The nation in brief

— QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I believe we are making progress in a bipartisan basis.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on efforts to draft immigration-overhaul legislation Article, 1A

GOP set to allow Hagel Senate vote

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.

  • Republican opponents of former Sen. Chuck Hagel’s stalled bid to become defense secretary said Sunday that they intend to allow his Senate confirmation vote to proceed unless material more damaging to the nominee surfaces in the coming week.

Critics said the decorated Vietnam combat veteran is a “radical” unqualified to lead the U.S. military. A top White House official expressed “grave concern” over the delayed confirmation vote, adding that there was nothing to worry about in any disclosures that may yet come.

“No, I don’t believe he’s qualified,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said of his fellow Republican and former Senate colleague. “But I don’t believe that we should hold up his nomination any further, because I think it’s [been] a reasonable amount of time to have questions answered.”

McCain and other Republicans have angered President Barack Obama by delaying him from rounding out his second-term national security team, which includes Hagel and John Brennan, the White House counterterrorism adviser who is awaiting confirmation to become CIA director.

Service honors R.I. blaze victims

WEST WARWICK, R.I. - The 100 people killed in a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire were remembered in a memorial service as beloved family members and friends during a ceremony at the site of the fire ahead of Wednesday’s 10th anniversary.

The blaze started when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White ignited flammable foam installed inside the club as soundproofing.

About 200 people stood in bitterly cold winds Sunday to attend the outdoor service, which included music, comments by victims’ relatives and a reading of names.

Former Gov. Don Carcieri called it the state’s worst tragedy but its people’s finest hour because of the way they pulled together to help one another.

Plans for a permanent memorial were released, including a wind harp to serve as a reminder that music is what brought people together that night.

Teen slain; sister sat near Obama

CHICAGO - An 18-yearold Chicago woman was killed the same day her sister had sat on the stage behind President Barack Obama, listening to him push for gun control legislation.

Janay Mcfarlane was shot once in the head about 11:30 p.m. Friday in North Chicago, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd told the Chicago Sun-Times. Mcfarlane, a mother of a 3-month-old boy, was in the Chicago suburb visiting friends and family.

North Chicago police said two people are being questioned in connection with Mcfarlane’s death, but no charges have been filed.

“I really feel like somebody cut a part of my heart out,” Angela Blakely, Mcfarlane’s mother, said.

Blakely said the bullet that killed Mcfarlane was meant for a friend.

Hours earlier, Mcfarlane’s 14-year-old sister was feet from Obama at Hyde Park Career Academy, where he spoke about gun violence and paid tribute to Hadiya Pendleton, the 15-year-old honor student fatally shot last month in a South Side park.

Front Section, Pages 3 on 02/18/2013

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