House measure would add $50B to stimulus spending

House measure would add $50B to stimulus spending

WASHINGTON — Responding to calls among rank-and-file Democrats for more infrastructure spending, House leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday to add almost $50 billion in spending on highways, housing and school repair as part of a year-end plan to create jobs.

The measure is aimed at keeping the fragile economic recovery on track with money for teachers, the unemployed and small businesses. A vote is planned for today.

The Senate, however, won’t act until next month at the earliest and has less of an appetite for another costly round of economic-stimulus measures.

Attack near politician’s home kills 33 in Pakistan

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Pakistan — A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb in a market close to a politician’s home in central Pakistan on Tuesday, killing 33 people and showing the increasing reach of Taliban militants in the nuclear-armed nation.

The blast came shortly before the top-ranked U.S. military officer arrived in the Pakistani capital for previously scheduled talks with the country’s powerful army chief about the ongoing military offensive against the militants in the northwestern region near the Afghan border.

The insurgents, who are linked to al-Qaida and militants fighting U.S. and NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan, want to topple the U.S.-allied government in Pakistan and install a hard-line Islamist regime.

DC city council votes to legalize gay marriage

WASHINGTON — After suffering setbacks from California to New York, Maine to New Jersey, same-sex marriage supporters got a victory Tuesday with the city council’s vote to legalize gay marriage in the District of Columbia.

Gay couples could begin tying the knot in the district as early as March. The only hurdles left to clear are the city’s mayor, who has promised to sign the bill, and Congress, which has final say over laws in the nation’s capital. The district’s nonvoting delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, said she expects no opposition there.

Strangulation risk leads to recall of shades and blinds

WASHINGTON — The government and the window-covering industry recalled more than 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds Tuesday because of the risk children may be strangled by the cords.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said five deaths and 16 near-strangulations from Roman shades have been reported since 2006, and three deaths connected to roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.

The commission and the industry urged parents to examine all shades and blinds in the home and make sure they have no accessible cords. They also advised parents not to place cribs, beds or other furniture close to windows because children can climb on the furniture and reach the cords.

Cordless window coverings are recommended for all homes where children live or visit.

Little chance lost climbers are still alive, expert says

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. — Authorities say there’s little chance two missing Mount Hood climbers are alive.

Dr. Terri Schmidt, an expert on hypothermia and mountain survival, said Tuesday the chance Anthony Vietti and Katie Nolan are still alive after being on the mountain for five days is less than 1 percent.

Steve Rollins, a search leader, said even if the rescuers knew where the two climbers were, search teams would not be able to get to them because of avalanche dangers caused by a heavy snow storm. Rescuers say they don’t foresee resuming the search.

Police shoot, kill woman wielding meat cleaver

MODESTO, Calif. — Police say a woman wielding a meat cleaver on an elementary-school playground was shot and killed by officers during school hours.

Modesto police Sgt. Brian Findlen says officers arrived Tuesday and saw the woman hitting and cutting herself in the upper body with the cleaver.

He says two officers opened fire when the woman charged with the cleaver. He was not sure how many times the woman was hit.

The shooting occurred at the playground of Catherine Everett Elementary School. The school was locked down.

Police have not released the name of the woman but said she was in her 50s.

Associated Press