Washington, D.C. – Some crop subsidies could be cut as lawmakers search for ways to pay for a new farm bill, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said Thursday.

“As far as I’m concerned, direct payments are still on the table,” he said, referring to the more than $5 billion in fixed annual payments that grain and cotton farmers receive.

By KEVIN FREKING – 2 days ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Bush administration to disclose the identity of more troubled nursing homes, saying earlier efforts to alert consumers did not go far enough.

About six weeks ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services took the unprecedented step of publishing the names of 54 nursing homes that ranked among the worst in their state. The idea was to goad them into improving care.

Democrats say caucus turnout points to victory this fall

By Whitney Woodward | Saturday, January 12, 2008

Following a seismic turnout in the Iowa Democratic caucus, party officials have predicted the state’s seven electoral votes will head to the blue column in this year’s general election.

But Republicans aren’t buying their opponents’ prediction.

Updated attendance figures from Thursday night’s caucus show Democrats drew roughly 239,000 participants, doubling the Republicans’ pull of about 120,000, party officials said.

Protests Mark Anniversary of Guantanamo Detention Center By Cindy Saine

The human rights group Amnesty International staged protests around the world Friday to mark the sixth anniversary of the first arrival of detainees at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The group is demanding the prison be shut down. Meanwhile, a U.S. appeals court in Washington has ruled against four British men who allege they were tortured during their detention at Guantanamo. VOA’s Cindy Saine reports from Washington.