Democrats eye New York congressional seat that Republicans have held for more than a century

ALBANY, N.Y. — President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton are lending their political star power to an unlikely Democratic bid to win a special congressional election in an area that’s been a Republican bastion for more than a century.

Geography makes a difference in who has health insurance and who doesn’t

ORLANDO, Fla. — Where someone lives makes a difference in whether or not that person has health insurance.

‘You lie!’ _ House rebukes GOP lawmaker for his outburst during Obama’s health care speech

WASHINGTON — Bitterly divided along party lines, the House formally rebuked Republican Rep. Joe Wilson Tuesday for shouting “You lie” at President Barack Obama during last week’s nationally televised speech to Congress.

Afghan complaints body throws out ballots from 83 polling stations in Karzai strongholds

KABUL — A U.N.-backed fraud commission threw out votes Thursday from 83 polling stations and ordered recounts at hundreds of others in three provinces that form Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s political base, reducing his chances of avoiding a runoff.

Ohio Democrat tries to convince conservative district of his moderate work on health care

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — It has been a challenging month for all Democratic lawmakers returning from a congressional recess, and especially for one Ohioan who has been tangling with a conservative, New Jersey-sized district that turned Democratic only after scandal felled a six-term Republican.

STIMULUS WATCH: Republicans oppose stimulus as billions of dollars flow to their districts

WASHINGTON — Georgia’s Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, voted against the $787 billion economic stimulus package, blasting the bill as a bloated government giveaway.

Opening in Democratic-leaning California congressional district attracts many candidates

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — More than a dozen candidates, including the lieutenant governor, two state lawmakers and an openly gay Iraq war veteran, are running to fill an open congressional seat in a special election in Northern California next week.

Los Angeles education board votes to allow outsiders to run many schools in huge district

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Board of Education has voted to adopt a resolution that could turn a third of the schools in the nation’s second-largest school district over to private operators.

Los Angeles education board to vote on allowing outsiders to run many schools in huge district

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Board of Education voted Tuesday to adopt a controversial resolution that could turn a third of the schools in the nation’s second-largest school district over to private operators.

Afghan vote fraud allegations mount, threatening credibility of election

KABUL — The outcry over alleged vote fraud in Afghanistan’s election escalated Sunday, with President Hamid Karzai’s chief opponent charging that turnout figures were padded and the chief fraud investigator saying some of the allegations were serious enough to influence the outcome if true.