In brief: First lady models early voting

CHICAGO – First lady Michelle Obama promoted early voting Thursday morning – in words and example – at a time when both political parties are encouraging their supporters not to wait until Election Day.

Obama, who is making a Midwestern campaign swing, cast her ballot at the Martin Luther King Community Center, near the first family’s Kenwood home.

Obama presented her credentials to election officials before being led to the polling station.

She posed for pictures and told one voter: “Make sure you get everybody out there voting. This one counts, as much as the other one.”

The early voting event was the last public appearance for Obama during a return visit to Chicago.

She was scheduled to continue campaigning in Washington state, Colorado, Connecticut and New York.

TORONTO – Lawyers for the youngest detainee at Guantanamo said Thursday they are working on a deal to settle charges that he allegedly killed a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan. The action prompted the Pentagon to postpone his war crimes trial.

Lawyer Nathan Whitling said a potential deal is in the works for Canadian-born Omar Khadr, but he didn’t provide details.

Khadr’s Pentagon-appointed lawyer, Lt. Col. Jon Jackson, said Thursday that Khadr’s trial at Guantanamo Bay has been postponed. The trial was to resume Monday but is now scheduled for Oct. 25.

Khadr was captured after allegedly throwing a grenade that killed Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer during a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan. If convicted, he faces a maximum life sentence.