Today's News Highlights 09.13.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Rick Perry on defensive during Republican debate
Texas Gov. Rick Perry found himself on the defensive in a Republican presidential debate, pilloried for suggesting that states should take over Social Security, for trying to mandate vaccinations for young girls and for immigration policies he has supported in his state.
(By Dan Balz and Nia-Malika Henderson)

Obama outlines jobs bill funding
The president’s proposal to increase taxes on wealthier families prompts measured Republican opposition.
(By Rosalind S. Helderman and David Nakamura)

Suit challenges jails’ strip-search policies
A New Jersey man is suing two jails, saying it was unreasonable to strip-search him after he was arrested for failing to pay a fine he had, in fact, paid.
(By Robert Barnes)

D.C. near settlement in mental health case
The District is on the cusp of ending court oversight of its services for the mentally ill.
(By Mike DeBonis)

Camp Victory preparing to close
As the troop drawdown deadline gets closer, officials are busy clearing the base for its turnover to the Iraqi government in early December.
(By Annie Gowen)

POLITICS
Remapping Congressional districts can mean revenge, more 'Godfather' than 'Federalist Papers'
WASHINGTON — The first time the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature tried to get rid of Rep. Lloyd Doggett, they cut his district into three pieces. This year, they sliced it into five — and plopped him into a primary against an ambitious up-and-comer for good measure.
( Associated Press , AP)

Obama moves at historic pace to diversify federal bench; white males under half his choices
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is moving at a historic pace to try to diversify the nation’s federal judiciary: Nearly three of every four people he has gotten confirmed to the federal bench are women or minorities. He is the first president who hasn’t selected a majority of white males for lifetime judgeships.
( Associated Press , AP)

Poll: Government, military trusted to keep Americans safe; Congress, not so much
WASHINGTON — Congress may be in the doghouse with the American public, but the broader government — especially the military — gets high marks for keeping the nation safe and secure, a new poll suggests.
( Associated Press , AP)

AGING AMERICA: Caregivers urge action as Obama administration drafts national Alzheimer's plan
WASHINGTON — As her mother’s Alzheimer’s worsened over eight long years, so did Doreen Alfaro’s bills: The walker, then the wheelchair, then the hospital bed, then the diapers — and the caregivers hired for more and more hours a day so Alfaro could go to work and her elderly father could get some rest.
( Associated Press , AP)

Unhappiness with Obama's policies could throw NY special House election to Republicans
NEW YORK — Democrat David Weprin faced an unusually tight race against Republican Bob Turner in a special election Tuesday in New York’s heavily Democratic 9th Congressional District, where voters unhappy with President Barack Obama could elect a Republican for the first time.
( Associated Press , AP)

STYLE
Bitter battle over corn syrup's rebranding attempt heads to Los Angeles courtroom
LOS ANGELES — The setting sun splashes warm hues across a ripening cornfield as a man and his daughter wander through rows of towering plants.
( Associated Press , AP)

Ask Amy: Couch-surfing spud overstays his welcome
It’s time for their lazy guest to get a move on.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Miss Manners: Courteous little gentleman is no threat to equality
Miss Manners applauds mother who’s teaching her young son that feminism and etiquette are not mutually exclusive.
(, Universal Press)

For this guy, you have to spell it out
Home sick and wanted a boyfriend visit, but she said she could manage without. He didn’t come and now she’s upset. Should she be?
(, The Washington Post)

The '70s slouch has become clean, easy elegance at New York Fashion Week
NEW YORK — An easy spring elegance, deceitfully simple but never sloppy, brought a bit of good clean fun to New York Fashion Week as the twice-annual round of frenzied runway shows moved into the fifth day Monday.
( Associated Press , AP)

SPORTS
Utah-BYU rivalry still heated, even in September as both teams struggle to find groove
PROVO, Utah — Last year’s matchup started with pre-game taunting and was decided by a last-second blocked field goal.
( Associated Press , AP)

Canadian youth hockey associations mandate baseline concussion testing
Canadian hockey players as young as 10 years old will be put through the same concussion testing as NHL players this season.
( Associated Press , AP)

Monday's Sports In Brief
WESTON, Fla. — Former World Series MVP Manny Ramirez was arrested and charged with battery Monday after a domestic dispute at his South Florida home, police said.
( Associated Press , AP)

Believe it: Novak Djokovic tops Rafael Nadal, adds US Open title to already sensational season
NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic was on the wrong side of the court, and the celebration, a year ago after the last ball was struck in the U.S. Open final.
( Associated Press , AP)

Michigan AD says Wolverines get to keep their legacy jerseys from victory over Notre Dame
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Fans aren’t the only ones who never want to forget Michigan’s last-second win over Notre Dame
( Associated Press , AP)

WORLD
China says Libya's provisional government promises to honor existing accords with Beijing
BEIJING — China has received reassurances from Libya’s provisional authority that the country’s new government will uphold all agreements signed with Beijing before the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi, officials said Tuesday.
( Associated Press , AP)

Red Cross: Death toll from gasoline pipeline explosion in Kenya capital rises to 82
NAIROBI, Kenya — A Red Cross official says the death toll from a gasoline pipeline explosion in the Kenyan capital has risen to 82.
( Associated Press , AP)

World markets extend gains following Monday's rally on Wall Street
SHANGHAI — Asian markets were mostly higher Tuesday as investors took heart from a late rally on Wall Street, while European shares were only briefly lifted by reports German Chancellor Angela Merkel had ruled out allowing Greece to slide into insolvency.
( Associated Press , AP)

Police: Gunmen attack school bus in Pakistan, killing 3 children, a teacher and a driver
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Police: Gunmen attack school bus in Pakistan, killing 3 children, a teacher and a driver.
( Associated Press , AP)

9 North Korean defectors reach Japan by boat
TOKYO — Nine people who say they are from North Korea arrived Tuesday in a black wooden boat off the western Japanese coast in what authorities suspect is a rare defection from the communist nation to Japan.
( Associated Press , AP)

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

ComPost Live with Alexandra Petri
The Compost, written by Alexandra Petri, offers a lighter take on the news and political in(s)anity of the day.
(, vForum)

Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)

Debt Ceiling drama: Why Jonathan Capehart thinks your voice needs to be heard
In his Post-Partisan blog post today, Opinion writer Jonathan Capehart said that "Folks should be marching on the Capitol" in protest of the way the debt issue is being handled. Do you agree?
(, vForum)

Chatological Humor: Monthly with Moron
Gene Weingarten takes polls and chats about his recent columns.
(, vForum)

TECHNOLOGY
Ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce presents its electric concept car at Frankfurt show
FRANKFURT, Germany — In yet another sign that car manufacturers are really trying to go greener, Rolls-Royce is experimenting with an electric vehicle.
( Associated Press , AP)

Nintendo seeks to rev up 3DS popularity with array of holiday games
TOKYO — Nintendo is readying an array of video games for the holidays in an aggressive attempt at catch-up for lost time from the sales delay of the 3DS portable machine last year.
( Associated Press , AP)

iPhone, iPod, iPad trade-ins at GameStop
Gamestop is now taking trade-ins on all generations of iOS devices.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Michael Arrington leaving AOL and TechCrunch blog he founded
NEW YORK — Michael Arrington, founder of the popular technology blog TechCrunch, is leaving the blog and its owner, AOL, to work on the venture capital fund he recently started.
( Associated Press , AP)

A look at the BlackBerry Bold 9790
If you’re digging the Bold 9900′s touchscreen + QWERTY combination but aren’t quite as fond of its larger footprint, the Bold 9790 might be just the device for you.
( by Jacob Schulman , The Washington Post)

BUSINESS
Ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce presents its electric concept car at Frankfurt show
FRANKFURT, Germany — In yet another sign that car manufacturers are really trying to go greener, Rolls-Royce is experimenting with an electric vehicle.
( Associated Press , AP)

UK consumer inflation rises to 4.5 pct, 21st month of overshooting official 2 pct target
LONDON — Official figures show that higher utility and clothing costs pushed Britain’s consumer prices up to 4.5 percent in the year to August from 4.4 percent the month before, but economists expressed hope that the rate could begin falling within months.
( Associated Press , AP)

Europe struggles to contain Greek debt crisis as Merkel says progress being made
ATHENS, Greece — German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to calm febrile markets Tuesday that Greece is heading for a chaotic default on its debts as Europe struggles to contain a crippling financial crisis that is roiling global markets.
( Associated Press , AP)

Italy held talks with China's sovereign wealth fund amid reports it asked it to buy its bonds
ROME — Italy confirmed reports Tuesday that the treasury minister has met with China’s sovereign wealth fund amid speculation that Rome is looking to persuade Beijing to buy its bonds or invest in its companies.
( Associated Press , AP)

Reports: Italy asks China to buy bonds, invest as Rome tries to resolve financial crunch
BEIJING — Italian officials have held talks with China’s sovereign wealth fund in an effort to persuade Beijing to buy Italy’s government bonds or invest in its companies, news reports said Tuesday.
( Associated Press , AP)