New GOP chairman...Feds probe peanut plant...Super Bowl ads nearly sold out

Washington (AP) The GOP has elected its first black national party chairman. Michael Steele defeated the incumbent party chief and three other challengers over six rounds of voting. In his acceptance speech, Steele struck a tone of inclusiveness, but added "for those who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over."


WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama has signed a series of executive orders that he says should "level the playing field" for labor unions in their struggles with management. He also announced the creation of a middle-class task force to be headed by Vice President Joe Biden.

WASHINGTON (AP) The government has opened a criminal investigation into the Georgia peanut-processing plant at the center of the national Salmonella outbreak. Meanwhile, the White House is pledging stricter oversight of food safety. More than 500 people have been sickened as a result of the outbreak, and at least eight may have died because of salmonella infections

WASHINGTON (AP) Government advisers are recommending a ban on a popular painkiller that's been around for 50 years. An FDA advisory panel IS recommending the withdrawal of Darvon, which is mainly marketed as Darvocet. The consumer group Public Citizen says the drug offers weak pain relief and poses an overdose risk with the potential to be used in suicides.

UNDATED (AP) The economy isn't hurting sales of Super Bowl ads. NBC says it is in talks to sell the last two of the 67 spots for Sunday's game at a price tag of up to $3 million per 30-second slot. Advertisers get a U.S. audience of 100 million for an event in which viewers actually like watching the commercials.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 01-30-09 1643CST | save this article / add to your favorites list