Moving toward a vote...Burris admonished...Oprah's plans

Washington (AP) Senate Democratic leaders are looking ahead to a crucial test vote on health care amid indications the rank-and-file will stand together tomorrow night to give them the support they need. But Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, says leaders aren't assuming anything, and are working to bring Democrats together ahead of the vote to begin debate on their health overhaul bill.

WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate ethics committee has admonished Sen. Roland Burris of Illinois for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama.

The committee didn't recommend any punishment against the Democrat.

He was appointed by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich), who was impeached and driven from office after he was accused of trying to sell the Senate seat.

MIR ALI, Pakistan (AP) Officials in Pakistan say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed at least eight militants there. It's the second attack this week in an area believed to hold insurgents who fled from an Army offensive elsewhere on the Afghan border.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina lawmakers will formally consider the possible impeachment of Gov. Mark Sanford next week.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison says a panel will begin talking about whether Sanford was neglectful when he left the state for five days in June without telling staff where he was going. When he returned, the governor confessed he had been in Argentina to see his lover.

CHICAGO (AP) Oprah Winfrey confirms that her daytime television show will end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air. Winfrey said during today's show that her decision to end "The Oprah Winfrey Show" came "after much prayer and careful thought."


(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-20-09 1055CST | save this article / add to your favorites list