National Elections

Girl accuses Sacramento mayor of offering her hush money

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson offered to pay $1,000 a month to one of three girls who had accused him of inappropriately touching her while she was involved in his St. HOPE Hood Corps program, the girl told federal agents during their investigation of Johnson's nonprofit St. HOPE organization last year.

Lawmaker asks people to stop complaining, and gets an earful

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver wanted people to stop complaining for a day and count their blessings. What he got, however, was just more complaints.

For central California lawmakers, fundraising never stops

The dollar chase never stops for California incumbents and challengers alike, who keep busy raising campaign funds for themselves and for others.

Cosmetic surgeons frown on Senate's 'botax' plan

If you're considering Botox to erase frown lines or liposuction to get rid of love handles, you might want to move fast. The "botax" may be on the way.

Key Democrat says she'll vote to debate health care overhaul

Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, one of the last undecided Democrats, said she'll vote to begin debate on an $848 billion health care overhaul, but she offered a lukewarm assessment of the bill, which faces an uncertain future.

Confederate flag must come down from Capitol, says S.C. governor hopeful

The Confederate flag must be removed from the State House grounds if South Carolina is to attract jobs, according to one Democrat running for governor. Mullins McLeod, a Charleston attorney, released a plan to create jobs and reopened an old S.C. wound about whether it's appropriate to fly the flag on Capitol grounds.

Fort Bragg puts limits on Palin's book tour visit

Fort Bragg has asked Sarah Palin, who will make a stop at the base on her book tour on Monday, not to make a speech at the public book-signing. The base also wanted to bar reporters from the event because it determined that by keeping out the media, the base would prevent Palin, a Republican and possible candidate in 2012, from having a platform from which to attack President Barack Obama, a Democrat.

Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Paul tells opponent to 'learn how to read'

During a heated forum for U.S. Senate candidates Thursday at a Kentucky Association of Counties conference, Republicans Trey Grayson and Rand Paul exchanged sharp words on the issue of Guantanamo Bay, and at one point, Paul, the son of Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, responded that Grayson should learn how to read.

California's top officials to take 18% pay cut in December

Pay for California's top elected officials will be slashed by 18 percent next month, one year earlier than expected, to abide by an opinion issued Thursday from Attorney General Jerry Brown. Just in time for the holiday season, lawmakers will have their salaries cut by $20,917 annually while California's 12 top state officials will see reductions of at least $28,644 apiece.

Senate girds for Saturday vote and long battle on health care

The Senate Thursday began what promises to be a bitter, lengthy battle over the future of health care in America, and taxes, abortion, affordability and federal deficits emerged as key flashpoints.