Obese teens at risk for damage to liver

Trenton, N.J.

In a new and disturbing twist on the obesity epidemic, some overweight teenagers have severe liver damage caused by too much body fat, and a handful have needed liver transplants.

Many more may need a new liver by their 30s or 40s, say experts warning that pediatricians need to be more vigilant. The condition, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure or liver cancer, is being seen in kids in the United States, Europe, Australia and even some developing countries, according to a surge of recent medical studies.

The American Liver Foundation and other experts estimate 2 to 5 percent of American children over age 5, nearly all of them obese or overweight, have the condition, called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Some experts think as many as 10 percent of all children and half of those who are obese may suffer from it, but note that few are given the simple blood test that can signal its presence. A biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose this disease.

Washington, D.C.

Political agendas on tap for Congress

The House and Senate reconvene today after back-to-back political conventions, both parties eager to use the three-week session to show voters why their candidates are the ones to fix the economy and lower energy prices.

The only matter of business that must be accomplished is passing a bill to keep the government running from Oct. 1 through the Nov. 4 election and until Congress returns. Even that might not be easy. Republicans are threatening to block the spending bill if Democrats do not give them a vote on ending a quarter-century freeze on new offshore drilling.

Washington, D.C.

ABC News anchor to interview Palin

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, has agreed to her first interview since last month, with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson later this week, the network and Sen. John McCain's campaign said Sunday.

Since being named as McCain's running mate, Palin has given only one interview, to People magazine, on the day she was introduced.

Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, said on "Fox News Sunday" that she would not put herself before a "cycle of piranhas called the news media" until reporters started to treat her with "with some level of respect and deference."

Washington, D.C.

Biden calls Palin "tough, smart" foe

Democrat Joe Biden says he's debated "an awful lot of tough, smart women" throughout his career and next month's vice presidential debate with Republican Sarah Palin will be no exception.

"She's a smart, tough politician, so I think she's going to be very formidable," Biden told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

The Democratic senator from Delaware and the Republican governor of Alaska are to debate Oct. 2.

Chicago

Clergy recruited to challenge IRS

Saying clergy have a constitutional right to endorse political candidates from their pulpits, the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is recruiting several dozen pastors to do just that on Sept. 28, in defiance of Internal Revenue Service rules.

The Arizona-based legal consortium hopes to trigger an IRS investigation and a federal court case. The ultimate goal is to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship.

Chester Springs, Pa.

Hot-air balloon ignites; pilot killed

A hot-air balloon made an unscheduled landing and burst into flames in suburban Philadelphia on Sunday evening, killing its pilot and injuring seven passengers.

A fuel hose dislodged when the basket landed, and venting propane was ignited by the flame used to heat the air for flight, said Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Fields.

The pilot was unable to get out of the basket and died at the scene. Passengers jumped from the basket but were burned, some seriously, Fields said. Five were hospitalized, two in the Temple University Hospital burn unit.

Also

San Antonio: A SkyWest Airlines jet ran off an airport runway after landing Sunday evening on a flight from Los Angeles. None of the 52 passengers and four crew members were injured.

Seattle Times news services