NATION IN BRIEF: Army mom wins discharge

An attorney for a North Carolina mother who reported for Army duty at Fort Benning, Ga., with her two young children said Monday she will be discharged from the military. Attorney Mark Waple said it was not clear whether Lisa Pagan would receive an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions, and it wasn’t certain when she would be discharged. But he said she was told a few hours after reporting that she would be discharged as soon as is possible. Pagan was recalled to the Army four years after being released from active duty, which is allowed under the military’s “individual ready reserve” program. She had filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, there would be no one to take care of her kids. After her appeals were rejected, she showed up Monday with 5-year-old Elizabeth and 3-year-old Eric in tow.

Jindal defends criticized speech

Widely panned for his national TV response to President Barack Obama’s address to Congress last week, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal offered his first defense of the speech. Calling himself a “policy guy,” Jindal —- touted as a potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate —- said he sticks by the message while acknowledging shortcomings in his delivery. Political commentators —- both Democratic and Republican —- have criticized the speech, Jindal’s first to a national audience, as too simplistic and offering few new ideas for battling the country’s economic woes. They also compared his deliver to that of Mr. Rogers of children’s TV fame.

Justices weigh DNA test rights

The Supreme Court expressed skepticism Monday about giving a convict the broad constitutional right to test DNA evidence, which for 232 people has meant exoneration years after they were found guilty. At issue is the case of William Osborne, who was convicted in a brutal attack on a prostitute 16 years ago in Alaska, one of six states that do not allow new DNA tests for convicted prisoners. After a federal appeals court ruling granted Osborne access to new DNA testing, Alaska prosecutors appealed. During Monday’s argument, several justices indicated something more should be required in such cases, including a sworn declaration of innocence that would hold out the prospect of additional punishment for lying under oath. A decision is expected in the spring.

Health pick set for reform summit

President Barack Obama introduced Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Monday as his choice to lead the Health and Human Services Department. Sebelius, who has a history of bucking the insurance industry, will enter the debate over health care reform Thursday when Obama opens a White House summit on health costs.

Coach loses prayer appeal

Supreme Court justices on Monday also rejected an appeal from a high school football coach who wanted to bow his head and kneel during prayers led by his players despite a school district policy prohibiting it. The justices’ ruling ended Marcus Borden’s fight against the East Brunswick, N.J., school district’s policy that forbids him and other staff members from joining in student-led prayer.

Owner put cat in bong, police say

An Omaha, Neb., man who tried to cool out his hyper cat by stuffing her into a boxlike homemade bong is facing animal cruelty and drug charges. Lancaster County sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call Sunday said they saw 20-year-old Acea Schomaker smoking marijuana through a piece of garden hose attached to a duct-taped, plastic glass box in which the cat had been stuffed. “This cat was just dazed,” Sgt. Andy Stebbing said. Schomaker told deputies 6-month-old Shadow was hyper and he was trying to calm her down. Shadow was in good condition Monday at the Capital Humane Society.

Trade nominee to pay back taxes

Ron Kirk, nominated as U.S. trade representative in the Obama administration, owes an estimated $10,000 in back taxes from earlier in the decade and has agreed to make his payments, the Senate Finance Committee said Monday. The committee said the taxes arise from Kirk’s handling of speaking fees that he donated to his alma mater, and for his deduction of the full cost of professional basketball season tickets.

COMING UP

> Federal investigators are about to end their silence on what a Metrolink commuter train engineer was texting about before his train collided with a freight last year in Los Angeles, killing 25 people and injuring at least 130. They plan to release a transcript of the engineer’s messages at a hearing today in Washington.