the glory. But the East Room gets the action.

Pak urges US to hasten aid for Swat

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has once again urged the United States to hasten the process of passing the Kerry-Lugar and ROZ bills through the Congress to facilitate early release of funds for establishing health and infrastructure facilities in the war ravaged Swat and Malakand Divisions.

Senator Kerry vows to carry on Kennedy’s health care dream

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — Sen. John Kerry said Wednesday he would take up one of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s key political fights, pledging to the thousands who attended his town hall meeting to push for the health care overhaul championed by his longtime Democratic colleague.

EU to begin phase out of traditional light bulbs to help curb climate change

BRUSSELS — An EU-wide transition of power-draining light bulbs to more energy efficient ones will start Tuesday, the European Commission said.

Amid fading hopes on health care, GOP negotiator brands Democratic proposals as budget busters

WASHINGTON — A leading GOP negotiator on health care struck a further blow to fading chances of a bipartisan compromise by saying Democratic proposals would restrict medical choices and make the country’s “finances sicker without saving you money.”

Utah Gov. Herbert says sexual orientation shouldn’t be protected class against discrimination

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that discriminating against gay people shouldn’t be illegal, although he would prefer it if everyone were treated with respect.

Treasurys prices bounce off morning lows after solid demand at latest round of auctions

NEW YORK — Bonds were little changed Tuesday after auctions for one- and two-year Treasurys showed solid demand for the safety of government debt.

A good night’s sleep much better than great sex: Study

KUALA LUMPUR - If a new survey is anything to go by, a good night’s sleep is much better than great sex.

Analysis: Health care scenarios range from cooperative to combative, all with problems

WASHINGTON — With hopes growing ever dimmer for a bipartisan accord, White House and Democratic leaders are considering a wide range of strategies for getting a health care bill passed when Congress returns from its summer recess.

Matchmaker, matchmaker: Helping rural America by placing aspiring farmers with seasoned pros

RICHLAND, Iowa — He quit his job and drove his wife and their four young daughters across country, a 21st-century pioneer lured to these faraway farm fields by the promise of a life-changing deal with an older stranger.

Nepal’s ex-king ready to pay taxes

KATHMANDU - More than 14 months after he was officially stripped of his crown by lawmakers and asked to vacate the royal palace, Nepal’s last king Gyanendra is now ready to live as other commoners, including paying taxes, utilities and telephone bills.

Gov’t-backed GM bails out of partnership to prevent mercury pollution from crushed clunkers

WASHINGTON — As hundreds of thousands of clunkers head to the scrap yard, General Motors has dropped out of a partnership that collects toxic parts from recycled automobiles to prevent mercury pollution.

AP NewsBreak: GM pulling out of partnership to remove mercury switches from scrapped autos

WASHINGTON — General Motors has quit working with a partnership that collects toxic parts from scrapped automobiles, jeopardizing an effort to prevent mercury pollution just as hundreds of thousands of clunkers are headed to recyclers.

AP INVESTIGATION: Corrupt border agents being busted more for taking bribes from smugglers

McALLEN, Texas —Corruption along the U.S.-Mexican border takes many forms.

Mouse with a taste for $20 bills builds nest inside Oregon gas station’s ATM

LA GRANDE, Ore. — A mouse found inside an automatic teller machine — along with a nest it had built with chewed-up $20 bills — gave an Oregon gas station employee the surprise of her life.

AP sources: Obama administration to change oversight of immigration detention centers

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to place federal employees in the largest immigration detention facilities in the country to monitor detainee treatment.

Do the crime, pay for the time, as in $90 a day. Want toilet paper? That’s extra.

A one-night stay? Ninety dollars. Need to see a doctor? Ten bucks. Want toilet paper? Pay for it yourself.

AP IMPACT: Mortgage middlemen to profit from gov’t housing bailout despite checkered past

WASHINGTON — Billions of dollars the government is spending to help financially pressed homeowners avert foreclosure are passing through — and enriching — companies accused of preying on the people they’re supposed to help, an Associated Press investigation has found.

Va. Democrats want their candidate for governor to share more than a stage with Obama

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Democrat R. Creigh Deeds hopes a visit Thursday from President Barack Obama will pull his campaign out of a midsummer slump in a governor’s race framed largely by hot national issues.

Obama tells Indiana that Washington will pass health care overhaul before year’s end

WAKARUSA, Ind. — President Barack Obama promised Wednesday that there will be an overhaul of the health care system before the end of the year and said it doesn’t have to be a bipartisan effort.

Postal Service posts $2.4B loss in third quarter, looking to close offices to cut costs

WASHINGTON — Buffeted by the recession and the popularity of e-mail and electronic bill payment, the Postal Service lost $2.4 billion from April through June, officials said Wednesday.

Health care overhaul renews battle over federal funds for abortions

WASHINGTON — Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue.

Facing billions in losses, postal officials consider closing or consolidating post offices

WASHINGTON — A pillar of U.S. communities since the nation’s founding, the post office is facing the prospect of closings or consolidation of services at hundreds of locations amid a sharp decline in business due to e-mail.

AP ENTERPRISE: Plummeting tax revenues starve government just as Obama embarks on big plans

WASHINGTON — The recession is starving the government of tax revenue, just as the president and Congress are piling a major expansion of health care and other programs on the nation’s plate and struggling to find money to pay the tab.

In rural America, residents unable to access health care skeptical Congress’ reforms will help

WALSENBURG, Colo. — Don’t tell Dorothy J. Tenorio that Washington is nearing a deal to improve her health care.

Low energy prices slash profits among oil giants and spending comes into focus

NEW YORK — Oil companies are taking a hard look at their finances following a woeful six months in which slumping energy demand slashed profits for every international integrated crude producer.

Seniors worry Medicare cuts in health care overhaul will undermine benefits

WASHINGTON — Democrats are pushing for Medicare cuts on a scale not seen in years to underwrite health care for all. Many seniors now covered under the program don’t like that one bit.