WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said President Barack Obama signed an executive order late Wednesday banning all federal workers from texting while driving on government business, driving government vehicles or using government equipment.
"Driving while distracted should just feel wrong -- just as driving without a seat belt or driving while intoxicated," LaHood said at the end of a two-day conference on the problem. "We're not going to break everyone of their bad habits -- but we are going to raise awareness and sharpen the consequences."
The administration also will push to disqualify school bus drivers who are convicted of texting while driving from keeping their commercial driver's licenses.
Letterman affairs extortion focus
LOS ANGELES -- David Letterman acknowledged on Thursday's show that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort $2 million from him over the affairs.
During the taping of his CBS late-night show in New York, Letterman discussed receiving a threat to either pay $2 million or risk the relationships being made public.
In a release from the show's producer, Letterman said he referred the matter to the Manhattan district attorney's office and that an investigation ended in an arrest Thursday.
As part of the investigation, Letterman said he issued a "phony" $2 million check to the individual and the arrest followed -- along with testimony by Letterman.
Letterman and longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko married in March. The couple began dating in 1986 and have a son, Harry, born in November 2003.
Senate delays Afghan briefing
WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Thursday to delay a face-to-face briefing from the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, who hours earlier had warned that al-Qaida terrorists could regain ground there if a new war plan isn't adopted soon.
Democrats rejected the call by one of the Senate's most hawkish Republicans to force Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal to personally explain his war strategy by Nov. 15.
Without McChrystal's testimony, "We don't have any input into the decision-making process," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., complained before the 59-40 party-line vote. "I mean, this is bizarre."
The Senate vote came as the Obama administration debates how best to fight the eight-year war in Afghanistan that McChrystal on Thursday termed "serious and deteriorating."
Report: Babies will live to 100
LONDON -- Most babies born in rich countries this century will eventually make it to their 100th birthday, new research says.
Danish experts say that since the 20th century, people in developed countries are living about three decades longer than in the past. Surprisingly, the trend shows little sign of slowing down.
In an article published today in the medical journal Lancet, the researchers write that the process of aging may be "modifiable."
While illnesses affecting the elderly like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are rising, advances in medical treatment are also making it possible for them to remain active for longer.
-- From wire reports
