2/19 Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Sebelius top choice for U.S. health secretary: report (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 8:14 pm Reuters - Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has emerged as President Barack Obama's top choice for health secretary, a key post in helping to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing Obama advisers. Obama unveils plan to tackle housing crisis (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 8:13 pm Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama pledged up to $275 billion on Wednesday to help stem a wave of home foreclosures, part of a broad effort using massive sums of government money to lift the country out of recession. Owner now says she never gave slain chimp Xanax (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:05 pm AP - As authorities considered criminal charges, the woman whose 200-pound domesticated chimpanzee went berserk and mauled a friend backtracked Wednesday on whether she gave the animal the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. Sandra Herold told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she never gave the drug to her 14-year-old chimp, Travis, who was shot dead by Stamford police Monday after he grievously wounded Herold's friend Charla Nash. Grand jury indicts alleged KKK group leader in La. (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:05 pm AP - The alleged leader of a Ku Klux Klan group was indicted on a second-degree murder charge Wednesday in the shooting death of an Oklahoma woman who police said was killed during an initiation in south Louisiana. Obama throws $75 billion lifeline to homeowners (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm AP - President Barack Obama threw a $75 billion lifeline to millions of Americans on the brink of foreclosure Wednesday, declaring an urgent need for drastic action — not only to save their homes but to keep the housing crisis "from wreaking even greater havoc" on the broader national economy. GOP governors consider turning down stimulus money (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm AP - A handful of Republican governors are considering turning down some money from the federal stimulus package, a move opponents say puts conservative ideology ahead of the needs of constituents struggling with record foreclosures and soaring unemployment. US commander: Troops 'stalemated' in Afghanistan (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm AP - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan offered a grim view Wednesday of military efforts in southern Afghanistan, warning that 17,000 new troops will take on emboldened Taliban insurgents who have "stalemated" U.S. and allied forces. Holder: US a nation of cowards on racial matters (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm AP - Eric Holder, the nation's first black attorney general, said Wednesday the United States was "a nation of cowards" on matters of race, with most Americans avoiding candid discussions of racial issues. In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives. Pope tells Nancy Pelosi life must be protected (AP) February 18, 2009 at 8:04 pm AP - Pope Benedict XVI received Nancy Pelosi, one of the most prominent abortion rights politicians in America, and told her Wednesday that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development." The U.S. House speaker, a Catholic, was the first top Democrat to meet with Benedict since the election of Barack Obama, who won a majority of the U.S. Catholic vote despite differences with the Vatican on abortion. Hundreds seek their money as Stanford fallout spreads (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 7:51 pm Reuters - Hundreds of people rushed on Wednesday to withdraw money from banks in Antigua and Venezuela linked to Texas billionaire Allen Stanford, as the fallout from U.S. fraud charges against him rippled across the globe. NY Post cartoon of dead chimpanzee stirs outrage (AP) February 18, 2009 at 6:20 pm AP - A New York Post cartoon that some have interpreted as comparing President Barack Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police drew outrage Wednesday from civil rights leaders and elected officials who said it echoed racist stereotypes of blacks as monkeys. Shea Stadium, former home of Mets, meets its end (AP) February 18, 2009 at 5:48 pm AP - Shea Stadium, the circular modern stadium that hosted two World Series title winners but was criticized for its lack of charm and amenities, met its end Wednesday. It was 44. The last remaining part of the ballpark, the section 5 ramp, was knocked down at 11:25 a.m., New York Mets spokesman Ethan Wilson said. Teed off man uses golf club in clash over manners (AP) February 18, 2009 at 5:44 pm AP - A man faces assault charges after allegedly striking another man with a golf club in an argument over manners. Police told the Cape Cod Times that a 50-year-old man leaving a gas station in town on Monday morning held the door open for a 38-year-old man. Bernanke cuts growth view, considers inflation target (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 5:21 pm Reuters - U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers largely gave up hope for economic growth in 2009 and discussed setting an inflation target last month as a deepening recession heightened fears of a dangerous decline in prices. U.S. sees hard year in Afghanistan even with more troops (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 5:06 pm Reuters - The American general running the war in Afghanistan on Wednesday predicted a tough year ahead despite the addition of 17,000 more U.S. troops to break a stalemate with Taliban insurgents in the south of the country. Obama unveils 275 billion dollar housing plan (AFP) February 18, 2009 at 3:47 pm AFP - President Barack Obama Wednesday targeted the housing crisis at the root of the US economic meltdown, with a program which could cost 275 billion dollars and reach nine million homeowners. Court rejects releasing Guantanamo prisoners in U.S. (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 3:28 pm Reuters - A federal appeals court on Wednesday overturned a ruling that 17 Chinese Muslims who have been held for years at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba must be freed in the United States. Two professors theorize on bin Laden hideout (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 2:30 pm Reuters - After all these years, where is Osama bin Laden? Two college geography professors think they know. Stocks fluctuate on details of housing plan (AP) February 18, 2009 at 12:29 pm AP - Stocks fluctuated Wednesday as President Barack Obama released details of his $75 billion mortgage relief plan and investors remained uncertain about the prospects for the economy. Obama to unveil $75 billion mortgage relief plan (AP) February 18, 2009 at 12:26 pm AP - President Barack Obama marshaled $75 billion on Wednesday to tackle the foreclosure crisis in an effort to prevent up to 9 million Americans from losing their homes. Court reverses ruling bringing 17 Gitmo detainees to U.S. (AP) February 18, 2009 at 12:22 pm AP - A U.S. appeals court reversed a ruling Wednesday that would have transferred 17 Guantanamo Bay detainees, none of whom are labeled enemy combatants, to the United States. Holder: US is nation of cowards on racial matters (AP) February 18, 2009 at 12:15 pm AP - Attorney General Eric Holder says the United States is a nation of cowards on matters of race. Obama unveils plan for troubled housing market (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 12:10 pm Reuters - President Barack Obama on Wednesday pledged up to $275 billion to help stem a wave of home foreclosures that sparked the U.S. financial meltdown, the next phase in a multi-pronged effort to lift the country out of recession. AP sources: UAW deal cuts bonuses, some raises (AP) February 18, 2009 at 12:05 pm AP - The United Auto Workers' deal with Detroit's three automakers limits overtime, changes work rules, cuts lump-sum cash bonuses and gets rid of cost-of-living pay raises to help reduce the companies' labor costs, people briefed on the agreement said Wednesday. Obama unveils mortgage plan to help up to 9 million (AFP) February 18, 2009 at 11:39 am AFP - President Barack Obama Wednesday unveiled a strategy to help millions of people avoid housing foreclosure, including 75 billion dollars for homeowners stuck in a negative equity trap. U.S. housing starts, permits plumb record lows (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 11:35 am Reuters - U.S. housing starts and building permits dropped to record lows in January, data showed Wednesday, as builders shelved construction plans to try to clear a glut of unsold houses caused by a slump in demand. Israel cabinet links Gaza truce to soldier release (AFP) February 18, 2009 at 11:31 am AFP - Israel's security cabinet voted on Wednesday to make a Gaza truce conditional on the release of a captive soldier, a move that risked complicating Egyptian efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire. Industrial production, housing starts plunge (AP) February 18, 2009 at 11:28 am AP - Big industry production throttled back in January due partly to auto shutdowns, and housing construction tumbled to a record low, weaker-than-expected performances that show the country caught in a worsening economic tailspin. And the Oscar goes to Matilda if Ledger wins (AP) February 18, 2009 at 11:03 am AP - If Heath Ledger is named best supporting actor at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, his daughter, 3-year-old Matilda Rose Ledger, will become the owner of the Oscar statuette. Ricketts family sells part of TD Ameritrade stake (AP) February 18, 2009 at 10:58 am AP - The family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts will sell 34 million of its shares in the online brokerage back to the company to help finance the family's bid to buy the Chicago Cubs. Israel links Gaza deal to soldier's release (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 10:46 am Reuters - Israel decided Wednesday against lifting its border blockade of the Gaza Strip until Hamas agreed to the release of a captured Israeli soldier, putting a longer-term ceasefire proposal by Egypt on hold. Afghans turn "new page" as U.S. sends more troops (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 10:40 am Reuters - Afghanistan is turning a new page in relations with the United States, an Afghan presidential spokesman said on Wednesday, as U.S. President Barack Obama ordered 17,000 more troops deployed to battle Taliban insurgents. Facebook backtracks on terms of use after protests (AP) February 18, 2009 at 9:12 am AP - In an about-face following a torrent of online protests, Facebook is backing off a change in its user policies while it figures how best to resolve questions like who controls the information shared on the social networking site. Clinton eyes deeper SE Asia ties on Indonesia trip (Reuters) February 18, 2009 at 7:55 am Reuters - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed on Wednesday Indonesia's transition to democracy and stressed Washington's desire for stronger ties with Southeast Asia to bring change in Myanmar.