Election 2009: Test of Obama clout in NJ, Virginia

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's political clout was on the line Tuesday as Virginia and New Jersey chose governors in contests that could serve as warning signs for Democrats about the public's mood heading into an important midterm election year. Elsewhere, Maine voters weighed in on same-sex marriage in a closely watched initiative, and New York and California picked congressmen for two vacant seats. A slew of cities selected mayors, and Ohio voted on allowing casinos.

Reid indicates timetable for health care may slip

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Democratic leader indicated Tuesday that lawmakers may not complete health care legislation this year, missing President Barack Obama's deadline on his signature issue and pushing debate into a congressional election year. With just eight weeks left, the Senate is running out of time to finish a comprehensive bill to extend coverage to millions of Americans and control rising medical costs. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., emerged from a closed-door meeting of rank-and-file Democrats signaling that delay was likely.

Karzai promises reform - but without specifics

KABUL (AP) - Afghanistan's president welcomed his new term - achieved after his main opponent withdrew from a runoff election - by reaching out to opponents Tuesday and promising to banish the corruption that has undermined his administration. Hamid Karzai did not spell out how he would institute reforms or mention whether he is willing to make concessions to his opponents.

Neighbors griped about odor at Ohio home for years

CLEVELAND (AP) - For the past few years, neighbors assumed the foul smell enveloping their street corner had been coming from a brick building where workers churned out sausage and head cheese. It got so bad that the owners of Ray's Sausage replaced their sewer line and grease traps. Now they know the odor was coming from a three-story house next door where the decomposing bodies of six women were found.

NKorea claims to expand arsenal of atomic bombs

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea claimed Tuesday that it has successfully weaponized more plutonium for atomic bombs, a day after warning Washington to agree quickly to direct talks or face the prospect of a growing North Korean nuclear arsenal. The announcement underlined Pyongyang's impatience over securing one-on-one talks with Washington, as well as the difficulties in dealing with a regime that resorts to threats and provocations to get what it wants.

Feds: Chicago men discussed terror attack in India

CHICAGO (AP) - Two Chicago men charged with scheming to launch a terrorist attack on a Danish newspaper also discussed an attack on a military college in India, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Prosecutors made the allegation in court papers as U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan prepared for a hearing to consider release of one of the men, Tahawwura Rana, on bond.

Low cholesterol may prevent some prostate cancers

Men may protect more than their hearts if they keep cholesterol in line: Their chances of getting aggressive prostate cancer may be lower, new research suggests. One study found that men whose cholesterol was in a healthy range - below 200 - had less than half the risk of developing high-grade prostate tumors compared to men with high cholesterol.

Kirstie Alley to star in A&E reality series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kirstie Alley is going to star in a new A&E reality "docu-series" about her life as a single mom and her efforts to lose weight. The network has ordered 10 half-hour episodes of the untitled series from "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia North America. The show will follow the actress at home with her teenage children, at work and as she launches a new weight-loss program. The 58-year-old Alley, who starred in the sitcoms "Veronica's Closet" and "Cheers," appeared in the 2005 Showtime comedy series "Fat Actress." She played a version of herself coping with Hollywood's fixation on thinness.

Pa. woman, daughter hold signs admitting theft

BEDFORD, Pa. (AP) - In exchange for no jail time, a woman and her adult daughter have agreed to stand outside a Pennsylvania courthouse holding signs saying they stole a gift card from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday. Fifty-six-year-old Evelyn Border and 35-year-old Tina Griekspoor stood outside the court for 4 1/2 hours Tuesday. They held signs that read: "I stole from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday! Don't steal or this could happen to you!"

Waxman: Decisions threaten progress on steroids

WASHINGTON (AP) - A key lawmaker said Tuesday that recent court decisions blocking suspensions of two NFL players threaten to undermine progress made in reducing performance-enhancing drug use among athletes at all levels. "If these rulings prevail, they could wreak havoc with policies designed to curb performance-enhancing drug use in professional sports," Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said at a subcommittee hearing. "In fact, if the rulings are taken to their logical conclusion, players on one team could be allowed to use drugs that wouldsubject players on another team to suspensions and fines."

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