Nation in brief: Gates says he’ll stay through year

Washington – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration, will remain in his Cabinet post for at least another year, his spokesman said Thursday.

Gates, who has said he considers himself a Republican, told President Barack Obama in December that he would stay on at least through the end of 2010, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told the Associated Press.

Obama had asked Gates to stay on shortly after Obama won the 2008 presidential election. The move was meant to maintain stability in a time of two wars.

A year into the Obama administration, Gates appears to be a key adviser and has showed no sign that he intended to be a short-timer.

Alarm results in Reagan arrest

Los Angeles – The grandson of former President Ronald Reagan was arrested Thursday for investigation of obstructing an officer who responded to his home after the grandson unknowingly tripped a silent alarm, a family member said.

Cameron Reagan, 31, was taken into custody in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles, police said. He later posted $10,000 bail and was released.

His father, Michael Reagan, said his son accidentally hit the alarm.

“It goes directly to the police station,” Michael Reagan said. “They surround the house with police cars because of who we are.”

Michael Reagan said his son panicked because he didn’t know what was happening.

“There was a lot of misunderstanding at 1 a.m.,” he said.