Sen. Bingaman objects to Social Security overhaul
SANTA FE (AP) - U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman objected to President Bush's proposals to revamp Social Security, saying Monday they could end up reducing benefits for future retirees.
Bingaman, in a speech to a joint session of the Legislature, also warned that New Mexico could be hurt by federal proposals involving health care programs such as Medicaid.
The Democratic senator opposed a Bush proposal to divert a portion of payroll taxes into private retirement accounts, which workers would be responsible for investing.
The president is expected to focus on Social Security in his State of the Union speech this week.
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Soldier from Las Cruces killed in insurgent attack
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A Las Cruces High School graduate who went on to fulfill his ambitions of serving in the Army died last week in Iraq.
Joseph Rodriguez, 25, was killed Friday when insurgents attacked a convoy that he was leading through south Baghdad. He was a staff sergeant with the 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
Hillary Clinton faints before speech at college
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton fainted Monday after complaining of a stomach virus before a scheduled speech on Social Security. She received medical attention at the scene and then went on to give another speech at a Catholic college Monday afternoon. "It wasn't as dramatic as it sounds," Clinton said after the 30-minute speech.
Jurors to be chosen for Jackson molestation trial
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) - Michael Jackson faced prospective jurors in his child-molestation trial Monday after being greeted by a crowd of fans shouting encouragement and pressing against fences to see the pop star. Jackson, wearing white and shielded by an umbrella, waved to supporters as he walked into the courthouse.
Judge: Terror suspects can go before U.S. courts
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge ruled Monday that foreign terror suspects held in Cuba can challenge their confinement in U.S. courts, and she criticized the Bush administration for holding hundreds of people without legal rights. Judge Joyce Hens Green, handling claims filed by about 50 detainees at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, said the Supreme Court made clear last year they have constitutional rights that lower courts should enforce.
U.N. report concludes no genocide in Darfur region
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Sudan's foreign minister said Monday a U.N. report concluded that no genocide was committed in his country's Darfur region, where tens of thousands of civilians have died in a nearly two-year crisis. At U.N. headquarters in New York, diplomats confirmed that the report did not find that Sudan had committed genocide, but they said it was very critical of Sudanese government actions. The report was expected to be circulated in New York on Tuesday.
Iraq leader calls for unity while votes are counted
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's interim leader called on his countrymen to set aside their differences Monday, while polling stations finished the first-phase count of millions of ballots from the weekend election that many Iraqis hope will usher in democracy and hasten the departure of 150,000 American troops. From the counts by individual stations, local centers will prepare tally sheets and send them to Baghdad, where vote totals will be compiled, election commission official Adel al-Lami said. Final results could take up to 10 days.
