The nation in brief

LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY "There's no reason we have to do it all now, but we do have to get started."

Sen. Joe Lieberman,

I-Conn., on overhauling the U.S. health-care system Article, 1AObamas vacation on

Martha's Vineyard

CHILMARK, Mass. - The first family settled in Sunday for its vacation on Martha's Vineyard not long after Hurricane Bill scampered away, leaving behind big waves and heavy rip currents for the Obamas.

A tropical storm warning was lifted just hours before President Barack Obama began his first vacation since taking office. The hurricane forced him to delay his departure from Andrews Air Force Base by a few hours.

During the flight from Washington to Cape Cod, White House spokesman Bill Burton conveyed a message from Obama to the reporters traveling with him.

"He wants you to relax and have a good time. Take some walks on the beaches. Nobody's looking to make any news," Burton told reporters.

The president has no official events scheduled in the week ahead.

"You can bet there's going to be some golf playing. Maybe a little bit swimming," Burton said.

There are the likely trips for ice cream and saltwater taffy, possibly a bike ride and plenty of quiet time at a secluded 28-acre private estate that rents for $35,000 a week. The Obamas are paying for their share of the vacation home; taxpayers are picking up the tab for security and White House staff, which is customary for all presidents.

Discovery cleared

for liftoff Tuesday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.

- NASA has cleared space shuttle Discovery for liftoff Tuesday, and the weather looks promising as long as thunderstorms stay away during fueling.

After meeting Sunday afternoon, managers decided Discovery is in good shape to fly to the international space station. A power controller issue - one had to be replaced a week ago in the shuttle - did not stand in the way of the launch.

The chairman of the mission management team, Mike Moses, said there is no way of knowing with certainty whether the new power controller in Discovery might break like the old one did. To minimize the risk of a power failure, some equipment will be left onlonger than usual, rather than shutting it down and then turning it back on, he said.

Forecasters, meanwhile, said there is an 80 percent chance the weather will cooperate for Discovery's 1:36 a.m. liftoff.

That's better than previous forecasts.

Investigation starts

at Kentucky prison

BURGIN, Ky. - Officials said Sunday that investigators and insurance adjusters have started probing what's left of a Kentucky prison in the wake of a fiery riot that injured 16 people and forced 700 inmates to be relocated.

The damage assessment could take several days and a probe into what prompted Friday night's melee would likely start later in the week, Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet spokesman Jennifer Brislin said.

"This is not a quick thing," Brislin said. "They continue to assess the entire situation."

Prisoners started some of the fires in trash cans, and flames eventually spread, shooting into the air during the riot. Several buildings were seriously damaged at the Northpoint Training Center, a medium-security facility about 30 miles south of Lexington.

The two inmates who remained hospitalized in stable condition had complained of chest pains, Brislin said.

Brislin said investigators will interview inmates and review security videos to see what caused the riot. "They haven't even started interviews yet," Brislin said.