WASHINGTON (AP) _ In a speech that drew fire even before he delivered it, President Barack Obama is telling the nation's schoolchildren he "expects great things from each of you." "At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world," Obama said. "And none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities" ...

The White House environmental adviser, under fire for inflammatory statements made before he joined the administration, resigned after what he called a "vicious smear campaign against me" ...

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama is getting no shortage of advice on what to say in his health care speech to Congress, and much of it conflicts. Liberals want him to issue a call to action in his Wednesday address, clear and bold. Conservatives hope he'll back away from his push for sweeping changes this year and break health care legislation into smaller pieces ...

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Grandmothers have long been the safety net for parents who are either unable or unwilling to take care of their own children. Social workers refer to families in which grandparents raise their grandchildren instead of the parents as "skipped-generation" households

Omaroseonee Manigault-Stallworth was born on Feb. 15, 1974 in Youngstown, Ohio. She later served as Deputy Associate Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House under President Bill Clinton, although her subsequent appearance on a television show would come to eclipse all of the above ...

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The former head of North Carolina's largest teachers union wants the state Capitol in Raleigh to reflect the contributions of American Indians and Blacks. The state Historical Commission will study the suggestion.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama confronts a tortuous September and it's not just the divisive political fight over health care. Back from his first presidential vacation, Obama settles back into the Oval Office well-aware his approval ratings have fallen. He now must spend heavily from that shrinking fund of political capital - with a highly uncertain outcome - if his vision of health care overhaul is to emerge from Congress...

NEWARK, N.J. (NNPA) - Five-hundred protesters stopped a mid-August music performance at a major city music venue, in one of a series of demonstrations designed to pressure Mayor Cory A. Booker to take more action and engage the community to combat street violence.

RICHMOND, Va. (NNPA) - A new jail is on the way, but for now Richmond inmates are having to help pay for upkeep of the overcrowded and decrepit facility where they are kept.

Four years ago when Angel Robinson evacuated from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, she only expected to be away from home for a few days and looked forward to returning back to her job at City Hall.