Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, February 19, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Obama Unveils $275 Bil. Housing Bailout President announces most aggressive attempt yet to deal with foreclosure crisis. Wall Street Journal
Durbin: Burris Seat 'In Question' . . . Senate to figure out "what to do next" after his failure to disclose ties to Blagojevich, second ranking Senate leader says. Chicago Tribune
Politics
Holder Calls U.S. a 'Nation of Cowards' on Race . . . Says country needs to begin confronting issue before it polarizes even further.
Chicago Tribune
Pope to Pelosi: Protect Life . . . She visits the Vatican and is informed Catholic politicians have an obligation to oppose abortion. Associated Press
Obama Heads to Canada Today . . . First foreign trip as president will focus on cooperation on energy and environment. Globe and Mail
Valenti's Sexuality Was Big Question for FBI . . . J. Edgar Hoover was consumed with finding out if Johnson aide and future Hollywood lobbyist Jack Valenti was gay. Washington Post
Obama Focusing on Sibelius for HHS . . . Kansas governor is an early Obama ally with a record of working across party lines. New York Times
Palin Owes Taxes . . . Must pay income taxes on nearly $17,000 she got as travel reimbursements when she spent nights in her Wasilla residence. Washington Post
EPA Expected to Regulate Greenhouse Gases . . . Decision would have profound impact on transportation, manufacturing costs and utilities. New York Times
Uproar Over Cartoon Linking Obama to Chimp . . . New York Post defends cartoon that seems to show Obama as chimp shot by police. Civil rights leaders protest. Associated Press
National Security
'Tough Year' Ahead for U.S. Afghan Forces . . . Commander says more casualties on tap for U.S. soldiers as they move into areas run by Taliban. McClatchy Newspapers
U.S. Urges Nato to Increase Troops in Afghanistan . . . Defense Secretary Gates says allies must up ante. Kyrgyzstan takes step to close supply base. BBC
Clinton Seeks Better Ties With Islamic World . . . Arrives in Indonesia, part of U.S. diplomatic push in Southeast Asia.
Wall Street Journal
Business
Experts Fear Mortgage Plan Might Be Too Late . . . The Obama initiative is substantial, but defaults are rising fast. Los Angeles Times
Is this Plan for You? . . . The details we know so far, and how they might affect you. New York Times
Hunt is on for Stanford . . . Officials race to find $50 billion in assets connected to financier, accused of fraud and missing. Investors rush his banks. Times (UK)
UBS Agrees to $780 Mil. Fine . . . Settles allegations it conspired to help wealthy clients evade U.S. taxes. Opens secret Swiss banking records.
Associated Press
International
Netanyahu Secures Key Backing . . . Support from far right party could make him prime minister. Haaretz
Mubarak Releases Political Opponent From Jail . . . Freeing of Ayman Nour could be a gesture from Egyptian president to Obama.
Christian Science Monitor
China Places Area in Lockdown . . . Tibetan monks, laypeople and nomads clashed with Chinese security forces Sunday and Monday in Sichuan county Lithan. Washington Post
Also Today. . .
Octuplets Home in Danger of Foreclosure . . . Home, owned by their grandmother, has projected sale date of June 9. Los Angeles Times
Investigators Probe Pilot Training at Colgan . . . Evidence suggest error by one it company's pilots caused Buffalo crash. Wall Street Journal
Victim of Chimp Attack Fights for Life . . . Lost eyes, nose, and jaw as crazed chimp ate her alive. New York Daily News
Report: U.S. Crime Labs Need Overhaul . . . Changes needed to help keep them from putting the innocent in jail. Associated Press
New Alzheimer's Culprit Found . . . Researcher find new mechanism of nerve-cell death that might play a role, open door to new tactics to fight the disease. San Francisco Chronicle
Alzheimer's Study Finds Parental Link . . . Children of parents with Alzheimer's disease can develop memory problems in their 50s or even younger. Boston Globe
Mob Justice in Houston . . . Five teens beat another to death for breaking one of their car's windows. And they had the wrong guy.
Houston Chronicle
Today's Video
Obama Look-Alike Fools Those He Meets . . . CNN
