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An unusual public split between U.S. Roman Catholic bishops, nuns and hospitals over abortion in the health care overhaul could undermine the church hierarchy's influence on the debate and give anti-abortion Democrats the political cover they need to vote for the bill. The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes the Senate bill up for a House... Full story »

Obama and Democratic leaders focused their lobbying on two groups of Democrats, 37 who voted against an earlier bill in the House and 40 who voted for it only after first making sure it would include strict abortion limits that now have been modified. Full story »

JERUSALEM — A U.S. envoy's postponement of his Mideast trip appeared Tuesday to deepen one of the worst U.S.-Israeli feuds in memory — even as Israel's foreign minister signaled his government had no intention of curtailing the contentious construction at the heart of the row. Hundreds of Palestinians hurled rocks at police and set tires and garbage bins ablaze across... Full story »

The top House Republican says the GOP can defeat the Democratic health care bill that may reach the House floor this coming week. Ohio Rep. John Boehner says Republicans alone can't stop the legislation. But he says Republicans are "going to do everything we can to make it difficult for them, if not impossible, to pass the bill." Democrats hold... Full story »

Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., said party leaders told the House caucus they have "a firm commitment" from the Senate to do its part. Full story »

MEXICO CITY — Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the first man from a developing nation to become the world's richest person — a shift that underlines the loosening of America and Europe's stranglehold on the top spots in the billionaires' club. Slim's arrival at the top aroused both pride and anger in Mexico, where many see his fantastic... Full story »

Banks repossessed nearly 79,000 homes last month, down 10 percent from January but still up 6 percent from February 2009. Full story »

Almost every American would be affected by the legislation, which would change the ways people receive and pay for health care, from the most routine checkup to the most expensive, lifesaving treatment. Full story »

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University says one of its employees was killed and two were wounded in an overnight shooting at a campus maintenance building. University police say a suspect was taken into custody after heavily armed officers searched the area, which is near the school's massive football stadium. The university says in a statement that the shooting was... Full story »

Looking down into the construction site covering the 16 acres where the World Trade Center once stood, some might see a place shadowed by death. But Cheryl Palmer sees a rebirth — and a business opportunity. She's vice president of Club Quarters Inc., the company opening the World Center Hotel — and as far as she's concerned, the property's... Full story »

The American-born spokesman for al-Qaida has been arrested by Pakistani intelligence officers in the southern city of Karachi, two officers and a government official said Sunday, the same day Adam Gadahn appeared in a video calling for Muslim violence. Full story »

White House officials hope the immediate changes in the health overhaul would be enough to satisfy voters' expectations — and Democratic lawmakers who were hardly unified in support of the plan. Full story »

WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders are pushing to finish far-reaching health legislation and hold a climactic vote in the next three weeks, aiming to overcome reluctance from the rank-and-file lawmakers while answering President Barack Obama's challenge for swift action. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Thursday that Democrats would like to get a final vote by Congress' Easter break,... Full story »

WASHINGTON — For the third time in seven months, the judgment of those who operate the nation's air traffic control system has been called into question and raised concerns that the system may not be as safe as officials claim. While major air crashes have declined sharply over the last decade, thanks largely to improved technology, aviation safety experts say... Full story »

BAGHDAD — A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed 30 people in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba on Wednesday, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before blowing himself up at a hospital, police said. The bombings — Iraq's deadliest in weeks — come as Iraq is preparing for March... Full story »