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Politics

U.S. House, Senate convene

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House and Senate have convened for a new Congress that will immediately confront the country's struggling economy. Nine new senators and 54 House members are there to start their new lives on Capitol Hill. And they are joined by two freshmen non-voting delegates. Vice-President Dick Cheney swore the senators into office. The opening of the new Congress came on the same day that Senate officials denied a seat to Roland Burris because of a dispute over his appointment by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Besides the economy, lawmakers also will face considerable early work in reviewing president-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees.

Justice

Judge: Gov't hiding Gitmo evidence

WASHINGTON - A U.S. federal judge has accused the Bush administration of hiding evidence in the case of a Yemeni man who has been held as a terror suspect at Guantanamo Bay for six years. At a hearing Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan rapped Justice Department lawyers for only recently turning over Defense Department and other government documents first obtained in September. Lawyers for both the government and the detainee, Aymen Saeed Batarfi, had wanted Sullivan to rule on whether to free the 38-year-old Yemeni. But Sullivan said the new evidence - which is classified - must be considered before he decides. He called it another example of the Bush administration hiding evidence from courts.

Jeb Bush won't run for Senate in 2010

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida former governor Jeb Bush says he won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to replace the retiring Mel Martinez. Bush made the announcement Tuesday, saying "now is not the right time to return to elected office." The president's younger brother served as governor of Florida from 1999-2007 and remains a popular figure in the state. His announcement clears the field for several other potential Republican candidates who had said they wouldn't challenge him.

Health

Cholera on the rise in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe - More than 1,000 new cholera cases were recorded in Zimbabwe Tuesday, the UN reported, following a week in which the epidemic had showed signs of slowing. The UN's World Health Organization reported 1,080 new cases and 21 more deaths Tuesday. It also corrected an earlier figure of 751 new cases for Monday to 675, with 59 more deaths Monday. In all, impoverished Zimbabwe has had more than 35,000 cases and more than 1,700 deaths since the August start of the outbreak.

Construction

Amish sue U.S. town over building rules

WATERTOWN, New York - Eleven Old Order Amish families sued a northern New York community today, claiming that its refusal to grant permits for their traditionally built homes is religious discrimination. The Amish families claim in the federal lawsuit that the town of Morristown is targeting them for building code enforcement. The Amish emigrated from central Europe to the eastern United States in the early 1700s. Also known as the "Plain People," the Amish believe they must live a simple, non-violent life. Many reject electricity, indoor plumbing and cars.