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6B – Daily News – Thursday, December 23, 2010 MON.-FRI. 9:00-5:30 • SAT. 9:00 -5:00 • CLOSED SUNDAYS FURNITURE DEPOT MATTRESS NORTH VALLEY Obama celebrates a ’season of progress’ WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama celebrated a bipartisan ‘‘season of progress’’ on Wednesday at a year-end news confer- ence marking an up-and- down second year in office that blended a thrashing at the polls, slow progress on the economy and late victo- ries in Congress. He forecast struggles over spending in 2011 with Republicans who take control the House, and vowed to try again and pass sweeping immi- gration legislation that was blocked by GOP crit- ics. ‘‘If I believe in some- thing strongly I stay on it,’’ he said. WORLD BRIEFING Congress Obama opened the news conference with a reference to the nuclear arms control treaty with Russia that the Senate rat- ified earlier in the day on a bipartisan vote. In addi- tion to cutting nuclear weapons and launchers, he said the pact will allow U.S. inspectors to ‘‘be back on the ground’’ in Russia. ‘‘So we’ll be able to trust but verify,’’ he added, quoting the late President Ronald Reagan in another in a string of bipartisan gestures of recent weeks. The president, who signed legislation earlier in the day permitting gay members of the armed forces to serve openly, said he does not currently favor legalizing gay mar- riage. passes health package for 9/11 victims, responders WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has passed a $4.2 billion aid package for survivors of the September 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and responders who develop ill- nesses because of breathing dust from the ruins. The House passed the bill on a 206-60 vote Wednesday about two hours after the Senate cleared it. President Barack Obama has said he is eager to sign it. The package provides money to monitor rescue and cleanup workers and treat illnesses related to GIVE THE GIFT OF THE Online Digital Edition D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY Full content of the daily newspaper as it was printed. ALL editions viewable and searchable online January 1, 2010 – Present! Ideal for: Family and friends far away Former residents Frequent travelers Access to “the paper” from school or work Only $24 per year Call 527-2151 x128 Name, address & e-mail of your gift recipient needed.. Accepted RED BLUFF Kevin Smith and Phillip Smith 570 South Main St., Red Bluff CA 96080 • 527-6640 Mon.-Fri. 9:00am to 7:00pm, Sat. 9:00am to 6:00pm Sun. 11:00am to 4:00pm PUMPKINLAND Chocolate Company Complete line of Sweets & Holiday Candy made by the Chocolatier. Gift Trays & Gift Boxes Complete selection of dark and milk chocolates including sugar free Stocking Stuffers 12000 Hwy. 99E (5 miles South of Red Bluff) 530 527-3026 Open: Sun-Thurs 9am-6pm after Christmas hrs 9-6 daily Fri & Sat 9am-8pm Closed Christmas items under $ Lots of Gift 9900 Shopping Here Gold Exchange Finish off your Christmas 530 528-8000 423 Walnut St. Red Bluff Ground Zero. It also reopens a victims’ compen- sation fund for another five years to cover wage and other economic losses of sickened workers and near- by residents. New York members of Congress had sought $2 bil- lion more. They accepted the smaller amount in exchange for GOP critics dropping their opposition. Obama signs bill to let gays serve openly WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama signed a new law Wednes- day that will allow gays for the first time in history to serve openly in America’s military. And he urged those kicked out under the old law to re-enlist. Framing the issue as a matter of civil rights long denied, Obama said that ‘‘we are a nation that wel- comes the service of every patriot ... a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal.’’ Repealing the 17-year- old policy known as ‘‘don’t ask, don’t tell’’ in a ceremo- ny that was alternately emo- tional and rousing, the pres- ident said ‘‘this law I’m about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk their lives to defend.’’ The new law ends a pol- icy that forced gays to hide their sexual orientation or face dismissal. More than 13,500 people were dis- charged under the rule since 1993. ‘‘I hope those ... who’ve been discharged under this discriminatory policy will seek to re-enlist once the repeal is implemented,’’ Obama said. Iraqi church officials call off Christmas KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) — No decorations, no midnight Mass. Even an appearance by Santa Claus has been nixed after Iraq’s Christian leaders called off Christmas cele- brations amid new al- Qaida threats on the tiny community still terrified from a bloody siege on a Baghdad church. Christians across Iraq have been living in fear since the assault on Our Lady of Salvation Church as its Catholic congrega- tion was celebrating Sun- day Mass. Sixty-eight people were killed. Days later Islamic insurgents bombed Christian homes and neighborhoods across the capital. On Tuesday, al-Qaida insurgents threatened more attacks on Iraq’s beleaguered Christians, many of whom have fled their homes or the country since the church attack. A council representing Christian denominations across Iraq advised its fol- lowers to cancel public celebrations of Christmas out of concern for their lives and as a show of mourning for the victims. 22755 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 527-9166 MON.-THURS. 9:00-6:00 • FRI. 9:00-7:00 • SAT. 9:00-5:00 • SUN. 11:00-5:00 235 So. Main St., Red Bluff 527-1657 632 Main St., Red Bluff 527-5837 The most highly recommended bed in America: Open Mon. thru Sat. 10am – 6pm Put us on your Christmas List! Gift Certificates Available Stocking Stuffers Also Carrying Used Equipment & Trays