The nation in brief

— QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Now it’s like the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Instead of one contestant, we’ve got 100,000, and there’s only one question you have to answer.All they have to answer is where he’s at, and we can take it from there.”

Anthony Burke, supervisory inspector for the U.S. Marshals regional fugitive task force, on the reward offered in the manhunt for an ex-Los Angeles officer Article, 2A

Obama honors GI, 8 fallen comrades

WASHINGTON - A veteran who helped “defend the indefensible” at a vulnerable Army outpost in Afghanistan received the nation’s highest award for military valor Monday at a tearful White House ceremony that also honored the eight men who did not survive a Taliban attack.

President Barack Obama lauded former Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha’s bravery in fighting back an intense daylong barrage at Combat Outpost Keating on Oct. 3, 2009, by enemy fighters.

The Americans were out manned 53 to more than 300, but most survived. “These men were outnumbered, outgunned, and almost overrun,” Obama said.

“I’m feeling conflicted with this medal I now wear,” Romesha, 31, told reporters outside the West Wing after the ceremony. “The joy comes from recognition for us doing our jobs as soldiers on distant battlefields, but is countered by the constant reminder of the loss of our battle buddies, my battle buddies, my soldiers, my friends.”

Eight U.S. soldiers were killed in the fighting and another 22 were wounded, including Romesha, who was peppered with shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade in the hip, arm and neck.

Senators to show hands for Hagel

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats are pushing ahead with a vote today on Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be defense secretary.

In a statement, Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the panel would meet this afternoon with the “intention to vote on the nomination after the members have an opportunity for discussion.”

Levin had hoped to hold a committee vote last Thursday, but postponed it amid complaints from some Republicans that Hagel hadn’t sufficiently answered questions about his personal finances.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Monday that he believes Hagel has “fulfilled the rigorous requirements,” required of his nomination. McCain also met privately late Monday with some committee Republicans and urged them not to filibuster the nomination.

Hagel, 66, a former two-term Nebraska Republican senator and twice-wounded combat veteran in Vietnam, has faced strong opposition from Republicans over his past statements and votes on Israel, Iran, nuclear weapons and Iraq.

Rain doesn’t halt Lundi Gras revelers

NEW ORLEANS - Scattered showers didn’t keep revelers away Monday as thousands flocked to the French Quarter and along the Mississippi riverfront for Lundi Gras festivities.

While rain threatened in the forecast, Fat Monday parades were expected to proceed: the Krewe of Orpheus, the star-studded group led by entertainer Harry Connick Jr., and the Krewe of Proteus, the Carnival season’s second-oldest krewe founded in 1882 and named for an early Greek sea god.

The riverfront was jamming with music for the arrival of the King of Zulu, who toasts the King of Rex. A festival has sprung from the event, with food and drink booths and music throughout the day.

3 in Delaware die in courthouse shootout

WILMINGTON, Del. - Motivated by a years-long custody dispute, a gunman opened fire Monday morning in a Delaware courthouse lobby, exchanging shots with police and leaving three people - including himself - dead, authorities said.

Delaware State Police Sgt. Paul Shavack said the suspected gunman and two women are dead. Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams said in a phone interview that one of the women killed was the gunman’s estranged wife, but Shavack said police had not confirmed that was the case and cautioned against information from other sources.

Shavack did not say how the gunman died. He said two police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden said at an afternoon news conference that the shooting was not a random act of violence but the result of a custody dispute.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 02/12/2013

Upcoming Events