KRGV.com

WASHINGTON (AP) The congressional spat over automatic spending cuts has forced the Pentagon to cut its aircraft carrier presence in the Persian Gulf region from two carriers to one. Plans for the USS Harry S. Truman to deploy to the Gulf later this week have been canceled. That's a major disruption for sailors who often cancel their apartment leases and cellphone plans before deployment.

WASHINGTON (AP) The Post Office says it plans to end Saturday mail delivery in August. Only packages would be delivered. The agency says it's an effort to save about $2 billion annually. The agency lost nearly $16 billion last year, but most of it was to meet a congressional requirement to fund future retiree health benefits, something no other agency does.

WASHINGTON (AP) Sources who have seen it say House Democrats will unveil a package of proposals Thursday aimed at curbing gun violence. The measures, including an assault weapons ban, are the initial House Democratic response to December's Connecticut school massacre.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) A former police officer is the object of a manhunt in Southern California. Police in Irvine say they're looking for former LAPD officer Christopher Dorner in connection with the shooting deaths of a Cal State Fullerton basketball coach and her fianc . They were found shot dead in their car Sunday night.

NEW YORK (AP) Researchers have discovered the first U.S. cases of whooping cough caused by a germ that may be vaccine resistant. It's unclear if the new bug might be a reason the U.S. had its worst year for whooping cough in six decades. A report on the germ is in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine.