All Your Latest News

U.S. President Barack Obama exhorted House Democrats on Saturday to stay right to their party’s legacy and make history by bringing health insurance to millions of struggling families now left out.

Leaders exuded confidence as they defused thorny problems in the countdown to a landmark vote on Sunday.

Obama evoked Abraham Lincoln’s moral compass and extolled Democratic achievements such as Social Security and Medicare — once controversial, now an essential part of the social fabric — on a day marked by a frenetic hunt for votes inside the Capitol and mad Tea Party demonstrations at the door.

Some protesters hurled racial insults at black members of Congress.

“Is this the single most vital step that we have taken on health care since Medicare?” Obama questioned rank-and-file Democrats far from the chanting crowds.

“Absolutely. Is this the most vital piece of domestic legislation, in terms of giving a break to hard working, middle-class families out there since Medicare? Absolutely.

“It is in your hands,” Obama said, bringing lawmakers to their feet. “It is time to pass health-care reform for America and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow.”

Last-minute flare-ups

In a carefully orchestrated appeal to unity ahead of a career-defining vote, Obama and House leaders were joined by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who brought a pledge from more than 50 of his Democratic colleagues to promptly end the bill after the House votes Sunday.

House Democrats have been wary of being left in the lurch by the famously unpredictable Senate. A series of last-minute flare-ups threatened to slow the Democrats’ march to passage, after more than a year of gruelling effort.

The most intense focus was on a small group of Democrats concerned that abortion funding restrictions in the legislation don’t go far enough. Determined to avoid votes on such a charged issue, Democratic leaders raised the possibility of addressing the concerns of abortion foes through an executive order from Obama.

It would reaffirm existing federal law barring taxpayer-funded abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

House Democratic leaders abandoned a much-challenged procedure for passing the legislation after an outcry from Republicans and protest from some of their members.

According to the new plot, the House will vote up or down the health-care bill passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve as well as a package of changes.

The Senate bill would then go to Obama for his signature and the companion measure to the Senate, which hopes to pass it within the week.

Skip Jim Armstrong, right, waves after receiving his gold medal on Saturday. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Canada’s wheelchair curling team held off a hard-charging South Korean rink for an 8-7 win in the gold-medal game at the Vancouver Paralympics on Saturday.

“The support from the fans has been incredible. They’re a huge reason why we could do so well,” said lead Sonja Gaudet, the only returning member from the gold medal team four years ago in Turin.

Canada, which nearly blew a seven-point lead in the final, lost just two games in the round robin and qualified for the final after beating Sweden 10-5 in one of the semifinals earlier Saturday.

“It’s undescribable. It’ll probably sink in about a week from now. When I’m all alone, I’ll just be able to let the tears glide,” said third Darryl Neighbour with his gold medal around his neck.

The Swedes picked up the bronze after topping the United States 7-5.

Leading 8-6 in the eighth and final end, South Korea had the two rocks in the house, but Canadian skip Jim Armstrong cleared one with his final shot to seal the win.

It was a bit of redemption for Armstrong, who represented British Columbia six times in the Brier during his days as an able-bodied curler.

“This is as excellent as it gets. To me, there’s a win here or a win able-bodied. In fact in a lot of ways, maybe this is more vital,” said Armstrong. “Everybody has their own tale and how they got here and it’s every bit as huge because there’s that added factor.”

Canada got of to a quick start in the first end, as second Ina Forrest froze her first shot against a South Korean stone and followed that up with another shot right to the four foot.

Perfect run back

Armstrong finished off the end with a perfect run back to the four foot to give Canada a 3-0 lead.

Canada benefited from some sloppy play from the South Koreans and led 4-0 after the second.

South Korean skip Kim Haksung had his draw in the third end come up light and was forced to settle for just a single point.

Armstrong then had an open draw for four in the fourth end as Canada opened up an 8-1 lead.

South Korea had shot rock in the fifth and with all kinds of traffic in front of the house, Armstrong made a draw to the four foot with his final stone. But Kim was able to match, clearing out the Canadian stone to bring his rink to within in five.

While South Korea struggled early, Canada’s struggles came as the match wore on. South Korea had two stones on the button in the sixth end, but Armstrong couldn’t draw around to clear them off with either of his shots. South Korea stole two more to cut the deficit to three at 8-5.

Armstrong was only able to clear out one of two South Korean stones with his final shot in the seventh as the Canadian lead shrank to 8-6.

South Korea had the two rocks they needed to tie in the house in the eighth, but Armstrong cleared one of them out and Canada claimed gold.

The championship moment was bittersweet for Armstrong. His wife Carleen passed away in September after a brief battle with cancer.

“She was here,” Armstrong said. “Last spring when she was diagnosed as terminal, there was two things she wanted: one more Christmas, and today. I know she was here today.”

Toronto Raptors’ Jose Calderon guards New Jersey’s Devin Harris closely during the first quarter of Saturday’s game in East Rutherford, N.J. (Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

Chris Bosh scored 23 of his 36 points in the second half and the slumping Toronto Raptors kept the New Jersey Nets on the road to an NBA single-season record for losses with a 100-90 victory Saturday night.

Jarrett Jack added 15 points, and Hedo Turkoglu had 13 as the Raptors won for only the third time in 13 games and sent New Jersey (7-62) to its seventh straight loss.

At 7-62 with 13 games left, the Nets are in danger of breaking the NBA mark for single-season futility, set by Philadelphia (9-73) in 1972-73.

Devin Harris, returning after missing two games because of a respiratory infection, had 22 points for the Nets, who extended their franchise-record losing streak at home to 13 games. Brook Lopez added 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Coupled with Chicago’s win over Philadelphia, the Raptors maintained their 2½-game lead over the Bulls in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Bosh, who was playing in his 500th game as a Raptor, was the difference in this game. He was 16 of 27 from the field and seemingly wanted the ball in the second half with the Raptors down three points at the half.

After the Nets extended their lead to 55-48 in the opening minutes of the third quarter, Bosh hit 7 of 10 shots the rest of the period to key a 32-15 run that gave Toronto an 80-70 lead entering the final quarter.

Bosh was particularly excellent at getting away from Lopez to hit open jumper or blowing by him when he came out to guard him.

New Jersey got within seven points a couple of times down the stretch but Bosh hit two free throws with 4:58 to go and Sonny Weems scored on a layup the other time for a 94-85 lead. Bosh iced the game with a huge dunk seconds later.