Belatedly, White House aide at center of NYC probe pays architect for home renovation job

September 25th, 2009 Ohio AG to probe county auditor in ClevelandCLEVELAND — Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray will conduct a special investigation of a top political leader's work setting property values in the state's most populous county. Cuyahoga (keye-uh-HOH'-guh) County Auditor Frank Russo is also at the center of a federal corruption probe that began last year when federal agents raided the homes and offices of Russo and county Commissioner Jimmy Dimora.

September 24th, 2009 Historic RI theater to reopen after restorationNEWPORT, R.I. — A theater in Newport that hosted the likes of Orson Welles and Oscar Wilde is being reopened.

August 26th, 2009 Obamas visit top adviser's home on vacationOAK BLUFFS, Mass. — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are spending the evening at White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett's house around dinnertime.

August 24th, 2009 White House repeats position on CIA prosecutionsWASHINGTON — The White House is repeating its long-held view on CIA interrogators of terror suspects, saying that they should not be prosecuted if they acted within legal guidelines laid out at the time. The attorney general is assigning a prosecutor to begin a criminal probe of CIA questioning of terror suspects during the Bush administration.

August 4th, 2009 Architect Charles Gwathmey dies at age 71NEW YORK — Charles Gwathmey (GWAHTH'-mee), an architect known for his influential modernist home designs and famous clients like director Steven Spielberg, has died. He was 71. His stepson, Eric Steel, says Gwathmey died in Manhattan on Monday.

July 24th, 2009 Conyers wants criminal probe of Bush 'abuses'WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on Friday urged Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special counsel to examine potential abuses by former President George W. Bush's administration.

July 8th, 2009 House approves marker on role of slaves in CapitolWASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday acknowledged the use of African-American slaves in the construction of the U.S. Capitol, ordering officials to place a marker inside the new Capitol Visitor Center using some of the original stone quarried by those slaves for the historic building.

June 28th, 2009 Axelrod expects Senate to tackle health care firstWASHINGTON — A top presidential adviser says it probably will be the fall before the Senate deals with a major climate change bill that just passed the House. White House aide David Axelrod says he thinks health care overhaul will be the first thing on senators' agenda.

June 15th, 2009 Harry Truman home to close for renovations in Aug.INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — If you're a Harry Truman fan, you have until Aug.

May 12th, 2009 Businessman pleads guilty in NY pension probeNEW YORK — A California businessman has pleaded guilty to securities fraud in connection with an investigation of alleged corruption at New York's public pension fund. The attorney general's office said Tuesday Julio (HOO'-lee-oh) Ramirez entered into a corrupt agreement with a top political aide to former New York Comptroller Alan Hevesi (HE'-vuh-see) to ensure that his company's clients got a slice of pension fund investments.

May 9th, 2009 Aide resigns over NYC flyover; probe continuesWASHINGTON — The Pentagon and Air Force are reviewing whether their officials may be partly to blame for a $328,835 photo-op of a jumbo jet used by the president soaring above New York City that has already forced the White House military director to step down. Former Army Secretary Louis Caldera, the White House aide who authorized the flyover, resigned under fire Friday as the Obama administration tried to move past the embarrassing incident that sent panicked workers rushing into the streets amid flashbacks of Sept.

May 9th, 2009 AP Source: White House aide loses job over flyoverWASHINGTON — A White House aide has lost his job for his role in Air Force One's photo-op flyover over New York City. A White House official says Obama has accepted the resignation of military office director Louis Caldera.

May 9th, 2009 White House to release review of low-flying planeWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Air Force flyover that sparked panic in New York City was not adequately reviewed and approved by senior service and department officials. In a letter this week to Sen.

April 23rd, 2009 White House: No commission on interrogationsWASHINGTON — The White House is ruling out an independent panel to investigate the Bush administration's harsh interrogations of terror suspects. Press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Thursday that the idea was discussed "in earnest" inside the White House about two weeks ago.

March 31st, 2009 NEW YORK - The Obamas are using their own money to renovate the White House, forgoing the 100,000 dollars in federal funds that is traditionally allotted to new presidents for such renovation projects. First Lady Michelle Obama''''s communications director Camille Johnston said that the Obamas, who are worth millions, will pay to overhaul the White House residence from their own pockets.