NATIONAL BRIEFS / ILLINOIS: White House aides subpoenaed

Lawyers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich have subpoenaed White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel as a witness at his corruption trial, attorneys and a White House official said. White House adviser Valerie Jarrett also was subpoenaed. Jury selection is to begin Thursday in Blagojevich's racketeering and fraud trial. Accused of trying to sell President Barack Obama's former Senate seat, he has pleaded not guilty. Neither Emanuel nor Jarrett has been accused of any wrongdoing.

WASHINGTON: Extending benefits to partners

President Barack Obama ordered government agencies Wednesday to extend additional benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, including child care services and expanded family leave. The moves come a year after Obama signed a memorandum giving federal workers' same-sex partners a first round of benefits including visitation and dependent-care rights. At the same time, he asked federal agencies to determine what other benefits could be given to domestic partners without the need of Congress acting.

ARIZONA: Governor's statements questioned

Gov. Jan Brewer was criticized Wednesday for saying in an interview that her father "died fighting the Nazi regime in Germany," though he actually died in the 1950s. Brewer previously said in speeches that her father was a civilian munitions worker in Nevada during the war who died after years of breathing poisonous fumes. State Democratic Party spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson accused the Republican governor of embellishing the circumstances of her father's death to cast herself in a more sympathetic light. Brewer denied it. "I'm proud of my father and I have no reason to embellish," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Washington. The statement being criticized was published Tuesday by The Arizona Republic in an article about Brewer's decision to sign the controversial new illegal immigration law.

CALIFORNIA: Moving to ban plastic bags

It could soon cost California shoppers at the checkout aisle if they forget to bring their own bags to the store under what would be the nation's first statewide plastic bag ban. The California Assembly passed legislation Wednesday prohibiting pharmacies and grocery, liquor and convenience stores from giving out plastic bags. It also calls for customers to be charged for using store-issued paper bags. Discouraging plastic bag use through fees or bans first gained traction in nations such as South Africa, Ireland, Canada, China and Bangladesh.