Daily News Digest

The latest news on Republican debate, John Edwards, Economy, Trade agreements, Homeless in Columbus, Wages in Iowan, Baptists, Soldiers and vets, Afghanistan, Lebanon war report, Iraq, Saudi women's rights, Native people, Iran, Kenya, Gandhi, Editorial, and Opinion.

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Republican debate. Accusations fly at Republican debate "John McCain and Mitt Romney carried their bitter Florida clash into California, each impugning the other's honesty in a hot-tempered debate as they sought to attract voters casting ballots in five days in a coast-to-coast array of primaries and caucuses. " McCain vs. Romney on Iraq "The Iraq war again emerged as a flash point between Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in a debate, after McCain accused Romney of supporting timetables for withdrawing U.S. troops from the battlefield." McCain, Romney snipe at each other "The race for the Republican nomination narrowed to a sharp-edged duel between Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, cresting in an often acerbic debate that included sustained attacks on each candidate's record, credibility and even integrity."

John Edwards. John Edwards ends presidential bid "He launched his campaign in the hurricane-ravaged quarters of New Orleans and traveled through Appalachia, talking about poverty and railing against corporate greed and financial disparities." Edwards Exacts Pledge as He Leaves "Edwards said that Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama "have both pledged to me and, more importantly, through me to America, that they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency. This is the cause of my life, and I now have their commitment to engage in this cause."

Economy. Rival stimulus plan gains traction "An alternative economic stimulus package picked up momentum in the Senate on with new GOP support, potentially complicating the bid to quickly pass legislation to pump billions of dollars into the ailing economy." Showdown Nears on Stimulus Bill "With bipartisan support, the Senate Finance Committee approved a $157 billion economic stimulus plan that rivals the measure fashioned by President Bush and House leaders, setting up a Senate showdown today that could determine who will receive rebates from the federal government and how quickly the checks will arrive."

Trade agreements. Bush pushes three trade agreements "Declaring that "free trade means good-paying jobs for Americans," President Bush used the nation's largest helicopter manufacturer as a backdrop to pressure Congress to pass three trade agreements that are among the top priorities of his final year in office."

Homeless in Columbus. Workers search high and low in homeless count "volunteers and staff members scoured the city during the Columbus Community Shelter Board's fourth annual Point-in-Time count of area homeless. It's a tricky, high-stakes exercise in finding people who don't necessarily want to be found."

Wages in Iowa. Revised 'prevailing wage' bill exempts rural cities, counties "Legislation that would force schools, cities and counties to pay average union wages for contract labor is gearing up for a Statehouse comeback with a list of revisions that advocates say will help win over rural lawmakers."

Baptists. Carter opens Baptist meeting in Georgia "Former President Carter called divisions among Christians a "cancer" in the church, as he opened a meeting meant to unite moderate Baptists across racial and theological lines and show their tradition goes beyond conservative Southern Baptist beliefs."

Soldiers and vets. Soldier Suicides at Record Level "Suicides among active-duty soldiers in 2007 reached their highest level since the Army began keeping such records in 1980,