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First lady Michelle Obama had tough words for grocery manufacturers Tuesday, telling them to “step it up” in their efforts to provide healthier foods to children and curb obesity. At a conference at Washington’s Grand Hyatt Hotel, Obama talked about her own efforts on the childhood obesity front, explaining that her goal was to “finally make this national public health threat a national priority.” “I’m here today to urge all of you to move faster and to go farther, because the truth is we don’t have a moment to waste,” she said in a 20-minute address. “So, we need you...

First Lady to Governors: Address Child Obesity THE ASSOCIATED PRESS February 20, 2010 WASHINGTON (AP) -- First lady Michelle Obama appealed to governors on Saturday for help in reducing child obesity and said they had a moral and financial imperative to act. She praised states for their steps already and assured state leaders that the federal government had no interest in taking over their efforts. ''Let's stop wringing our hands and talking about it and citing statistics,'' she told governors at their winter meeting. ''Let's act. Let's move. Let's give our kids the future they deserve.'' The first lady found...

First lady discusses her fitness routine, secrets for self-confidence and moreThe First Lady's number one health rule: Give yourself permission to be happy. Here she shares the eating habits, fitness routine, and secrets for inner confidence that she hopes to pass on to her daughters and the nation. An exclusive interview with Prevention Editor-in-Chief Liz Vaccariello. Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention: My first question actually comes from my own mother. She wanted to know, have you always followed a healthy lifestyle, or did you have an "aha" moment? Story continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here First Lady...

Take it from those who have been there: Prison life is hard on people who need to be in control. Especially politicians accustomed to giving orders, cutting deals, spending millions - and getting their way. Former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo is due to report to federal prison tomorrow, assigned to serve his 55-month sentence at a low-security institution in Ashland, Ky. His attorneys have fought that, wanting Fumo placed closer to family in Philadelphia. What's definite, experts say, is that prisons specialize in turning people like Fumo from kings to peasants. In free society, his dominion included four homes,...

Harrisburg political activist Gene Stilp filed a federal judicial code of conduct complaint yesterday against U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter, alleging that the judge's comments during the sentencing of former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo "undermined the public confidence in the independence and integrity of the court." Last month, Buckwalter sentenced Fumo to 55 months in prison after federal prosecutors urged the judge to impose a term of more than 15 years. Fumo was convicted of charges that he illegally extracted $4 million in benefits, defrauding the Senate by getting workers to do his personal and political work on...

Gov. Rendell said today that even if former State Senator Vincent J. Fumo had received only a year in prison, it would have been a sufficient warning to any potentially corrupt politician. He also said that as a former prosecutor, he would want to appeal the Fumo's 55-month sentence, calling it inconsistent with sentences in other recent public corruption cases. The governor spoke a day after Fumo received a prison term that federal prosecutors said was far too short and didn't send "a strong enough message." "If I were a public official, one year would be enough to deter me,"...

We get it even if the judge doesn’t. The people comprehend the severe nature of the public corruption that put former super State Sen. Vince Fumo in federal court in Philadelphia yesterday for sentencing. Although a jury unanimously found Fumo guilty of 137 felony counts, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter sentenced the ruthless politician to only 55 months in prison. Probation officials decided in a pre-sentence report that Fumo could have served 27 years behind bars. The judge reduced that possibility to 12 years then sentenced him to four years and seven months. Hardened cons often say they could...

PHILADELPHIA – He walked into the courtroom pushing the wheelchair of a political ally. He held his weeping 19-year-old daughter after she begged the judge not to send him away for too long. And he left, eight hours later, as a man headed for prison, though not for nearly as long as many had expected. The sentencing of former state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo turned into courtroom drama Tuesday, a teary production sustained by hope, exasperation, anxiety, and disappointment. "I’ve made mistakes in my life," Fumo told the judge, his voice small and broken. "I’ve lived with this torment, day...

PHILADELPHIA - After months of collecting evidence against former state Sen. Vince Fumo and a 22-week trial, prosecutors wanted a sentence of more than 15 years. Fumo's side wanted something shorter than 11 to 14 years. And the judge gave him less than five years on Tuesday. So, how are the prosecutors feeling about the 55-month sentence? Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pease and Robert A. Zauzmer joined "Good Day" to talk about the fallout from the case Wednesday morning. "I think we're both disappointed in the result. We argued for more than 15 years. We felt that was an appropriate...

Vince Fumo knew all the right people -- and they were there for him when he needed them. Born 66 years ago into a successful South Philly family that owned a savings-and-loan association (back when they were associated with George Bailey and not with Charles Keating), Fumo built on that and chose a life in politics -- and with his MENSA-level IQ, he not only read up on Machiavelli but acted it out in his own wonderful life when he earned his Machiavellian-inspired nickname, the Prince of Darkness. If you are reading this and you are not a Philadelphian, it...

It didn't do that much good. Buckwalter gave Fumo --who was ranking the Democrat on the state Senate Appropriations Committee until his indictment in February 2007-- 55 months today for his conviction on 137 federal corruption charges.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- - A federal judge has sentenced former Pennsylvania Sen. Vince Fumo to 55 months in prison for corruption. Federal prosecutors say the wealthy Fumo stole not because he needed money but because "he was drunk with power." They had sought a sentence of more than 15 years. Fumo, his voice breaking, told the judge he loved his job and never intended to steal from the senate. U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter reduced Fumo's sentence based on his public service. The guideline range had been about 10 to 12 years.

PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge has sentenced former Pennsylvania Sen. Vince Fumo to 55 months in prison for corruption convictions. Federal prosecutors say the wealthy Fumo stole not because he needed money but because "he was drunk with power." They had sought a sentence of more than 15 years...A jury this year found the long-powerful Philadelphia Democrat misused millions in state and nonprofit assets. Fumo survived two earlier indictments in his 30-year political career.

First lady Michelle Obama said Tuesday that struggling communities shouldn't look to government alone for help. Obama told a luncheon of Washington-area service and philanthropy groups that member work is key to making a difference in their neighborhoods and schools. She said leaders should take advantage of a recently signed public service law to engage new volunteers and put them to work. "Washington can only do so much," Obama said. "Communities are built and rebuilt by regular people." She said the national service law would funnel thousands of volunteers to such nonprofit groups. She warned groups to be ready for...

It was early in the investigation, but already the FBI was getting on Vince Fumo's nerves. In a typically blunt e-mail, he wrote to a top aide in 2004 that a delicate part of his anatomy had just been "busted by my 2 friendly female FBI agents." Then he cursed them. His aide replied: "I do not like those people. Long live the realm of Fumo-world! :-)" Now former State Sen. Fumo stands convicted of scores of counts of corruption in a $4 million fraud, his aide has lost his job, and Fumo-world is a smoking ruin. Relentlessly civil, but...

PHILADELPHIA -- Vincent Fumo, once one of the most powerful figures in Pennsylvania politics, was convicted today of more than 130 counts of corruption for schemes that defrauded the state Senate and others of more than $3.5 million and allowed him to live a lavish lifestyle. The 65-year-old former state senator was found guilty of all 137 counts against him, which also included obstruction of justice for destroying e-mail evidence. The jury deliberated about the Philadelphia Democrat's fate for about six days after a five-month trial. Prosecutors are expected to seek a sentence of more than 10 years under federal...

Gov. Ed Rendell will appear in federal court next Monday as a defense witness in the corruption trial of former Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia. Chuck Ardo, Rendell's press secretary, said that Rendell had been served with a subpoena earlier today at his Philadelphia office. "The governor isn't sure what relevant information he may have, but he will honor the subpoena and answer any questions that are asked," Ardo said. Fumo is charged with misusing more than $1 million in state resources and another $1 million from the Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, a south Philadelphia charity he allegedly controlled, for...

An ex-girlfriend of State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo took jurors yesterday on a detailed guided tour of his high-flying and coddled lifestyle, his rages and romantic messages, and his resolve to make others pay for his pleasures. ---snip-- She told jurors that Fumo reveled in the perks of being a powerful politician. "It made him feel good," she said.

prosecutors say freewheeling Philadelphia Democrat Vincent Fumo used little of his own money as he took yachting vacations with friends, spent lavishly on a 33-room city brownstone and hired operatives to spy on ex-wives and political foes. Fumo faces trial Monday in federal court on charges alleging he used $3.5 million in what he called "OPM" — other people's money — to keep his political machine well oiled and fund a lifestyle that included three vacation homes and heated sidewalks outside his mansion. The trial is expected to last a full three months, after a week of jury selection.

DENVER--For months, former Philadelphia City Controller Joe Vignola was planning to run as an independent for the 1st Senatorial District seat long held by retiring and indicted state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia). But when Fumo dropped out of what became a tightly-contested April primary that was taken by young Center City lawyer Larry Farnese, Vignola, a lifelong Democrat, decided not to run because it would cause trouble for the party's nominee. With Democrats overwhelmingly outnumbering Republicans in the district, Republican Jack Morley is not expected to fare well in November. During a cocktail party here Monday evening for the state...