Atlanta

Abducted children found alive, unharmed

Two kidnapped children were found safe Tuesday after their mother’s ex-boyfriend shot and wounded their grandfather and took off with the youngsters, authorities said.

The kidnapping suspect, Terrance McDowell, 27, remained at large.

The children, 5-year-old Jaquan Wright and 4-year-old Faith McDowell, were found with McDowell’s sister in Greensboro, N.C., said Clayton County Police Capt. Tim Robinson. The children had not been harmed.

McDowell is accused of forcing his way into his 20-year-old ex-girlfriend’s home in suburban Atlanta about 3 a.m., raping her and shooting her 64-year-old father in the head and chest. He then fled with the children in her car, Robinson said.

Washington, D.C.

Medicare to cover counseling on smoking

You’re never too old to quit smoking, government officials said Tuesday, announcing that Medicare will immediately start covering the cost of counseling for certain beneficiaries who want to quit tobacco.

Medicare’s new smoking cessation program “has great potential to save and improve lives for millions of seniors,” said Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Not every Medicare beneficiary qualifies for the new benefit, only those who have an illness caused by tobacco use or complicated by tobacco use.

Medicare officials said Tuesday they did not have an estimate of how much the new program would cost or how many people would be eligible for it. It covers only counseling sessions, not the cost of nicotine patches and gum or products pitched to help smokers quit.

Washington, D.C.

News conferences planned in Kline inquiry

An abortion-rights group and Kansas Atty. Gen. Phill Kline planned separate news conferences today to discuss Kline’s pursuit of records from two abortion clinics.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America scheduled its event for 9 a.m. CST at the National Press Club. The group said its news conference would cover both Kline’s efforts and a similar inquiry by Indiana Atty. Gen. Steve Carter.

Kline was to respond in a 1 p.m. CST news conference at the Capitol.

Kline has said he is investigating child rapes and potential late-term abortions. A state district judge issued subpoenas in October for 90 records at Kline’s request.

The subpoenas went to a Wichita clinic operated by Dr. George Tiller, known for performing late-term procedures, and an Overland Park clinic operated by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. They have asked the Kansas Supreme Court to block the subpoenas or restrict their scope.