NATIONAL BRIEFS

WASHINGTON: Steps toward Mideast talks

The Obama administration said Thursday it is close to securing an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct peace talks. An announcement could come as early as Friday or Saturday, said administration officials. State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had called Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad late Wednesday and spoken Thursday with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and special representative Tony Blair, the former British prime minister.

MASSACHUSETTS: Getting away to Cape Cod

Martha's Vineyard is barely an hour's flight from Washington, but it felt worlds away as President Barack Obama and his family began their summer vacation Thursday. Instead of politicians and polls, the Obamas encountered pony farms and ponds. Instead of filibusters, the Vineyard offers fishing. Before escaping into all that, though, Obama had to dispatch one final duty. The latest batch of grim economic news led him to fire a parting shot at the GOP before leaving town, accusing them of blocking a Senate vote on a small business aid package. Then it was off with the suit and tie, onto Air Force One with first dog Bo, and away for a 10-day break. Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia were already waiting for the president at Blue Heron Farm, the same multimillion-dollar property where they spent a part of last August.

ILLINOIS: Ex-guv's property auctioned

Elvis Presley impersonators and a colorful inflatable bounce house made for a festive auction Thursday of items connected to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A life-sized statue of Elvis Presley and a neon "Governor Blagojevich" sign were among the hot items available after a suburban Chicago storage facility evicted material being stored by his campaign fund. The statue sold for $20,500. The storage owner said the Friends of Blagojevich fund hasn't paid in a year and auction profits will benefit a local hospital. Blagojevich was convicted this week of lying to the FBI. A mistrial was declared on other charges against him.