In this photo taken Aug. 22, 2013, President Barack Obama walks along the West Wing colonnade of the White House in Washington before traveling to New York and Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) by Julie PaceAP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly five years into his presidency, Barack Obama confronts a world far different from what he envisioned when he first took office. U.S. influence is declining in the Middle East as violence and instability rock Arab countries. An ambitious attempt to reset U.S. relations with Russia faltered and failed. Even in Obama-friendly Europe, there's deep skepticism about Washington's government surveillance programs.
HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) by Connie Cass and Lauran Neergaard WASHINGTON (AP) — Hospitals within the same city sometimes charge tens of thousands of dollars more for the same procedures, according to figures the government released for the first time Wednesday. The federal list sheds new light on the mystery of just how high a hospital bill might go — and whether it's cheaper to get the care somewhere else.
BUILDING LEGACY--In this April 11 photo, President Barack Obama is seen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) by Liz Sidoti WASHINGTON (AP) — He wants to slash funding for the Democratic sacred cows of Social Security and Medicare. He doesn't agree with a judge and women's rights groups that girls of any age should have easy access to emergency contraception. He has hinted that he may disappoint environmentalists by letting the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline be built.
LOSES CANCER BATTLE-- In this May 14, 2004 file photo, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez gives a press conference at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch, File) by Frank Bajak CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Hugo Chavez was a fighter. The former paratroop commander and fiery populist waged continual battle for his socialist ideals and outsmarted his rivals time and again, defeating a coup attempt, winning re-election three times and using his country's vast oil wealth to his political advantage.
HEALTH SCARE--Michael Lee talks to a reporter about his recent heart surgery and follow-up care at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) by Lauran Neergaard AP Medical Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Lee knew he was still in bad shape when he left the hospital five days after emergency heart surgery. But he was so eager to escape the constant prodding and the roommate's loud TV that he tuned out the nurses' care instructions.
by Marc LevyAssociated Press Writer HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania will not set up its own health care exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act, at least not for now, Gov. Tom Corbett said Wednesday, putting the state on a course to join others led by Republicans that will let President Barack Obama's administration run its exchange. GOV. TOM CORBETT (AP Photo/File)
