Burris turned away as he tries to claim Obama seat (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:01:25 GMT
AP - Roland Burris tried to take President-elect Barack Obama's Illinois Senate seat Tuesday but failed in a scripted piece of political theater staged just before the opening of the 111th Congress. "Mr. Burris is not in possession of the necessary credentials from the state of Illinois," declared Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

CNN: Gupta approached about surgeon general post (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:01:20 GMT
AP - President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN's chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, to be the country's next surgeon general, the cable news network said Tuesday. CNN said it has kept Gupta from reporting on health care policy and other matters involving the incoming Obama administration since learning he was under consideration for the post.

Israel shells near UN school, killing at least 30 (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:45:01 GMT
AP - Israeli mortar shells struck outside a U.N. school where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge on Tuesday, killing at least 30 people — many of them children whose parents wailed in grief at a hospital filled with dead and wounded.

Economic crisis, Obama response face new Congress (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:45:01 GMT
AP - The new Congress opened for business at the stroke of noon on Tuesday, eager to join President-elect Barack Obama in tackling the worst economic crisis in generations. Democrats celebrated last fall's election gains in the House and Senate.

Obama's CIA pick unlikely to face Senate challenge (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:44:18 GMT
AP - President-elect Barack Obama is defending his unexpected CIA nominee Leon Panetta, who faced a surge of skepticism in Congress on Tuesday but is not expected to draw serious opposition when his confirmation reaches the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Coleman sues over Minnesota Senate recount result (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:04:07 GMT
AP - Republican Norm Coleman said Tuesday he is suing to challenge Democrat Al Franken's apparent recount victory in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, delaying a resolution of the contest for weeks or months.

German mogul kills self over financial meltdown (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:19:24 GMT
AP - German billionaire Adolf Merckle threw himself in front of a train after his business empire, which included interests ranging from VW cars to pharmaceuticals to cement, ran into trouble in the global financial crisis, his family said Tuesday.

Brain pacemaker helps Parkinson's, but with risks (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:50:37 GMT
AP - Parkinson's sufferers who had electrodes implanted in their brains improved substantially more than those who took only medicine, according to the biggest test yet of deep brain stimulation. The study, which followed patients for six months, offers the most hopeful news to date for Parkinson's sufferers. The new technique reduced tremors, rigidity and flailing of the limbs and allowed people to move freely for nearly five extra hours a day.

Lou the mule credited with saving woman from fire (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:20:40 GMT
AP - Jolene Solomon is beginning the new year with her life, her mule named Lou and little else. The Southern Standard in McMinnville reported Solomon had just finished eating supper on New Year's Day when Lou's braying and acting up got her attention.

Rockies bolster rotation, get Marquis from Cubs (AP)
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:42:25 GMT
AP - The Colorado Rockies have bolstered their starting rotation, acquiring right-hander Jason Marquis from the Chicago Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino.