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AP Top News at 12:11 a.m. EST -Saturday, February 6, 2010

Mid-Atlantic shuts down ahead of huge snow warning

WASHINGTON (AP) - Life in the nation's capital ground to a halt Friday as steady snow fell, thebeginning of a storm that forecasters said could be the biggest for the city in modern history. A record 2½ feet or more was predicted for Washington. More than 8 inches had already fallen in some D.C. areas by midnight and 10 inches was reported in Pittsburgh as the blizzard blew into the Mid-Atlantic region, reducing visibility. Big amounts of snow were expected throughout the region.

Obama admits health care overhaul may die on Hill

WASHINGTON (AP) - No, maybe he can't. President Barack Obama, who insisted he would succeed where other presidents had failed to fix the nation's health care system, now concedes the effort may die in Congress. The president's newly conflicting signals could frustrate Democratic lawmakers who are hungry for guidance from the White House as they try to salvage the effort to extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans and hold down spiraling medical costs. Obama's comments Thursday night came hours after Republican Scott Brown was sworn in to replace the late Edward M. Kennedy, leaving Democrats without their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, and Obama's signature health legislation with no clear path forward.

Palin e-mails suggest husband's role in governing

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - E-mails shed new light on Todd Palin's role while his wife was Alaska's governor, showing that the one-time oil field worker's advice was sought on board appointments and suggesting he was close to matters related to state government, his wife's image and politics. Relatively few of the messages obtained as part of a public records request were sent by Todd Palin himself.

American missionary freed by North Korea

BEIJING (AP) - An American missionary arrived in Beijing on Saturday after being freed by North Korea, which had detained him for illegally crossing its border from China on Christmas Day. Robert Park, appearing pale and drawn, did not say anything as U.S. consular officials escorted him from the North Korean plane at Beijing's airport.

Afghan police patrol kills 7 civilians

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan police official says a border patrol mistook a group of villagers gathering wood near the Pakistan border as insurgents and opened fire, killing seven civilians. The commander of the border police of southern Afghanistan says the shooting Friday in Shorabak district is under investigation. Gen. Abdul Raziq says the officers discovered when they went to recover the bodies that none had guns or ammunition and then confirmed with local residents that the dead were not militants.

No early release for US missionaries in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Ten U.S. Baptist missionaries charged with child kidnapping returned to jail Friday after failing to persuade a judge to grant them provisional release pending the outcome of their case, their lawyer said. The weary looking Americans were led one by one into the back of a police van after spending half the day at a courthouse in the rubble-strewn capital. A judge scheduled three more days of hearings next week, starting Monday, defense attorney Edwin Coq told reporters.

Judge wants Edwards sex tape 'under lock and key'

PITTSBORO, N.C. (AP) - A judge wants to put a sex tape of two-time presidential candidate John Edwards "under lock and key," demanding Friday that a former aide to the pilloried politician turn over the video by next week. Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones reprimanded Andrew Young during a brief court hearing in North Carolina for not surrendering the video when deputies went to retrieve it last week. Jones declared that the estranged Edwards confidant could face jail for contempt if he does not relinquish the tape and other items by Wednesday afternoon.

Preteen as Carnival queen stirs Rio controversy

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - She is the Shirley Temple of samba, a 7-year-old named to a coveted Carnival role normally reserved for barely clad models who have undergone more plastic surgeries than little Julia Lira has seen birthdays. Naming the girl drum corps queen for the Viradouro samba group is raising eyebrows even in a city that has seen everything during the annual mega-party that begins next week. A judge is considering blocking Julia's participation. A state agency that defends children's rights says she's too young to take on a traditionally sexy role. But the girl's father, who happens to be the president of the Viradouro group, says Julia is a natural who can easily samba through the 80-minute parade route in Rio's sweltering summer heat.

Police: Sheen vehicle stolen, crashed in ravine

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Mercedes that Charlie Sheen reported stolen from his Sherman Oaks home was found overturned hundreds of feet down a nearby cliff early Friday, but there's no evidence anyone was in the car when it went into the ravine, police said. A Bentley was later found off the same road nearby Friday afternoon, and police said three other cars reportedly were broken into in the same area. Police were investigating if the incidents were linked.

Goodell hopes union is wrong about lockout chances

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - The way Roger Goodell sees it, more is better when it comes to NFL games. The commissioner likes overtime, and doesn't favor changing the rules. He's pushing to add a game or two to the schedule. He wants more games overseas and in Mexico.

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