Posted 10 months 6 days ago by Bea Karnes
Source: The Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) The Army's bomb disposal units have been in high demand as explosives became the weapon of choice against troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But now with fewer troops in Iraq, these specialized units have resumed what was once an annual competition to find the Army's best bomb hunters.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team of the Year competition this year at Fort Campbell, Ky., is the first time the event has been held in a decade. The three-day event this wee… Click to Read More

Tagged As: Bomb Disposal Competition

Posted 10 months 1 week ago by Bea Karnes
Source: The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. should avoid developing a closer relationship with Libyan opposition forces, defense leaders said Thursday, telling an often hostile Congress that foreign nations must now take over airstrike responsibilities and any effort to train and equip the rebels.

With the U.S. role in Libya at a turning point, the next critical decision is how, if at all, the U.S. chooses to support the opposition forces, particularly in the face of the ongoing budget crisis at hom… Click to Read More

Tagged As: US-US-Libya

Posted 10 months 1 week ago by Bea Karnes
Source: The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Highway deaths have plummeted to their lowest levels in more than 60 years, helped by more people wearing seat belts, better safety equipment in cars and efforts to curb drunken driving.

The Transportation Department estimated Friday that 32,788 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2010, a decrease of about 3 percent from 2009. It's the fewest number of deaths since 1949 during the presidency of Harry Truman when more than 30,000 people were killed.

… Click to Read More

Tagged As: Highway Deaths

Posted 10 months 1 week ago by Bea Karnes
Source: The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans grilled senior officials from the Homeland Security Department on Thursday over the agency's now-rescinded practice of requiring secretive reviews by political advisers of hundreds of requests for government files under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sensational allegations by Republicans and a vigorous defense by Democrats set the tone for future interactions on government transparency between the White House and Capitol Hill. Obama repe… Click to Read More

Tagged As: US-Freedom-of-Information

Posted 10 months 1 week ago by Bea Karnes
Source: The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Powerful winds, severe thunderstorms and some tornadoes are sweeping across Tampa Bay and central Florida.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said Thursday that a tractor-trailer was blown over on its side and fell on two vehicles. All of the people involved declined medical treatment.

At the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport, several small planes were blown over and there are multiple reports of downed trees and power lines.

Winds gusted up to 90… Click to Read More

Tagged As: Severe Weather-Florida

Posted 10 months 1 week ago by Bea Karnes
Source: The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Renewed House-Senate budget negotiations aimed at averting a government shutdown center on possibly cutting $33 billion from current spending levels, a senior congressional aide Wednesday. Democrats pressed to ease GOP cuts to domestic agency budgets by slowing Pentagon growth and trimming so-called mandatory programs whose budgets run on autopilot.

The $33 billion figure is well below the $60 billion-plus in cuts passed by the House last month but also represent s… Click to Read More

Tagged As: US-Spending-Showdown