WORLD DIGEST || GOP pushes social issues at gathering

GOP pushes social issues at gathering

OXON HILL, Md.

Some of the GOP’s most prominent conservatives insisted Friday that Republicans should emphasize hot-button social issues such as abortion and gay marriage in this year’s midterm elections, exposing an ideological divide within a party trying to capture the Senate and then the White House.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Southern Baptist pastor, set the tone early in the second day of the Conservative Political Action Conference.

“If this nation forgets our God, then God will have every right to forget us,” Huckabee said to cheers. “It’s time for government to scale back, not for people of faith to scale back.”

But Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, one of the final speakers of the day, represents a new generation of libertarian-minded Republicans less likely to oppose gay marriage or embrace laws allowing the government to affect people’s private lives.

Sheila MacRae dies at age 92

ENGLEWOOD, N.J.

Sheila MacRae, a veteran stage, film and TV performer best known for playing Alice Kramden in the 1960s re-creation of “The Honeymooners,” has died. She was 92.

The actress died Thursday at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J., MacRae’s granddaughter, Allison Mullavey, told The Associated Press on Friday.

A singer, dancer and actress, she was married to “Oklahoma” star Gordon MacRae for 26 years, and they appeared together in 1964 on “The Ed Sullivan Show” when the Beatles were featured.

“She lived a good life and a long life,” Allison Mullavey told the AP. “We’ll miss her.”

A native of London, MacRae made a cameo as herself on “I Love Lucy” in the ’50s.

Soldier charged in prostitution case

FORT HOOD, Texas

A Fort Hood sergeant who was a coordinator of the post’s sexual assault and harassment prevention program faces multiple charges after he was accused of setting up a prostitution ring involving cash-strapped female soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory McQueen was charged Friday with 21 counts related to pandering, conspiracy, maltreatment of a subordinate, abusive sexual contact, and adultery and conduct of a nature to bring discredit to the armed forces, according to a Fort Hood statement.

An Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury proceeding, is scheduled for March 20 and 21 at Fort Hood.

Cop answering call charged with rape

DETROIT

A Detroit police officer is accused of raping a woman who had called 911 to report being assaulted by her boyfriend.

Deon Nunlee, 39, was arraigned Friday on second-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault and misconduct charges, according to the Wayne County prosecutor’s office.

Prosecutors said in a news release that Nunlee and his partner responded to a domestic-disturbance complaint at a home on Detroit’s northwest side around 3 a.m. Oct. 30.

A 31-year-old woman told investigators that after the officers arrived she was taken to an upstairs bedroom by one while the other remained downstairs with her boyfriend. The woman said she was sexually assaulted in the bedroom by the officer, who told her he would return later that morning, prosecutors said.

DNA evidence connected Nunlee to the sexual assault, Police Chief James Craig told reporters Friday.

Associated Press