Gross released after a year of talks, Vatican involved: U.S. senator

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Negotiations for the release of ailing U.S. aid worker Alan Gross lasted for about a year, with significant involvement by the Vatican, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin told Reuters on Wednesday. Durbin said the White House called him on Tuesday night with the news of Gross' pending release. "I was overjoyed by this news," Durbin told Reuters by telephone from Joint Base Andrews, a military base outside of Washington, where Gross was expected to land within hours. But there wer