Valentine Special

Voting Rights Act Challenged in Southern States

Some question if the act is still needed

2012-01-21

By NEDRA PICKLER of The Associated Press

Alabama's Shelby County is challenging a requirement under the Voting Rights Act that governments with a history of discrimination obtain federal approval to change even minor election procedures. Read the complete article

"Moneybags" Mitt: His Offshore Riches Revealed

Between $7 million and $32 milliion held in Cayman Island accounts

2012-01-20

By STEPHEN BRAUN of The Associated Press

Mitt Romney Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney owns investments worth between $7 million and $32 million in offshore-based holdings, which are often used legitimately by private equity firms to attract foreign investors. Such offshore accounts also can enable wealthy investors to defer paying U.S. taxes on some assets, according to tax experts. Read the complete article

Jorelys Rivera: Child’s Killer Commits Suicide in Prison

Brunn died after another sudden turn in the case, when he unexpectedly entered a guilty plea during a hearing Tuesday

2012-01-20

Greg Bluestein The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) -- In an abrupt end to a disturbing saga, a 20-year-old maintenance man apparently killed himself in a Georgia prison two days after pleading guilty to molesting and killing a little girl. Read the complete article

France Mulls Early Afghanistan Pullout as 4 Killed

The impact of the French suspending training operations is unclear, but could result in a major setback for the U.S.-led coalition

2012-01-20

Deb Riechmann and Sylvie Corbet The Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- France suspended its training operations in Afghanistan and threatened to withdraw its entire force from the country early after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French troops Friday and wounded 15 others. Read the complete article

VIDEO: Gingrich Gets Perry Nod, Faces Ex-Wife Allegations

It was unclear how the new revelations from Marianne Gingrich would play in a state where religious and socially conservative voters hold sway

2012-01-19

Shannon McCaffrey The Associated Press

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) -- In an up-and-down kind of campaign day, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich picked up an endorsement Thursday from former rival Rick Perry but also faced new accusations from one of his former wives that he had asked her permission to have an "open marriage" after she learned he was having an affair. Read the complete article

VIDEO: Murdoch to Pay Jude Law, 36 Others for Hacking

Financial details of 15 of the payouts, totaling more than 640,000 pounds (about $1 million), were made public at a court hearing Thursday

2012-01-19

Jill Lawless The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) -- Rupert Murdoch's media empire apologized and agreed to cash payouts Thursday to 37 people - including a movie star, a soccer player, a top British politician and the son of a serial killer - who were harassed and phone-hacked by his tabloid press. Read the complete article

Unemployment Claims at 352,000, Fewest Since 2008

Applications had jumped two weeks ago, largely because companies laid off thousands of temporary workers hired for the holidays

2012-01-19

Christopher S. Rugaber AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits plummeted last week to 352,000, the fewest since April 2008. The decline added to evidence that the job market is strengthening. Read the complete article

AP Sources: Perry Abandoning Bid, Backing Gingrich

Perry has faced calls in recent days to drop out of the race to compel conservative voters, whose support has been divided among several conservative candidates, to rally behind Gingrich

2012-01-19

Kasie Hunt The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry will abandon his presidential bid and endorse Newt Gingrich, two Republican officials said Thursday, a move coming just two days before the pivotal South Carolina primary as Republican front-runner Mitt Romney struggles to fend off a challenge from the former House speaker. Read the complete article

Iranian Lawmaker: Obama Proposed Talks; US Denies

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast confirmed that Tehran received the letter and was considering a possible response

2012-01-18

Ali Akbar Dareini The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- An Iranian lawmaker claimed Wednesday that President Barack Obama called for direct talks with Iran in a secret letter to the Islamic Republic's supreme leader that also warned Tehran against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Read the complete article

Kessoch: Israel Seeks to End Ancient African Jewish Custom

The effort has added to the sense of discrimination felt by Israel's 120,000 Ethiopian citizens

2012-01-18

Daniel Estrin The Associated Press

Nearly three decades after Israel began airlifting Ethiopia's ancient Jewish community out of the Horn of Africa, Israel's rabbis are now working to phase out the community's white-turbaned clergy, the kessoch, whose unusual religious practices are at odds with the rabbinate's Orthodox Judaism. Read the complete article