http://hosted.ap.org/ AP Top Political News At 5 a.m. EST &copy; 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our <a href="http://apdigitalnews.com/privacy.html">Privacy Policy</a>. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- A crucial first Senate vote on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in a rare Saturday night session looms as a test of Democratic unity and the president's prestige.... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:32:53 GMT By ERICA WERNER http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_IRAN_ANALYSIS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration is shifting the focus of its Iran policy from talk to sanctions, but the prospect of winning early international support for toughened new penalties appears dim.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:48:06 GMT By ROBERT BURNS http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_IRAN_ANALYSIS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_WOMENS_TESTS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans are seizing on this week's recommendations for fewer Pap smears and mammograms to fuel concern about government-rationed medical care - and to try to chip away support by women for President Barack Obama's proposed health care overhaul.... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:39:48 GMT By LAURIE KELLMAN http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_WOMENS_TESTS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORT_HOOD_SENATE?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government intercepted at least 18 e-mails between the alleged Fort Hood gunman and a radical Muslim cleric, and a key senator says there could be more communications that might have tipped off law enforcement or military officials.... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:13:06 GMT By PAMELA HESS and ANNE GEARAN http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORT_HOOD_SENATE?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BURRIS_ETHICS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Democratic Sen. Roland Burris for misleading investigators about his maneuvering to get Barack Obama's old Senate seat from the governor who was ousted for trying to sell it.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:14:41 GMT By LARRY MARGASAK http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BURRIS_ETHICS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FLIGHT_DELAYS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is blaming an equipment outage this week for delaying 819 flights.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:48:28 GMT By JOAN LOWY http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FLIGHT_DELAYS?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CUBA_SPY_CHARGES?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- A retired State Department worker and his wife accused of a decades-long plot to spy for Cuba pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that will leave him behind bars for the rest of his life but gives her a chance at freedom in six years.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:30:28 GMT By DEVLIN BARRETT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CUBA_SPY_CHARGES?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORT_HOOD_INVESTIGATION?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon said Thursday it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage and lapses that might allow others to slip through bureaucratic cracks.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:18:49 GMT By ANNE GEARAN http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORT_HOOD_INVESTIGATION?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BLACKWATER_PROSECUTION?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday.... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:38:48 GMT By MATT APUZZO http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BLACKWATER_PROSECUTION?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CN_US_GATES?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) -- The United States will do its part to reduce corruption in Afghanistan by examining its own contracts and projects, even as it is demanding the same from the Afghan government, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:38:21 GMT By LOLITA C. BALDOR http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CN_US_GATES?SITE=KING&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT