From NPR news in Washington, I am Lakshimi Singh.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is staunchly defending the administration's handling of the Benghazi terror attack,in what may be her final congressional testimony on the matter before she steps down.A few hours after addressing the Senate,she is now filled in questions in the US House."As I have said many times since September 11,I take responsibility and nobody is more committed to getting this right.I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure."But republicans in both chambersaccuse State Department of ignoring consular requests for additional security ahead of last September's attackthat killed 4 Americans including the US ambassador.The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a measurepermitting the government to borrow enough funds to avoid a first-time default for at least 4 months.The measure passed by a vote of 285 to 144as majority Republicans backed away from previous demandsat any increase in the government's borrowing cap be combined with an equivalent amount of spending cuts.It has been nearly 3 months since super storm Sandy devastated the northeast.Most people assume that Manhattan is completely back to normal.But NPR's Margot Adler says not so.Last week Con Edison which supplies the city's electricity said22 large buildings are still without power or have only partial power.Nine small buildings also have issues.Verizon is still working on phone lines.
