Local resident Tonya "Cookie" Wideman has created a statue for President Barack Obama that she plans to send to the White House. Wideman worked locally on the Obama campaign and promised to make the statue if Obama was elected. Inspired by his promises for change, Wideman created a two-story wood structure that features photographs of Obama's family and has symbols of his promises and interests. She said the piece of art is symbolic of the importance of family. She didn't include reference to him being the first black president because she didn't want to link his character or competence to the color of his skin. She said she hopes people take a united stand for change and that young people view him as a role model. ...more

January 28, 2009

President Barack Obama sought to dampen Republicans' complaints about the Democrats' massive economic revival package Friday with an offer to listen carefully to their ideas, too. ...more

January 24, 2009

Yes, I look forward to "four years of positives" (Letter of the Day, Jan. 22). But the positives that I see don't agree with the writer's vision. ...more

January 23, 2009

President Barack Obama is keeping his cherished BlackBerry for personal use, becoming the first sitting president to use e-mail. ...more

January 22, 2009

President Barack Obama, in a meeting with his top national security advisers Wednesday, asked the Pentagon to do whatever additional planning necessary to "execute a responsible military drawdown from Iraq." ...more

January 22, 2009

President Barack Obama succeeded George W. Bush Tuesday in a moving inaugural ceremony befitting the greatest nation on Earth. The two men, flanked by security, walked shoulder-to-shoulder into the Capitol and, just over an hour later, out again in the peaceful exchange of power so taken for granted here but envied by much of the world. ...more

January 21, 2009

As his presidency drew to a close, George W. Bush revealed that life in the White House hasn't been bad, not bad at all. ...more

January 18, 2009

1. "I will bring honesty and integrity back into the White House," referring to Clinton's lie about a sexual affair. 2. "This country needs to be run like a business and I have been a business owner." I guess he forgot every company he had went bankrupt. 3. "We can have a tax cut and balance the budget and they are only temporary." Oh! 4. "I seem to remember going to guard meetings in Alabama." Sure. 5. "I am a Christian man and will not answer any question that pertains to any part of my past before I was born again." ...more

January 13, 2009

In a nostalgic final news conference, President George W. Bush defended his record vigorously and at times sentimentally Monday - and admitted mistakes, too, including his optimistic Iraq speech before a giant "Mission Accomplished" banner in 2003. ...more

January 12, 2009

Facts and figures on President George W. Bush, the nation's 43rd president. 62 ...more

January 11, 2009