Looking for a platform...Democrats debate...New Moon's big weekend

NEW YORK (AP) The lawyer for one of the five men facing trial in the Sept. 11 attacks says his client has told him the men will plead not guilty so that they can air their criticisms of U.S.

foreign policy. The Department of Justice says federal courts have shown in past terror trials that the trials can be conducted "with minimal disrupton."


Washington (AP) The Senate moderates who helped keep the Democrats' health care bill alive yesterday are warning that they could scuttle the bill if their demands are ignored. One of them, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, tells ABC he wants tougher restrictions on what taxpayer money will fund. But on CNN, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said if Democratic leaders make too many concessions, they could face a rebellion by more liberal senators.

WASHINGTON (AP) A former director of the National Institutes of Health is weighing in on the mammogram debate. Dr. Bernadine Healy tells Fox News women should ignore new guidelines that women not routinely undergo the exams until age 50. Until now the recommendation was to start regular screening at 40. Healy says the directive would save money but not lives.

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (AP) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sending investigators to Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant after a small amount of radiation was detected there.

About 150 employees were sent home yesterday after the radiation was detected at the plant, where a partial meltdown occurred in one of its reactors in 1979. Officials say there is no public health risk.

LOS ANGELES (AP) "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is a solid No. 1 at the Box Office in its opening weekend. The vampire romance sequel sucked up more than $140 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of almost $259 million worldwide, according to studio estimates. "The Blind Side" opened at No. 2 with $34.5 million.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-22-09 1336CST | save this article / add to your favorites list