White House

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House says the government is now borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends. New estimates predict the unemployment rate will average 9 percent next year and the budget deficit will be $1.42 trillion -- even bigger than previously expected. That's because tax revenues are still slumping and the economic recovery is going slower than hoped. The deficit for the current fiscal year is forecast to hit a record $1.47 trillion, about the same as the administration predicted in February.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama was unaware a top aide encouraged a Colorado Democrat to apply for an international development job instead of challenging the candidate whom the president favored in a Senate race, the White House said Thursday. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs faced fresh questions about another backroom political deal -- the first involving a Pennsylvania candidate, now a Colorado hopeful -- that put the Obama administration on the defensive. The White House acknowledged that it had contacted former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff about possible jobs in hopes of persuading him to skip the Senate primary.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Forced to disclose backstage political bargaining, President Barack Obama's embarrassed White House acknowledged on Friday that it enlisted Bill Clinton to try to ease Rep. Joe Sestak out of Pennsylvania's Senate primary with a job offer. The admission left many questions unanswered, however, and Republicans weren't ready to let the issue rest. For Obama, the revelations called into question his repeated promises to run an open government that was above back room deals.

She didn't get close to President Obama or Mexican President Felipe Calderon, but Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth M. Morgan said participating in the welcoming ceremonies Wednesday for Calderon at the White House was a fantastic experience. Morgan was invited to participate in the ceremonies by Carlos Garcia, president of the Arlington, Texas-based Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS). Morgan recently was appointed to the ALAS board of directors and is the 2010 National Superintendent of the Year, as named by the American Association of School Administrators.

WASHINGTON - The Hagerstown YMCA Black Achievers recently visited the White House. The tour included seeing the Red, Blue and Green rooms, and the East, China and State dining rooms that are used for receptions, ceremonies, press conferences and other events. The group admired portraits of all the presidents and their families who have graced the White House. The group was in awe of the beautiful, antique furniture that dates to the 1800s. The White House has been altered, adapted, or enlarged to suit the needs of the residents.

For most children, Easter egg hunts are a traditional event to look forward to on Easter weekend. For four girls at Girls Inc. of Washington County, however, this year they were able to spend Easter Monday hunting for eggs on the White House lawn. This was part of a field trip that took the girls to the White House Easter Egg Roll April 5. The girls enjoyed a beautiful day on the President's lawn, participating in many activities. They first wanted to hunt for eggs and then were able to dye their own eggs to take home.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration will appeal a court decision that found the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. A federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled the National Day of Prayer that Congress established 58 years ago amounts to a call for religious action. About two dozen members of Congress have condemned the ruling and pressed for an appeal. In a notice filed Thursday, the Justice Department said it will challenge the decision in the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- With his chef's-eye perspective of life inside the White House, Roland Mesnier served a platter of amusing anecdotes Saturday at a WV Book Faire event. He recalled former President Bill Clinton's penchant for big parties and hearty appetite for sweets, which presented a challenge: Clinton was allergic to chocolate, dairy products and flour. Mesnier -- who retired after more than 25 years as the White House executive pastry chef -- said he made a low-calorie strawberry cake that Clinton appeared to enjoy; he once ate half of a cake by himself.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Think you can cook up a book good enough to eat? Let Chef Roland Mesnier be the judge of that. Mesnier, 65, has created desserts for more than 40 queens, kings, princes and princesses and other heads of state as the White House's executive pastry chef for more than 25 years. On Saturday, he's the chef to impress during the WV Book Faire's Edible Book Contest at Blue Ridge Community & Technical College in Martinsburg. Mesnier will be the celebrity judge.

Black Achievers group visits Decatur slave house The YMCA Black Achievers recently toured the Decatur House/Slave Quarters in Washington, D.C. The historic house museum was completed in 1818 for a white naval hero, Stephen Decatur, and his wife, Susan. It was the first private residence on the President's Park, was the unofficial residence for secretaries of state from 1827 to 1833, and was continuously occupied by numerous slaves and servants. According to its Web site, "The slave quarters is not only an important component of the Decatur House site, but is also significant as one of only a few remaining examples of slave quarters in urban areas.