NATIONAL BRIEFS

WASHINGTON: Jobs bill evades GOP filibuster

A bipartisan jobs bill cleared a GOP filibuster Monday with critical momentum provided by the Senate's newest Republican, Scott Brown of Massachusetts. The 62-30 tally to advance the measure to a final vote Wednesday gives both President Barack Obama and Capitol Hill Democrats a much-needed victory - even though the measure in question is likely to have only a modest boost on hiring. Brown and four other Republicans broke with GOP leaders to advance the measure. Most other Republicans voted in favor of the filibuster because of strong-arm tactics by Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. The bill is likely to enjoy far broader GOP support Wednesday when it's put to an up-or-down vote. The bill featured four provisions that enjoyed sweeping bipartisan support, including a measure exempting businesses hiring the unemployed from Social Security payroll taxes through December and giving them another $1,000 credit if new workers stay on the job a full year.

Blacks hit hardest in recession

The recession has hit African-Americans middle-aged and older much harder over the last year than it has the general public, according to a new survey released Monday by the AARP. In telephone surveys, more than twice as many African-Americans 45 and older reported having trouble paying mortgage or rent, having to cut back on medications and having borrowed money to pay living expenses in comparison with the general population. The data reinforce what experts have said for months: the recession is really a depression for many blacks.

ALASKA: Avalanche victim's body recovered

Searchers have recovered the body of a ConocoPhillips Alaska employee missing and presumed dead since a Feb. 13 avalanche on the Kenai Peninsula that killed the head of the company. The body of Alan Gage, 40, was found Monday near Grandview. Gage and Jim Bowles, 57, the company president, were killed when the avalanche hit their snowmobile party. Bowles' body was recovered that day.

ARIZONA: Lead poisoning killed condors

Three rare California condors in Northern Arizona died last month because they ingested lead pellets while feeding on carrion, according to test results released Monday. The deaths from lead poisoning are the first in three years among condors in Arizona and Utah, condor recovery program officials said. The Peregrine Fund recovered the bodies of a female condor and her year-old chick from the Grand Canyon, and a young male from the Arizona-Utah border. Recovery program officials now must persuade hunters there to stop using lead ammunition.