ACORN launches 'aggressive' investigation

WASHINGTON - The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now is determined to clear its name. Through the launch of a self-investigation, the anti-poverty group hopes to overturn accusations of illegal methods used to benefit its clients. However, ACORDN CEO Bertha Lewis is prepared for any possible outcome.

YouTube videos made by conservatives opposed to ACORN show right-wing activists James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles dressed as a pimp and prostitute receiving tips from ACORN workers on how to hide money and falsify taxes for a prostitution operation.

The investigation will examine all ACORN procedures the video calls into question.

"The public needs to know …

Swedish police question 30 suspects after child pornography raids

Swedish police say they have brought about 30 people in for questioning after a national crackdown on suspected child pornography.

Police say the most of the suspects are being questioned on suspicion of possessing and sharing pornographic material featuring children, but some are also suspected of child …

On-the-go boyfriend leaving anxious girlfriend behind

DEAR ELLIE: I'm 28, my boyfriend is 31, and we've been dating twoyears. He's a corporate climber with opportunities beyond his wildestdreams, working late weekdays and weekends. He's away for two weeks,back two days between, lasting over the next five years. Days passwhen he doesn't call or write while away. He says he's too busyworking, yet had time to hang out with friends and colleagues fordrinks. He says he loves me. I don't believe it but I still want tokeep our relationship alive. We've broken up 10 times and he keepscoming back. We fight like cats and dogs. He says I'm not nice tohim, well, that's because he's not nice to me. He said he tries tomake me happy but instead I …

Creating Military Institutions In Iraq and Afghanistan

Central to our nation-building efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq is the requirement to create new national military institutions that are based on principles compatible with the liberal democracies they will ultimately serve. The key to this effort will be to create institutions that will foster the inculcation of the concept of service within their nascent officer corps. Rather than expecting to be served by society because of their position, officers in the Afghan national army (ANA) and the new Iraqi army must understand and embrace the concept that they are servants of society. This concept of national service contrasts sharply with the history of private armies loyal to specific ethnic …

Gold down

NEW YORK (AP) — Gold for current delivery closed at $1,615.00 per troy ounce …

Loans dominate slow-starting final day of window

The final day of European football's winter transfer window progressed quietly Monday, with none of the big-money moves that have dominated recent seasons.

The window closed in England with the Premier League's infamously profligate clubs mostly announcing loan transfers, with Fulham the most active after picking up AS Roma striker Stefano Okaka and Aston Villa fullback Nicky Shorey until the end of the season.

Fulham also signed teenage midfielder Christopher Buchtmann from Liverpool and let Senegal forward Diomansy Kamara leave on loan for Scottish Premier League side Celtic, which took on Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid for the rest of the …

Fenway unfriendly to Rocket

Jose Offerman tripled to lead off the ninth inning and scored thewinning run to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over NewYork. His heroics spoiled Roger Clemens' return to Fenway Park in aYankees uniform.

In his first appearance in Boston with the rival Yankees, Clemensfailed to record a single 1-2-3 inning while allowing four runs andfive hits in five-plus innings. He struck out three and left with a5-3 lead. Boston came back to win the game against the Yankees'bullpen.

Clemens was booed from his introduction until he left with one onand nobody out in the sixth.

Offerman, who reached base all five times up in his first gameback from a four-game …