My County Paper - National News

NYT: Public pension funds ‘going to Vegas’
States and other government bodies are making riskier investments to get higher returns for their pension funds in an attempt to pay all the benefits promised to retirees.
Ohio St.: Employee kills co-worker, then self
A Ohio State University custodial employee who received a bad job evaluation shot two workers, killing one of them, and then fatally shot himself, police said.
Weddings begin for D.C. same-sex couples
Same-sex couples started picking up marriage licenses and tying the knot in the nation's capital as the city became the sixth place in the U.S. to permit gay marriage.
Superintendent fires gun during history class
The superintendent of a rural Montana school district says he was showing students his black powder muzzleloader when he accidentally fired the weapon during a history lesson.
Tornado destroys five homes in Okla.
Authorities say at least five homes and a barn owned by the county government were destroyed in a tornado in western Oklahoma.

Gates Tours 'Reborn' Town In Southern Afghanistan
The defense secretary aimed to show progress in the expanded war against insurgents in south Afghanistan. Now Zad was the scene of first significant military push following President Obama's announcement in early December that he would add 30,000 troops atop 17,000 reinforcements he had already sent into the flagging war.
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Are Democratic Governors At Risk?
The president's party typically loses about a half-dozen seats in midterm elections. With 37 governorships at stake this year, that may mean bad news for the Democrats.
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Obama Takes Aim At Health Insurance Companies
President Obama traveled to Acadia University in suburban Philadelphia on Monday to make the case one more time for Congress to pass legislation to overhaul the nation's health care system. He went after Republicans for their unified opposition, and attacked big insurance companies.
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Northrop Drops Out Of Tanker Competition
The Air Force is down to a single bidder for one of the largest contracts in Pentagon history. Northrop Grumman pulled out of the competition to build new aerial refueling tankers on Monday — saying the selection criteria were stacked against it. With Northrop's departure, Boeing is the sole bidder on the contract worth about $35 billion.
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Toyota Disputes Critics Who Blame Electronics
Toyota says it has proved that faulty electronics are not to blame for runaway cars and trucks that have been recalled. On Monday, the automaker assembled a group of experts, who said that unwanted acceleration is caused by mechanical flaws. Other experts disagree.
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Rahm Emanuel in the political cross hairs
White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is accustomed to working in the shadows, but he now finds himself in newspaper stories.
Could GOP health care 'no' backfire?
Julian Zelizer says the GOP, by digging in its heels and opposing the health care bill, is taking a risk that could be costlier than the party thinks.
Activists picket at health insurance conference
Progressive activists ratcheted up the pressure for health care reform Tuesday, picketing in front of a hotel where a group of insurance industry leaders were meeting.
Financial reform key as Obama meets with Greek leader
Global financial reform is expected to top the agenda Tuesday as President Obama huddles with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, whose country is at the center of Europe's debt crisis.
Biden highlights U.S.-Israeli ties
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden emphasized the close relationship between the United States and Israel as he met with Israeli leaders Tuesday, a visit that also touched on relations with Palestinians and Iran.

Slide show: Feb. 15 - March 4
A festival of colors in India, an idle line of yellow taxis in Greece and quake-ravaged coastal towns in Chile highlight this collection of eye-catching images.
Slide show: Feb. 18 - 25
Raging floodwaters in Portugal, a spring festival of colors in India, Olympics ice action in Canada and more eye-catching photos from around the world.
Slide show: Feb. 11 - 18
An Olympic victory, a painful homecoming, combat in Afghanistan and more striking images from around the world.
Slide show: Feb. 4 - 11
A snowed-in U.S. Capitol, a destitute child in quake-torn Haiti, spaceship-like jellyfish in a Philippines lake, a water-logged taxi in Mexico and more eye-catching images from around the world.
Slide show: Jan. 28 - Feb. 4
Snow and ice abound, Haiti goes on, State of the Union view, Machu Picchu flooding, a firefighter’s reprieve in Nigeria and more news and feature images from around the world.

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Guilty plea reached in Letterman extortion case
The man accused of trying to blackmail comedian David Letterman, is expected to enter a guilty plea in a hearing Tuesday afternoon, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
Same-sex couples in D.C. say 'I do'
Dozens of same-sex couples plan to marry in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, the first day that such unions will be legal in the nation's capital.
Financial reform key as Obama meets with Greek leader
Global financial reform is expected to top the agenda Tuesday as President Obama huddles with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, whose country is at the center of Europe's debt crisis.
Missing exec may have fallen in river, police say
Investigators began their fifth day of scouring New Orleans, Louisiana, for a missing energy executive on Tuesday, and police say he could have fallen into the Mississippi River.
Suspect held in shooting at Ohio State
A suspect was in custody after a shooting at The Ohio State University early Tuesday morning, the university said.
Earthquake hits off Hawaii's coast
A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck Hawaii on Monday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Freed from Haiti, missionary returns 'with mixed emotions'
After more than a month in a Haitian jail, an American missionary was free Monday night, looking forward to a hot shower and a long night in bed on home soil.