US News - News May 8, 2011

Don't count out "Gang of Six" budget group yet (WNWN-FM Battle Creek)
Despite suspicions that the "Gang of Six" is doomed, this bipartisan group of senators looking to mediate the budget battle could be key to Vice President Joe Biden's long-range deficit-control efforts.

Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon (Athens Banner-Herald)
A military built for fighting wars is looking more and more like a health care entitlement program.

Mixed emotions for Green Party MLA (Larne Today)
Victory was tinged with sadness for Green Party leader Steven Agnew as he dedicated his triumph in North Down to a close friend who died during his campaign.

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Dem Donnelly to reach for Lugar's Senate seat (Post Tribune)
Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly will announce on Monday that he is seeking the Indiana Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen.

Thomas talks of early struggles to Neb. crowd (Salon)
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas says family, faith and friends will matter more over a person's lifetime than superficial illusions of success.

Napolitano Urges Federal Immigration Overhaul (WMAZ-TV Macon)
The nation's homeland security chief urged Congress to adopt a comprehensive immigration reform, saying it's an issue that shouldn't be addressed on a state-by-state level.

Democratic senators say Obama should cut funds to Palestinians (Southeast Asia News)
The idea of Hamas joining the Palestinian government has prompted Democratic senators in the US to pressure President Obama to cut aid worth $550 million.

Memphis readies for big river; Ky. spared calamity (The Daily Gazette)
As Memphis readied for the mighty Mississippi to bring its furor to town, some Kentucky residents upstream returned to their homes Saturday, optimistic the levees would hold and that they had seen the worst of the flooding.

Gingrich Adds New Book To His Stack (Local6)
Potential GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's new tome will hit bookstores in June.

Republican Santorum wins South Carolina straw poll (XtraMSN Real Estate)
Republican Rick Santorum got credit for showing up and won a 2012 presidential straw poll of party activists in the crucial early voting state of South Carolina, organizers said on Saturday.

Kentucky Derby 2011 Won by Longshot Animal Kingdom; Watch It (Video) (huliq)
Animal Kingdom, a 20-1 longshot just before post time, came up the big winner in the Kentucky Derby 2011.

50 years later, students retrace 1961 Freedom Ride (The Boston Globe)
Charles Reed Jr. is skipping his college graduation ceremony to do something much more significant to him: retracing the original 1961 Freedom Ride and paying tribute to those who helped win the civil rights that his generation enjoys.

La. Gov. Bobby Jindal releases birth certificate (WINK-TV Fort Myers)
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who was born in Baton Rouge to immigrant parents from India, has released his birth certificate.

Wisconsin Republicans rush agenda before recalls (KSRO-AM Santa Rosa)
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP leaders have launched a push to ram several years' worth of conservative agenda items through the Legislature this spring before recall elections threaten to end the party's control of state government.

Free video game releases episode depicting Osama bin Laden raid (examiner)
Kuma War is a free and episodic first and third-person shooter video game. According to its site, it "is a series of playable recreations of real events in the War on Terror," and they've already updated the series with an episode detailing the biggest catch of all thus far: Osama bin Laden.