Democrats push to pass health care by Christmas

WASHINGTON (AP) – A crucial, middle-of-the-night test vote behind them, Senate Democrats on Monday remained on track to pass historic health care legislation by Christmas, preparing for more votes at odd hours to overcome unanimous Republican opposition. All 58 Democrats and the Senate’s two independents held together early Monday to advance President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, which would extend coverage to 30 million people now uninsured and try to slow ruinous increases in medical costs. The 60-40 margin was exactly the number needed to shut down a threatened GOP filibuster. The next vote is expected around 7:20 a.m. EST Tuesday.

Iran cleric’s funeral becomes opposition protest

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A huge funeral procession for Iran’s most senior dissident cleric became a show of defiance against the country’s rulers Monday as mourners flashed green protest colors and chanted against the Islamic leadership in Iran’s holy city of Qom. The response by authorities was not as punishing as in recent demonstrations — an apparent attempt to avoid bloodshed and chaos during the cortege for one of the patriarchs of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the one-time heir to lead the country.

Gov’t imposes 3-hour limit on tarmac strandings

WASHINGTON (AP) – Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins – the Obama administration said Monday passengers don’t have to take it any more. It ordered airlines to let people get off planes delayed on the ground after three hours. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the three-hour limit and other new regulations are meant to send an unequivocal message to airlines not to hold passengers hostage on stuck planes. Coming on the eve of the busy holiday travel season, the announcement was hailed by consumer advocates as “a Christmas miracle.”

Top Cuban official says Obama lied in Copenhagen

HAVANA (AP) – Cuba’s foreign minister called President Barack Obama an “imperial and arrogant” liar Monday for his conduct at the U.N. climate conference, a reflection of the communist island’s increasingly fiery verbal attacks on the U.S. government. Bruno Rodriguez spent an hour and a half lambasting Obama’s behavior in Copenhagen, telling a news conference, “at this summit, there was only imperial, arrogant Obama, who does not listen, who imposes his positions and even threatens developing countries.”

Christmas Web sales spike after snowstorm

Stores in the snow-battered East Coast may have been sparse this weekend, but shoppers kept spending online. Retailers spurred sales with new discounts and shipping offers to make sure gifts arrive by Christmas. The storm that battered the East Coast, from the Carolinas to New York, may have put at least a $2 billion dent in “Super Saturday,” which usually accounts for $15 billion worth of sales nationwide, according to weather research firm Planalytics.

Thousands gather to remember Oral Roberts

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Thousands of mourners have packed an auditorium to remember the life of evangelist Oral Roberts. Fellow evangelist Pat Robertson opened Monday’s memorial service at Oral Roberts University with a prayer, describing Roberts as a man who walked with God but never gave up the common touch. The 91-year-old Roberts died of complications from pneumonia last week in California.

Dutch police seek to explain young sailor’s trip

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Her dream of becoming the youngest person to sail solo around the world shattered and under scrutiny over her quest, Dutch teenager Laura Dekker ran away from home – to the Caribbean 5,000 miles away. Two days after she was reported missing, police managed to track the 14-year-old girl down on the island of St. Maarten. Police and child care authorities were working Monday to uncover how exactly Laura got there and why she fled, as a family spokeswoman speculated that the pressure of a court battle over the attempt had gotten to her.

First Jesus-era house discovered in Nazareth

NAZARETH, Israel (AP) — Just in time for Christmas, archaeologists on Monday unveiled what may have been the home of one of Jesus’ childhood neighbors. The humble dwelling is the first dating to the era of Jesus to be discovered in Nazareth, then a hamlet of around 50 impoverished Jewish families where Jesus spent his boyhood. Archaeologists and present-day residents of Nazareth imagined Jesus as ayoungster, playing with other children in the isolated village, not far from the spot where the Archangel Gabriel revealed to Mary that she would give birth to the boy.

Family: Brittany Murphy was ill days before death

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Brittany Murphy was ill with flulike symptoms in the days before her death and prescription medications were taken from her home, the Los Angeles coroner’s office said Monday. The 32-year-old star of films such as “Clueless” and “8 Mile” died Sunday morning after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home. Paramedics tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Police said there was no evidence of foul play.

Boston mom calls 911 over over son’s video game habit

BOSTON (AP) – Police say a frustrated Boston woman called 911 to say she couldn’t get her 14-year-old son to stop playing video games and go to sleep. Police spokesman Officer Joe Zanoli said Monday the mother called for help around 2:30 a.m. Saturday to say that the teenager also walked around the house and turned on all the lights. Two officers who responded to the house persuaded the child to obey his mother.

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