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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says that contrary to the claims of some GOP presidential candidates, he's not plotting to take away everyone's guns. Speaking in the East Room at the White House, Obama defended his executive actions to tighten criminal background checks. The president said his actions are consistent with the constitutional right to right to bear arms. Obama says some constraints on freedom are necessary to protect innocent people.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — More GOP candidates are chiming in with criticism of President Barack Obama's executive actions to tighten gun regulation in the U.S. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says Obama is "obsessed" with undermining the Second Amendment. He told reporters in Iowa that the president's new executive actions on guns undermine Americans' constitutional right to bear arms. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is labeling Obama's actions "a blatant, belligerent abuse of power."
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The mother of a fugitive teenager known for using an "affluenza" defense in a deadly drunken-driving case has agreed to be sent from California to Texas to face a charge. Tonya Couch appeared today for an extradition hearing in Los Angeles, where she was flown last week after being deported from Mexico. It's unclear when she will be sent to Texas, where she's charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon. Her son Ethan is still in custody in Mexico.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks have been edging lower today as trading stabilizes, a day after a global selloff prompted by some weak economic news from China. Shares in Ford and GM are down today after the companies reported monthly sales figures that fell short of forecasts.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The estimated jackpot for tomorrow night's Powerball drawing has soared to $450 million thanks to strong sales. Multi-State Lottery Association officials today increased the expected prize from $400 million because of fast sales for the largest lottery jackpot in nearly a year. No one has won Powerball's biggest prize since Nov. 4. The jackpot now is the sixth-largest ever in North America, and if there is no winner after tomorrow night's drawing, the prize will keep climbing.
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