Emanuel's deeper involvement in pressing for Jarrett Senate appointment  —  My Sun-Times colleagues Natasha Korecki and Fran Spielman in a story in the Thusday paper report Rahm Emanuel's involvement in pushing Gov. Blagojevich to appoint Valerie Jarrett to replace President elect Barack Obama was deeper than previously known.

Obama Selects Evangelist for Invocation  —  Barack Obama has selected the Rev. Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor and author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, a role that positions Mr. Warren to succeed Billy Graham as the nation's pre-eminent minister …

Conservative Leader Paul Weyrich Dies; First to Lead Heritage  —  Paul M. Weyrich, chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation and first president of The Heritage Foundation, died this morning around 1 a.m. He was 66 years old.  Weyrich was a good friend to many of us at Heritage, a true leader and a man of unbending principle.

Big News in Washington, but Far Fewer Cover It  —  WASHINGTON — A new president arrived from a new party.  The balance of power shifted in Congress.  Legions of fresh new faces showed up in the nation's capital with new ideas, eager to upend the way the country does business.

With economy in shambles, Congress gets a raise  —  A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay.  —  Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase …

Dodd's rating drops after White House run  —  Sen. Chris Dodd's failed presidential campaign appears to have hurt him in Connecticut according to a new survey that showed the Democrat with his lowest poll numbers in 14 years.  —  The poll by Quinnipiac University shows the Senate Banking Committee chairman …

Saudis, Indians among Clinton foundation donors  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised at least $41 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state.

Forget the economy: Killer asteroids could pose real danger  —  WASHINGTON — A blue-ribbon panel of scientists is trying to determine the best way to detect and ward off any wandering space rocks that might be on a collision course with Earth.  —  “We're looking for the killer asteroid,” …

Mayor's Aide Pushes Hard for Kennedy  —  When a powerful labor leader picked up the phone this week, he was surprised to hear the voice of a top aide to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York.  —  The aide, Kevin Sheekey, a deputy mayor, made it clear: Caroline Kennedy is going to be the next senator …

The Denouement of Howard Dean?  —  Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the man regarded by many sharp political operatives as the progenitor of President-elect Barack Obama's successful 2008 campaign, finds himself without an obvious next job as his tenure at the head of the Democratic National Committee comes to an end.

Gay man backed for Navy secretary  —  Foes cite 'Don't ask, don't tell'  —  Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy - a move that would put …

Children forced into cell-like school seclusion rooms  —  MURRAYVILLE, Georgia (CNN) — A few weeks before 13-year-old Jonathan King killed himself, he told his parents that his teachers had put him in “time-out.”  —  “We thought that meant go sit in the corner and be quiet for a few minutes …

Hold Your Horses, Minnesota  —  The State of Minnesota's Canvassing Board has finished adjudicating challenges brought to the Board by Al Franken.  They will begin evaluating challenges brought by Norm Coleman's campaign tomorrow.  —  The Star Tribune has logged 391 challenges made by the Franken campaign.

Obama's Chief Speechwriter, 27, Works on Inaugural Address While Making His Own Transition  —  The job requires him to work unnoticed, even in plain view, so Jon Favreau settles into a wooden chair at a busy Starbucks in the center of Penn Quarter.  Deadline looms, and he needs to write at least half a page by the end of the day.

MINNESOTA SENATE RECOUNT, UPDATE XIII  —  Yesterday the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral argument in Senator Coleman's petition to review the Board of Canvassers' “recommendation” that the one hundred plus counting locations throughout the state sort and count previously rejected “fifth pile” absentee ballots.

Organizing the White House Is Obama's First Test  —  All presidents come to realize how much structure matters.  —  As he organizes his presidency, Barack Obama continues to receive glowing reviews.  Three out of four Americans approve of how he's handling his transition.