Health bill survives test...Obama to go to Fort Hood...Afghan deaths probed

Washington (AP) A House bill to overhaul health care has survived a test vote on debate procedures, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicts the bill will pass later today. President Barack Obama visited Capitol Hill today to make a last-minute personal appeal to Democrats.

WASHINGTON (AP) The White House says the president and first lady will travel to Texas on Tuesday for a memorial service for victims of the Fort Hood shooting rampage. An Army psychiatrist is accused of opening fire at the base on Thursday, killing 13 people.

Thirty others were wounded, including the suspect.

KABUL (AP) U.S. and Afghan authorities are investigating a possible friendly fire incident. Eight Afghans were killed and almost two dozen people wounded, including five U.S. soldiers, in what NATO initially described as an attack by insurgents during a search for two American paratroopers. Now Afghanistan's Defense Ministry says the casualties likely happened "during an air attack by NATO forces."


ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The mother of Florida shooting suspect Jason Rodriguez is apologizing, and his lawyer says his client is "very mentally ill." Rodriguez is accused of fatally shooting one employee and wounding five others at an Orlando office where he once worked.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) It appears there has not been an agreement to end Philadelphia's five-day-old transit strike after all. A national spokesman for the transit system's largest union says reports of a tentative agreement were "premature" and negotiations continue. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced last night that the two sides had agreed on a tentative contract.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-07-09 1447CST | save this article / add to your favorites list