WASHINGTON – Democrats gave the gavel Saturday to the longest-serving House member ever as the chamber began debating legislation overhauling the country’s health care system.

HARTFORD, Conn. – An effort to honor a Sept. 11 victim in Connecticut has been halted by the unexpected conflict arising from the victim’s father insisting that his son’s memorial say he was murdered by “Muslim terrorists.

LOS ANGELES – A Seattle team has collected a $900,000 prize in a NASA-backed competition to develop the concept of an elevator to space – an idea spurred by science fiction novels.