The latest news on State Health Coverage, Appeals Courts, Immigration, Nuclear Weapons, Congo, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Select Op-eds.

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State health coverage. State budget gaps reducing safety-net health coverage "Economic troubles are driving states to scale back safety-net health-coverage programs -- even as they brace for more residents who will need help paying for care."

Appeals courts. Appeals Courts Pushed to Right by Bush Choices "Republican-appointed judges, most of them conservatives, are projected to make up about 62 percent of the bench next Inauguration Day, up from 50 percent when Mr. Bush took office. They control 10 of the 13 circuits, while judges appointed by Democrats have a dwindling majority on just one circuit."

Immigration. Immigration Cools as Campaign Issue "Yet as this thorny issue has receded from the presidential campaign, the two candidates continue to refine their approach to it - especially in regards to illegal immigration, the most politically sensitive piece of the equation."

Nuclear weapons. Gates calls for modernization of U.S. nuclear weapons "Unless the United States modernizes its inventory of nuclear weapons and develops a replacement warhead, the atomic arsenal's long-term safety and reliability will deteriorate, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned Tuesday." Gates Gives Rationale for Expanded Deterrence "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said that the United States would hold 'fully accountable' any country or group that helped terrorists to acquire or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons." Defense secretary: Next president should pursue nuclear-reduction agreement with Russians "Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the next American president should pursue a new agreement with Russia to further reduce the size of both nations' nuclear weapons arsenals."

Congo. Congo city panics as rebels near "People displaced by violence to the north are moving into Goma, after seeing army troops retreat from an advance by Tutsi rebels." U.N. Seeks Reinforcements in E. Congo "Congolese rebels fought their way closer to the city of Goma in eastern Congo on Tuesday, sending tens of thousands of villagers fleeing down muddy roads, as the top U.N. representative in the country appealed to the Security Council to reinforce its peacekeeping force." U.N. Blocked From Pulling Workers Out of Congo "With rebels closing in and artillery shells raining down, the United Nations said it decided on Tuesday to extract its aid workers who were holed up in the eastern Congolese village of Rutshuru. But the attempt to evacuate roughly 50 aid workers trapped in the battle zone deep in the forest was halted after furious villagers attacked the armed convoy and blocked the road."

Iraq. Iraq outlines changes it wants in pact with U.S. "Iraq wants a security agreement with the U.S. to include a clear ban on U.S. troops using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq's neighbors, the government spokesman said Wednesday, three days after a dramatic U.S. raid on Syria." Iraq pact heads for showdown "Threats by the U.S. military to suspend all military operations in Iraq unless the Iraqi government signs a key security pact may backfire by solidifying opposition to the agreement, Iraqis warned Tuesday, as Iraq's Cabinet dealt another setback to the chances of a deal anytime soon."

Syria. Syria demands U.S. apology for air strike "Syria today demanded an apology and compensation from the US after a helicopter raid into its territory left at least eight people dead."

Pakistan. Pakistan summons U.S. ambassador to order halt to cross-border raids "Pakistan's government summoned the U.S. ambassador today to demand an immediate halt to missile strikes on its territory in the latest sign of escalating tension between the supposed allies in the War on Terror."

Afghanistan. Support Sought In Afghan Mission "U.S. commanders in Afghanistan now believe they need about 20,000 additional troops to battle a growing Taliban insurgency, as demands mount for support forces such as helicopter units, intelligence teams and engineers that are critical to operating in the country's harsh terrain."

Commentary. The end of the Catholic vote (Tim Rutten, Los Angeles Times) "It's an article of faith in U.S. politics that, when it comes to the popular vote at least, Catholics determine the winners in our presidential contests. In fact, with the notable exception of George W. Bush eight years ago, no candidate in recent memory has entered the White House without securing a majority of the votes cast by Catholics, who now make up more than a fourth of the U.S. population." Sleepless in Tehran (Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times) "Have you seen the reports that Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is suffering from exhaustion? It's probably because he is not sleeping at night. I know why. Watching oil prices fall from $147 a barrel to $57 is not like counting sheep. It's the kind of thing that gives an Iranian autocrat bad dreams."