Colin Powell worries Obama tackling too much

Colin Powell worries that President Barack Obama is trying to tackle too many big issues at one time and he offers this advice: take a hard look at costs and consider the additional red tape that will be created.

"The right answer is, `Give me a government that works,'" the former secretary of state said in a television interview to be aired Sunday. "Keep it as small as possible," added Powell, who said he has spoken recently with Obama and stays in touch with him. Powell, a Republican, endorsed Obama last year over the GOP presidential nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Obama wants to overhaul the health care system and take on climate …

Rookie May Catch On as Starter

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. There was nothing the matter with thepre-training camp goals of Ryan Wetnight, who shot for the clouds andhit the stars.

It's what the rookie free agent tight end could beaccomplishing that is goofy.

Wetnight, who was only trying to eke out a spot on the team,now finds himself on the verge of being the Bears' starting tightend. Granted, it is by default, as the only other healthy tight endin camp is free agent Danta Whitaker, but it is quite anaccomplishment nonetheless.

"I never thought I'd end up starting," Wetnight said beforethe Bears broke camp Friday. "I was just happy to get anopportunity here."

The hopes …

Merkel: still no quick fix to euro crisis

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel is brushing aside pressure for a quick-fix solution to the euro crisis even as market tensions mount, arguing that spreading debt liability could ruin Europe's competitiveness and a massive European Central Bank bond-buying drive wouldn't resolve its problems.

Merkel also argued in a speech Thursday to an economic conference that Europe needs to consider growth-promoting measures that don't immediately cost money, such as labor-market reforms — and that such measures will require patience.

Merkel noted that Europe has been discussing "one quick solution after another" — such as the introduction of jointly backed so-called …

Ariz. lawmakers target ethnic studies program

A week after signing an immigration bill that has drawn ire and praise from people around the country, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has another bill on her desk targeting classes that the state schools chief says promote "ethnic chauvinism."

The measure targets an ethnic studies program from a Tucson school district. It would prohibit classes that advocate ethnic solidarity, that are designed primarily for students of a particular race or that promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group.

The Tucson Unified School District program allows students to take history and literature courses that include information about the influence of a particular …

Rickles, Letterman Exchange Zingers

One exchange between Don Rickles and Dave Letterman on his "LateShow" Monday didn't make it on the air. Rickles apparently wasunhappy to be sent, by Dave, down to the souvenir shop next to thetheater where Letterman's show is filmed.

Rickles zinged Dave by saying "Gotta go. I'm due at Jay Leno'shouse for dinner later tonight." Letterman shot back with: "I'm sureyou'll enjoy the peace and quiet." The studio audience roared, …

Hunger grows in Dallas, the world

DALLAS - At Crossroads Community Services in downtown Dallas, hunger is not an abstract concept.

As families across North Texas feast on turkey and dressing during the holiday season, Jay Cole is seeing more people than ever walk through his doors asking for food.

"It's unbelievable this year," said Cole, director of Crossroads, a First United Methodist Church ministry and one of the largest distributors for the North Texas Food Bank. "We distribute food to up to 40 families a day, and it used to take until about 11 a.m. for our sign-up sheet to be filled. Now, the list is filled by 9 a.m., and we have a line going out the door."

Crossroads -- 55 percent of whose …

American school still open in Syria despite order

An American school and cultural center in Syria remains open despite a Syrian government order to shut down.

The order was made in retaliation for a deadly U.S. military raid this weekend.

Students and teachers are attending classes as usual at the Damascus Community School Wednesday and an employee at the cultural center says it is also …