Sebelius failed to get health-care expansion

Sebelius failed to get health-care expansion

WASHINGTON — Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has never lost an election, even as a Democrat in a Republican-dominated state, something analysts attribute to her cool competence, lifelong education in politics and a knack for reaching across the political divide.

But even with that record, Sebelius has been mostly frustrated in her attempts to expand health-care coverage in Kansas. Today, President Barack Obama is scheduled to formally introduce her at a White House ceremony as his nominee for secretary of health and human services, putting Sebelius in the midst of the growing debate over revamping the nation’s health-care system.

As governor, Sebelius has tried twice to raise Kansas’s cigarette tax to expand medical coverage. Both times she was thwarted by Republican legislators, who objected to the tax increases and wanted a more market-based solution.

NYPD officer accused of raping woman

NEW YORK — A woman has accused a New York City police officer of raping her in her apartment in December, police department sources said Sunday.

The officer and his partner, whose names have not been released, have been placed on modified desk duty and are under investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the police department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, sources said.

The sources gave the following account: On Dec. 7, the woman, a business executive who lives in the East Village, was drunk and unable to find the money to pay her cab fare.

The cabdriver phoned 911 and the two officers, described as a veteran and an officer fairly new to the force, helped the woman get to her apartment. Both officers left but returned 40 minutes later. The woman said she was attacked during the officers’ second visit.

Robbery suspect had toy gun, police say

WESTLAKE, Ohio — Police say a bank robbery suspect who was fatally shot by police in suburban Cleveland was carrying a toy gun.

Westlake police Capt. Guy Turner says 21-year-old Jason Saah robbed the National City Bank in North Olmsted on Friday, then fled in his car into neighboring Westlake.

Police say they tracked him with the help of two brothers who followed Saah while talking to authorities on a cell phone. Saah eventually came to an intersection blocked by several dozen police squad cars.

Officers ordered him out of the car, and Turner says police fired six to eight shots at Saah when he reached toward his waist.

Fairview Park officer Jeffrey Jurcak was shot in his left foot during the gunfire.

N.C. woman takes kids along to report for duty

DAVIDSON, N.C. — A North Carolina woman who was recalled to the Army four years after being honorably discharged drove nearly 400 miles and braved a Southeastern winter storm to report for duty Sunday, with her children by her side.

Lisa Pagan said she reported in Sunday night at Fort Benning after a trying drive.

“It was snowing; driving was a little uncomfortable,” she said in a telephone interview. “Got a little scary, but I had to be careful.”

Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to be recalled to service. They’re not in training, and they’re not getting a Defense Department salary, but as long as they have time left on their original enlistment contracts, they’re on “individual ready reserve” status — eligible to be recalled at any time.

Pagan filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan to choose between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.

Wildfire burns 25 homes

BASTROP, Texas — A wildfire fueled by grass, brush and trees has destroyed at least 25 homes and three businesses in central Texas.

Officials say two National Guard helicopters joined other aircraft Sunday in dropping water on the blaze near the towns of Bastrop and Smithville.

Gov. Rick Perry has activated state resources, including four Blackhawk helicopters equipped to drop water and fire retardant, firefighters and equipment.

The wildfire has charred just over a square mile since it was started Saturday by a fallen power line.

Combined dispatches