AP Top Headlines At 12:14 a.m. EST http://hosted.ap.org/ AP Top Headlines At 12:14 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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>. White House braces for tough sell on Afghan policy http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House braced for a tough sell of President Barack Obama's long-awaited decision on whether to commit tens of thousands of new U.S. forces to the stalemated war in Afghanistan, even as the president met Monday with top advisers for possibly the last major deliberations before an announcement.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:06:49 GMT By ANNE GEARAN and JENNIFER LOVEN http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Schumer says failure not an option on health care http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Failure is not an option on health care, a leading Democratic senator said Monday, even as Republicans turned up the heat on moderates who hold the fate of the legislation in their hands.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:31:03 GMT By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP-GfK Poll: Debt turning shoppers into Scrooges http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AP_POLL_STRESSING_OVER_DEBT?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- A lot more Americans are feeling stressed out by debt this holiday season, raising the glum likelihood they'll behave like Scrooge rather than Santa.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:31:04 GMT By JEANNINE AVERSA http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AP_POLL_STRESSING_OVER_DEBT?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Atty: Fort Hood suspect may use insanity defense http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORT_HOOD_SHOOTING?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- An Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people during an attack on his Texas post will likely plead not guilty to the charges against him and may use an insanity defense at his military trial, his attorney said Monday.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:08:32 GMT By ANGELA K. BROWN http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FORT_HOOD_SHOOTING?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT SC gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SC_GOVERNOR?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Sanford is accused of breaking 37 ethics laws regarding campaign finances and travel, including using taxpayer money for high-priced airplane tickets that took him around the world and to Argentina for a rendezvous with the woman he once called his "soul mate."... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:31:05 GMT By JIM DAVENPORT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SC_GOVERNOR?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Lawmaker defends RI Rep Kennedy in Communion flap http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RI_BISHOP_KENNEDY?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A Pennsylvania lawmaker defended Rep. Patrick Kennedy on Monday against a bishop who has acknowledged asking the Rhode Island congressman not to receive Holy Communion because of his support for abortion rights.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:58:25 GMT By RAY HENRY http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RI_BISHOP_KENNEDY?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Belgian says he was alert but mute for 23 years http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BELGIUM_COMA_RECOVERY?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT BRUSSELS (AP) -- For 23 torturous years, Rom Houben says he lay trapped in his paralyzed body, aware of what was going on around him but unable to tell anyone or even cry out.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:31:16 GMT By RAF CASERT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BELGIUM_COMA_RECOVERY?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT ABC: Lambert's performance draws 1,500 complaints http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TV_LAMBERT?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT NEW YORK (AP) -- Complaints poured in Monday about Adam Lambert's sexually charged performance at the American Music Awards, including criticism of his kiss with a male keyboard player that was left out of rehearsals for the show.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:31:27 GMT By DAVID BAUDER http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TV_LAMBERT?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Titans beat Texas 20-17 http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_TITANS_TEXANS?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT HOUSTON (AP) -- Rob Bironas kicked a 53-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining and the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans 20-17 for their fourth straight victory after an 0-6 start.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:13:51 GMT By KRISTIE RIEKEN http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_TITANS_TEXANS?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Mauer near-unanimous pick as American League MVP http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BBA_AL_MVP?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Mauer sat behind a table on a podium in a conference room at the Metrodome when Justin Morneau shouted out the last question of the day. "Are you finally going to buy dinner now?" Morneau said to his teammate from the audience, one MVP to another.... Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:31:15 GMT By RONALD BLUM http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BBA_AL_MVP?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT