• Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo arrested for DUI

    Alexandria Police Dept.

    Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) in a photo released by the Alexandria Police Department, Dec. 23.

    By NBC News and wire services

    U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho was arrested early Sunday morning in a suburb of Washington, D.C. for driving under the influence, according to a statement released by Alexandria, Va. police.

    Crapo, a Republican, was stopped after a patrol officer saw his vehicle go through a red light. After failing field sobriety tests, he was arrested at 12:45 a.m. and “taken into custody without incident,” according to the statement by Alexandria police.

    "There was no refusal (to take sobriety tests), no accident, no injuries," Alexandria Police spokesman Jody Donaldson told The Associated Press. "Just a traffic stop that resulted in a DUI." 

    In a statement Sunday night, Crapo said he was “deeply sorry.”

    “I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me,” he said. “I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."

    Crapo (pronounced KRAY-poh) was released around 5 a.m. Sunday on an unsecured $1,000 bond. His court date is set for Jan. 4. 

    Crapo has served in the Senate since 1998, where he has built a reputation as a staunch social and fiscal conservative. He is currently in his third term and won't have to run again until 2016.

    A Mormon from Idaho Falls, Idaho, he has five children with his wife, Susan.

    NBC's Frank Thorp and The Associated Press contributed reporting.

  • First dog Bo takes his master Christmas shopping

    Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

    U.S. President Barack Obama buys a bone for his dog Bo in Alexandria, Virginia December 21, 2011. Obama was in Alexandria doing some Christmas shopping and stopped in a pizzeria for lunch.

    By Rich Shulman

    Do you take your dog Christmas shopping?

    AP reports: ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Home alone at the White House, President Barack Obama headed on an impromptu Christmas shopping trip Wednesday with first dog Bo, searching for some holiday cheer despite the latest stalemate with Congress.

    The president's wife and daughters already are on the family's annual Hawaii vacation, leaving him behind to negotiate with Republican lawmakers to keep payroll taxes from going up in the new year. So Obama squeezed in time after calls with congressional leaders to hit a PetSmart and a Best Buy in this Virginia suburb before picking up pizza for lunch.

    Carolyn Kaster / AP

    President Barack Obama and his dog Bo visit with a poodle named Cinnamon as they check out at PetSmart, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Alexandria, Va. Obama bought the presidential pup a toy bone and a bag of food while Bo played in the store with Cinnamon.

    Kevin Dietsch, Pool / Getty Images

    U.S. President Barack Obama shops for Christmas presents with his dog Bo at Petsmart on Dec. 21, 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia.

    President Obama greets people at a Virginia Best Buy store and reveals what he is buying for his two daughters.