Call me a lecher but don't call me a crook, an ex-city official at the heart of a sex tape scandal has said in his unusually spirited courtroom defense against corruption charges.
Call me a lecher but don't call me a crook, an ex-city official at the heart of a sex tape scandal has said in his unusually spirited courtroom defense against corruption charges.
The immigration protesters advanced on the news conference, poking signs that read "Do Not Reward Criminals" and "No Amnesty!" over the heads of Republicans who had just finished speaking about finding a civilized...
The immigration protesters advanced on the news conference, poking signs that read "Do Not Reward Criminals" and "No Amnesty!" over the heads of Republicans who had just finished speaking about finding a civilized tone in...
White House-backed immigration legislation is gaining momentum in the Senate, where key lawmakers say they are closing in on a bipartisan compromise to spend tens of billions of dollars stiffening the bill's...
White House-backed immigration legislation is gaining momentum in the Senate, where key lawmakers say they are closing in on a bipartisan compromise to spend tens of billions of dollars stiffening the bill's border...
The House is preparing to vote on whether to cut federally-subsidized crop insurance that helps farmers when they lose crops or revenue.
The House will vote Thursday on whether to cut federally-subsidized crop insurance that helps farmers when they lose crops or revenue.
Farm-state lawmakers are scrambling to win bipartisan votes for a five year, half-trillion dollar farm bill on the House floor this week.
The House voted late Wednesday to delay sweeping food safety rules that would require farmers and food companies to be more vigilant about guarding against contamination.
Supporters of a far-reaching immigration bill in the Senate see fresh momentum from a report by the Congressional Budget Office that the measure would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits by billions of...
After secretive talks, key senators expressed optimism Wednesday night that they were closing in on a bipartisan agreement to dramatically toughen the border security requirements in immigration legislation that also offers...
FBI Director Robert Mueller (MULL-er) says the law enforcement agency uses drones for surveillance but does so rarely.
The FBI uses drones for surveillance of stationary subjects, and the privacy implications of such operations are "worthy of debate," FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday.
China's new leader Xi Jinping is commanding wayward Communist Party cadres to purify themselves of corruption, and he's summed it up in a pithy slogan as Mao Zedong might have done: Look in the mirror, take a...
China's new leader Xi Jinping is commanding wayward Communist Party cadres to purify themselves of corruption, and he's summed it up in a pithy slogan as Mao Zedong might have done: Look in the mirror, take a bath.
A wide-ranging farm bill the House is considering would cut food stamps by $2 billion a year and make it more difficult for some people to qualify for the domestic food aid program.
The House voted on Wednesday to cut food stamps by $2 billion a year as part of a wide-ranging farm bill.
President Barack Obama is planning a major push using executive powers to tackle the pollution blamed for global warming in an effort to make good on promises he made at the start of his second term.
President Barack Obama is planning a major push using executive powers to tackle the pollution blamed for global warming in an effort to make good on promises he made at the start of his second term. "We know we have to do...
The U.S. accused China and Russia of failing to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, ranking them on a par with North Korea and Syria.
The U.S. accused China and Russia of failing to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, ranking them on a par with North Korea and Syria.
Michael Froman, a senior White House economic adviser and classmate of President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School, on Wednesday won Senate confirmation to be the next U.S. trade representative.
Michael Froman, a senior White House economic adviser and classmate of President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School, on Wednesday won Senate confirmation to be the next U.S. trade representative.
With massive protests by middle-class Brazilians demanding wholesale government reforms, people all over this continent-sized country have reached a verdict on the streets and online: "The giant has awakened."
With massive protests by middle-class Brazilians demanding wholesale government reforms, people all over this continent-sized country have reached a verdict on the streets and online: "The giant has awakened."
By saying he intends to bargain with Russia over new reductions in nuclear weapons rather than make cuts on his own President Barack Obama is asking for cooperation from a former Cold War foe in no mood to agree.
By saying he intends to bargain with Russia over new reductions in nuclear weapons, rather than make cuts on his own, President Barack Obama is asking for cooperation from a former Cold War foe in no mood to agree.
FBI Director Robert Mueller is cautioning Congress to give careful consideration before making any changes to the National Security Agency programs for mass collection of people's phone records and information...
FBI Director Robert Mueller on Wednesday urged Congress to move carefully before making any changes that might restrict the National Security Agency programs for mass collection of people's phone records and information...
The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee says she opposes the force-feeding of terror suspects at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is pressing the Pentagon to establish a more humane...
The force-feeding of terror suspects at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, runs counter to international standards, medical ethics and the practices at American prisons, the head of the Senate Intelligence...
The 19th-century orator and writer Frederick Douglass will once again stand tall in the U.S. Capitol.
Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday used a tribute to 19th-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass to renew the call for equal voting rights for people who live in the nation's capital.
An influential Republican senator says the Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic...
Already reeling from a pair of scandals, the Internal Revenue Service is drawing new criticism over plans to hand out millions of dollars in employee bonuses.
A bipartisan group of senators is floating a proposal that would avoid the doubling of rates on student loans on July 1.
Students applying for financial aid for the coming school year could find some comfort in a bipartisan student loan compromise taking shape in the Senate that would prevent interest rates from doubling and set a single rate...
Secretary of State John Kerry called the Afghan president twice in the past 24 hours to ease Hamid Karzai's anger over the way the Taliban announced the opening of their political office in Qatar.
Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday made his second call to the Afghan president in 24 hours to ease Hamid Karzai's anger over the rollout of the Taliban's new political office in Qatar - a rift that...
Syrian state television says an accidental explosion at a military depot outside the northwestern coastal city of Latakia has left six people lightly injured.
Hezbollah fighters joined Syrian forces in battling rebels in a Damascus suburb that is home to a revered Shiite Muslim shrine, in a push to secure the area around the ornate, golden domed mosque.
President Barack Obama's 26-hour whirlwind visit to Berlin caps three days of international summitry for the president, and marks his return to a place where he once summoned a throng of 200,000 to share his...
Summoning the harsh history of this once-divided city, President Barack Obama on Wednesday cautioned the U.S. and Europe against "complacency" brought on by peace, pledging to cut America's deployed nuclear weapons by...
The head of The Associated Press says the Justice Department violated its own rules when it secretly seized records for thousands of phone calls to and from AP journalists as part of a leak investigation.
The Justice Department violated its own rules when it secretly seized records for thousands of phone calls to and from journalists for The Associated Press as part of a leak investigation, the head of the company said...
A new report says homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure must wait too long for their loan modification applications to be reviewed by some of the nation's top mortgage servicers. Such delays can plunge borrowers...
Homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure must wait too long for their loan modification applications to be reviewed by some of the nation's top mortgage servicers, according to a report released Wednesday. Such delays can...
House lawmakers are beginning work on a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind education law that would give states more authority and Washington less.
House Republicans on Wednesday finished their rewrite of GOP President George W. Bush's prized No Child Left Behind Act, sending to their colleagues a bill that would strip Education Secretary Arne Duncan and his...
By The Associated Press Here are five key facts to know about the health care overhaul before major portions of it begin next year.
By The Associated Press Here are five key facts to know about the health care overhaul before major portions of it begin next year.
House Republicans are pushing to eliminate money for high-speed rail and a popular grant program for transportation projects.
House Republicans are pushing to eliminate money for high-speed rail and a popular grant program for transportation projects.
President Barack Obama will renew his call to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles during a speech in Berlin Wednesday.
Appealing for a new citizen activism in the free world, President Barack Obama renewed his call Wednesday to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear stockpiles and to confront climate change, a danger he called "the global threat of...
Vice President Joe Biden is hailing Frederick Douglass for his work to bring about equal justice, leading a series of tributes at the unveiling of a statue of the 19th-century orator and writer.
Vice President Joe Biden is hailing Frederick Douglass for his work to bring about equal justice, leading a series of tributes at the unveiling of a statue of the 19th-century orator and writer.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she now supports gay marriage, becoming the third Senate Republican to do so.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she now supports gay marriage, becoming the third Senate Republican to do so.
Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Friday to visit seven countries on a trip focusing on global issues such as the Syrian crisis, Middle East peace and the West's standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their...
Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Friday to visit seven countries on a trip focusing on global issues such as the Syrian crisis, Middle East peace and the West's standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear...
Senators are seeking cost-cutting opportunities in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders say America cannot afford...
Senators sought cost-cutting opportunities Wednesday in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders said America couldn't...
Cu Huy Ha Vu's books come with pages torn out by prison guards. Only some of his letters reach home. He is not allowed to access evidence from his trial or to see his wife alone.
Cu Huy Ha Vu's books come with pages torn out by prison guards. Only some of his letters reach home. He is not allowed to access evidence from his trial or to see his wife alone.
Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: "Not so fast."
Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: Not so fast.
The obscure oversight board that President Barack Obama wants to scrutinize the National Security Agency's secret surveillance system is little known for good reason. The U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties...
The obscure oversight board that President Barack Obama wants to scrutinize the National Security Agency's secret surveillance system is little known for good reason. The U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board...
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee says it appears the much-criticized national electronic surveillance program foiled "dozens" of terrorist plots.
The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on...
There's no guarantee that President Barack Obama's health care law will launch smoothly and on time, congressional investigators say in the first in-depth independent look at its progress.
There's no guarantee that President Barack Obama's health care law will launch smoothly and on time, congressional investigators say in the first in-depth independent look at its progress.
The House Judiciary Committee is preparing to vote on its first immigration bill this year, a tough enforcement measure giving state and local officials new powers to act against people here illegally.
Sweeping immigration legislation moving toward a vote in the Senate would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday, at the same time it would bestow legal status on an...
The abortion wars are returning to Congress in a big way with House legislation to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches 20 weeks of age.
The Republican-led House on Tuesday passed a far-reaching anti-abortion bill that conservatives saw as a milestone in their 40-year campaign against legalized abortion and Democrats characterized as yet another example of a...
A large bomb exploded in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least three people on the day the international military coalition hands over responsibility for fighting the Taliban insurgency to the nascent...
The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country's...
A spokeswoman for Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the administration will no longer comment for stories published in three of Maine's daily newspapers.
A spokeswoman for Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the administration will no longer comment for stories published in three of Maine's daily newspapers.
A Democratic congressman has released the full transcript of congressional investigators' interview with an Internal Revenue Service manager and self-described conservative Republican who said the close scrutiny...
An Internal Revenue Service manager and self-described conservative Republican said the close scrutiny of tea party groups' tax forms originated in his Cincinnati IRS office and not in Washington, according to a full...
Military leaders are ready to begin tearing down the remaining walls that have prevented women from holding thousands of combat and special operations jobs near the front lines.
Declaring "the days of Rambo are over," a top general said Tuesday that cultural, social and behavioral concerns may be bigger hurdles than tough physical fitness requirements for women looking to join the military's...
Defense officials say four U.S. troops were killed Tuesday at or near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Defense officials say four U.S. troops were killed Tuesday at or near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Google is asking the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to lift its long-standing gag order on how often the company is asked to turn over data about its customers to the federal government.
Google on Tuesday sharply challenged the federal government's gag order on its Internet surveillance program, citing what it described as a First Amendment right to divulge how many requests it receives from the...
The Education Department is offering states more time to enact promised reforms in exchange for permission to ignore unworkable parts of No Child Left Behind.
States can ask for another year before being required to use student test results to decide whether to keep or fire teachers, Education Secretary Arne Duncan told school chiefs on Tuesday.
A new study finds that same-sex couples are treated less favorably than heterosexual couples when seeking information about rental housing advertised online.
Same-sex couples are treated less favorably than heterosexual couples when seeking information about rental housing advertised over the Internet, according to a first-of-its-kind national study from the Department of Housing...
Massive nationwide protests that Egypt's opposition plans for June 30 are taking on a dangerous edge.
Massive nationwide protests that Egypt's opposition plans for June 30 are taking on a dangerous edge.
House Republicans have unveiled slashing cuts to a program that helps localities build community development projects. Their rivals in the Democratic-controlled Senate are moving to restore Republican cuts to...
Republicans controlling the House unveiled slashing cuts Tuesday to a program that helps localities build community development projects, while their rivals in the Democratic-led Senate proposed to restore GOP cuts to...
Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.
Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.
Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill says she is supporting a super political action committee encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016.
Sen. Claire McCaskill endorsed an outside political group encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016, saying it was important for Democrats to build a groundswell of support for the former secretary of...
The leaders of major economic powers are declaring themselves dedicated to a political solution to Syria's bloody civil war, even as President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin stake out...
Now a veteran of the international summit scene, President Barack Obama wielded significant influence over the agenda at this week's Group of Eight meetings, but had only modest success in achieving the results he sought.
A nonprofit that's helping spread the word about President Barack Obama's health overhaul is launching a campaign that will target states with high numbers of uninsured Americans.
A nonprofit group helping to spread the word about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul launched a campaign Tuesday that will target states with high numbers of uninsured Americans and tackle their skepticism...
The White House is reporting progress on President Barack Obama's initiatives to reduce gun violence, but says the most important step would be getting a reluctant Congress to pass new firearms laws.
A scrappy Vice President Joe Biden vowed Tuesday to "beat the gun lobby" by ultimately passing stronger firearm laws and said some lawmakers who voted against background checks have privately told him they want another...
By The Associated Press Word that the Taliban and U.S. will hold formal talks to find a political solution to end nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan comes after years of failed efforts at peace...
By The Associated Press Word that the Taliban and U.S. will hold formal talks to find a political solution to end nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan comes after years of failed efforts at peace talks. A...
Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar - but it also may cause some confusion as patients figure out the new...
Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar - but it also may cause some confusion as patients figure out the new system.
Civil rights lawyers say they plan to ask a federal judge to declare the New York Police Department's spying programs directed at Muslims to be unconstitutional, and to order police to stop their surveillance and...
The New York Police Department's widespread spying programs directed at Muslims have undermined free worship by innocent people and should be declared unconstitutional, religious leaders and civil rights advocates said...
President Barack Obama is opening a 24-hour visit to Germany, the culmination of which will be a speech Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
President Barack Obama is opening a 24-hour visit to Germany, the culmination of which will be a speech Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Two officials say that Secretary of State John Kerry has chosen Russ Feingold, a former Democratic senator from Wisconsin, as the new U.S. special envoy for Africa Great Lakes region.
Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Tuesday that he has chosen former Sen. Russ Feingold as the new U.S. special representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the Congo.
Chicago's next U.S. attorney faces a dilemma sprung from the twin evils bedeviling America's third-largest city.
Chicago's next U.S. attorney faces a dilemma sprung from the twin evils bedeviling America's third-largest city.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is courting Connecticut gun manufacturers, extolling the tax policies and regulatory climate of his state.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry extolled the tax policies and regulatory climate of his state as he courted gun manufacturers that have threatened to leave Connecticut since the state passed new gun-control laws in response to the...
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
NSA leaker Edward Snowden is defending his disclosure of top-secret U.S. spying programs in an online chat with The Guardian and attacking U.S. officials for calling him a traitor.
President Barack Obama defended top secret National Security Agency spying programs as legal in a lengthy interview Monday, and called them transparent - even though they are authorized in secret.
The Obama administration won't welcome the election of a relative moderate as Iran's next president with any new nuclear offer. A State Department spokeswoman says it's up to Tehran to compromise.
President Barack Obama said Monday that Iran's election of a relative moderate shows that the country's people want to change course. But he stressed that Tehran still needs to show the international community that...
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.
The Obama administration is threatening to veto a measure being considered by House Republicans that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
The Obama administration is threatening to veto a measure being considered by House Republicans that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has come to Connecticut in search of gun manufacturing and other jobs while talking up the importance of competition.
The governors of Texas and South Dakota visited Connecticut on Monday to court gun manufacturers that have threatened to leave since the state passed tough new gun-control laws this year in response to the massacre at Sandy...
Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon.
Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in...
Turkish trade unions are gearing up for strikes in response to a widespread police crackdown against activists defying government attempts to end weeks of street protests.
Turkish labor groups fanned a wave of defiance against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's authority, leading rallies and a one-day strike to support activists whose two-week standoff with the government has shaken the...
The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, 5-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry.
The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, five-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry.
A Chinese dissident who was allowed to travel to the U.S. after escaping from house arrest says New York University is forcing him and his family to leave at the end of this month because of pressure from the...
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who was allowed to travel to the U.S. after escaping from house arrest, said Monday that New York University is forcing him and his family to leave at the end of this month because of...
The Supreme Court says states cannot require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.
States can't demand proof of citizenship from people registering to vote in federal elections unless they get federal or court approval to do so, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a decision complicating efforts in...
President Barack Obama will appeal to Northern Ireland's youth to sustain their peace in his first opportunity to highlight the role the United States has played helping bring about reconciliation in the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Barack Obama on Monday that their positions on Syria do not "coincide" but the two leaders said during the G-8 summit that they have a shared interest in stopping the violence...
Chicago's next U.S. attorney faces a dilemma sprung from the twin evils bedeviling America's third-largest city.
Chicago's next U.S. attorney faces a dilemma sprung from the twin evils bedeviling America's third-largest city.
The Republican Party's hope of running stronger presidential races by revamping immigration is about to hit a big hurdle: House Republicans.
The Republican Party's hope of running stronger presidential races by revamping immigration is about to hit a big hurdle: House Republicans.
The Supreme Court says deals between pharmaceutical corporations and their generic drug competitors, which government officials say keep cheaper forms of medicine off the market, can sometimes be illegal.
Deals between pharmaceutical corporations and their generic drug competitors, which government officials say keep cheaper forms of medicine off the market, can sometimes be illegal and therefore can be challenged in court,...
Republican Sen. John McCain is questioning President Barack Obama about political appointees' use of secret government email accounts to conduct official business.
Republican Sen. John McCain on Monday questioned President Barack Obama about his political appointees' use of secret government email accounts at work, saying that Congress cannot tell the American people what its...
The plans of a former Microsoft manager to create the "Starbucks of Pot" are worrying other activists who pushed for the legalization of marijuana in Washington state.
For the activists who led the effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Washington state last fall, Jamen Shively was one of their biggest fears: an aspiring pot profiteer whose unabashed dreams of building a cannabis...
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 after she confessed to her part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher has been released from an Indiana prison after spending a quarter century...
A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars.
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press 1948 - Law passed making women a permanent part of the U.S. military services
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press 1948 - Law passed making women a permanent part of the U.S. military services
North Korea's top government body is proposing high-level nuclear and security talks with the United States days after a planned meeting with rival South Korea collapsed.
After months of threatening to wage a nuclear war, North Korea did an about-face Sunday and issued a surprise proposal to the United States, its No. 1 enemy: Let's talk.
The State Department says it sees nothing new in North Korea's offer of high-level talks with the U.S.
The State Department says it sees nothing new in North Korea's offer of high-level talks with the U.S.
Three bomb attacks in Iraq including a blast inside a roadside restaurant killed 12 people on Monday, officials said, the latest in a surge of violence that has left nearly 2,000 dead since the beginning of April.
A Shiite militia leader on Monday claimed responsibility for a rocket attack over the weekend that killed two members of an Iranian exile group near Baghdad. Saturday's attack on the sprawling Camp Liberty also killed an...
Bulgaria's prime minister said Monday that Parliament's appointment of a media mogul as the nation's security chief was a mistake, but that his government will not resign over it.
Bulgaria's prime minister said Monday that Parliament's appointment of a media mogul as the nation's security chief was a mistake, but that his government will not resign over it.
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that...
Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington scrutinized the very first application from a tea party group seeking tax-exempt status - and dozens of others, including some requests that languished for more than a year...
The Supreme Court on Monday handed down decisions in five cases and agreed to hear two important appeals in the fall. Among the court's actions:
The Supreme Court on Monday handed down decisions in five cases and agreed to hear two important appeals in the fall. Among the court's actions:
An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul.
An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul.
The Supreme Court has agreed to decide another dispute involving race, whether people must prove they were victims of intentional housing discrimination to win lawsuits under federal law.
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to take on another dispute involving race, deciding whether people must prove they were victims of intentional housing discrimination to win lawsuits under federal law.
The Supreme Court says lawyers may not obtain personal information from state driver license records to recruit clients for lawsuits.
The Supreme Court says lawyers may not obtain personal information from state driver license records to recruit clients for lawsuits.
The Supreme Court says a jury should have the final say on facts that can trigger mandatory minimum sentences in criminal trials.
The Supreme Court says a jury should have the final say on facts that can trigger mandatory minimum sentences in criminal trials.
The Supreme Court won't reconsider a jury's decision that an off-duty Seattle police officer who was cut off in traffic violated a man's rights by detaining him at gunpoint.
The Supreme Court won't reconsider a jury's decision that an off-duty Seattle police officer who was cut off in traffic violated a man's rights by detaining him at gunpoint.
Republicans' hopes to reclaim the White House in the 2016 elections hinge on whether they support - or sabotage - the immigration overhaul being debated in the Senate, two lawmakers who helped write the proposal...
Republicans' hopes to reclaim the White House in the 2016 elections hinge on whether they support - or sabotage - the immigration overhaul being debated in the Senate, two lawmakers who helped write the proposal warn.
A U.S. official says the United States and Cuba will resume talks on restarting direct mail service despite a deadlock between Washington and Havana over detainees that has largely stalled most rapprochement efforts.
The United States and Cuba will resume talks this week on restarting direct mail service despite a deadlock between Washington and Havana over detainees that has largely stalled most rapprochement efforts, a U.S. official...
The White House says President Barack Obama and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye (goon-hay) have discussed North Korea's proposal for high-level talks with the U.S.
The White House says President Barack Obama and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye (goon-hay) have discussed North Korea's proposal for high-level talks with the U.S.
Top officials from the Obama and Bush administrations say the government's newly exposed secret surveillance programs have been essential to disrupting terrorist plots and have not infringed on Americans'...
Top officials from the Obama and Bush administrations say the government's newly exposed secret surveillance programs have been essential to disrupting terrorist plots and have not infringed on Americans' civil...
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run...
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at...
President Barack Obama is taking a security, foreign policy and economic agenda to Northern Ireland for a meeting with heads of the leading industrial nations.
President Barack Obama is taking a security, foreign policy and economic agenda to Northern Ireland for a meeting with heads of the leading industrial nations.
Police firing water cannons and tear gas have dispersed protesters who erected street barricades near Turkey's parliament overnight.
Riot police cordoned off streets, set up roadblocks and fired tear gas and water cannon to prevent anti-government protesters from converging on Istanbul's central Taksim Square on Sunday, unbowed even as Turkey's...
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas says he will resign because a top aide of his has been charged with abuse of power.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas announced Sunday that he will resign over a spy and bribery scandal involving his government.
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that...
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that languished...
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run...
President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at...
Current and former top U.S. officials are supporting the government's collection of phone and Internet data following new revelations about the secret surveillance programs aimed at disrupting terrorist plots.
Current and former top U.S. officials on Sunday defended the government's collection of phone and Internet data following new revelations about the secret surveillance programs, saying the operations were essential in...
One of the authors of a bipartisan Senate proposal is warning fellow Republicans that if they fail to pass an immigration overhaul, the party's prospects of winning the White House are dim.
Republicans are "in a demographic death spiral" and will fail in their effort to win the presidency if the party blocks an immigration overhaul, a leading GOP senator said Sunday.
A new report shows that park rangers, wildlife refuge workers and U.S. Park Police officers suffered more assaults and threats by visitors last year than in 2011.
Park rangers, wildlife refuge workers and U.S. Park Police experienced more assaults and threats from visitors last year than in 2011, according to a group that represents federal resource workers.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says his health is "nothing short of a miracle."
Former Vice President Dick Cheney says his health is "nothing short of a miracle."
The White House says it wants "credible negotiations" with North Korea that will lead to a nuclear-free North.
The Obama administration said Sunday it was receptive to North Korea's proposal for high-level talks, but wants "credible negotiations" that will lead to a nuclear-free North.
Kuwait says its constitutional court has dissolved the current parliament after challenges to ballot rules, forcing new elections that could reopen political showdowns and clashes in the Gulf nation.
Kuwait's constitutional court forced new parliamentary elections Sunday, dissolving the current chamber on the basis of flaws in the election law, the state news agency reported. The decision may set the stage for a new...
A public square in Uganda's capital that is closed to the public is becoming a symbol for what many here see as the state's growing intolerance of political dissent.
The green grass looks inviting, but few people have the courage to enter the only public square in Uganda's capital. Most sit or stand at the edges, respecting the barricades of scrap metal erected by police who stand...
The revelation that a top former commander of a Nazi SS-led military unit has lived quietly in Minneapolis for the past six decades came as a shock to those who knew 94-year-old Michael Karkoc. World War II survivors...
The revelation that a former commander of a Nazi SS-led military unit has lived quietly in Minneapolis for the past six decades came as a shock to those who know 94-year-old Michael Karkoc. World War II survivors in both the...
The White House is congratulating Iranians on their presidential election but says the Tehran government created an intimidating environment that limited free expression.
Offering praise for Iranians and reproaching their government, the Obama administration said Saturday it respected the results of a presidential election conducted under restrictive conditions.
Top U.S. intelligence officials say information gleaned from two controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency thwarted potential terrorist plots in the U.S. and more than 20 other...
Top U.S. intelligence officials said Saturday that information gleaned from two controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency thwarted potential terrorist plots in the U.S. and more than 20 other...
Iran's reformist-backed presidential candidate surged to a wide lead in early vote counting Saturday, a top official said, suggesting a flurry of late support could have swayed a race that once appeared solidly...
Wild celebrations broke out on Tehran streets that were battlefields four years ago as reformist-backed Hasan Rowhani capped a stunning surge to claim Iran's presidency on Saturday, throwing open the political order...
The Republican Party's chairman is asking religious conservatives to support the GOP's plans to expand.
Facing lingering tensions in his party, the chairman of the Republican National Committee urged religious conservatives Saturday to support the GOP's plans to expand.
After months of caution, President Barack Obama suddenly is positioned more aggressively on Syria than the global leaders he's joining at a summit Monday, now that he has authorized weapons and ammunition...
After months of caution, President Barack Obama suddenly is positioned more aggressively on Syria than the global leaders he's joining at a summit Monday, now that he has authorized weapons and ammunition shipments to...
In the suburbs edged by woods midway between Baltimore and the nation's capital, residents long joked that the government spy shop next door was so ultra-secretive its initials stood for "No Such Agency." But...
In the suburbs edged by woods midway between Baltimore and the nation's capital, residents long joked that the government spy shop next door was so ultra-secretive its initials stood for "No Such Agency." But when Edward...
President Barack Obama says there's no substitute for the love and support that fathers provide.
President Barack Obama says there's no substitute for the love and support that fathers provide.
Facebook and Microsoft Corp. representatives said that after negotiations with national security officials their companies have been given permission to make new but still very limited revelations about government...
Facebook and Microsoft Corp. representatives said that after negotiations with national security officials their companies have been given permission to make new but still very limited revelations about government orders to...
Facebook's top attorney says after a week of negotiations with national security officials, the company is allowed to make new revelations about government orders for user data.
Facebook and Microsoft Corp. representatives said Friday night that after negotiations with national security officials their companies have been given permission to make new but still very limited revelations about...
Iran's top leader gave a salty rebuke Friday to U.S. questions over the openness of the presidential contest in the Islamic Republic, telling Washington "the hell with you" after casting his ballot in a race...
Iran's reformist-backed presidential candidate surged to a wide lead in early vote counting Saturday, a top official said, suggesting a flurry of late support could have swayed a race that once appeared solidly in the...
A year after President Barack Obama made an emphatic pitch to Europe's economic powers to focus more on economic growth than austerity, much of the eurozone remains mired in or near recession. Obama's appeals...
When leaders of the nation's biggest economies gathered at the presidential retreat of Camp David last year, European elections had rattled the continent with a rejection of austerity measures. President Barack Obama was...
Iranian-Americans and expatriates cast ballots Friday in polling places across the United States, joining their countrymen half a world away in selecting the next Iranian president.
With their passports in tow, Iranian-Americans and expatriates trickled into polling sites across the United States on Friday, joining their countrymen half a world away in voting in Iran's presidential election.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is walking a political tightrope, trying to balance his re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state with a potential presidential bid aimed at winning over...
Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is walking a political tightrope as he charts his future, trying to balance his re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state with a potential presidential bid aimed at...
A Pentagon inspector general's report says U.S. special operations forces who participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden were in uniform and wearing nametags during a CIA award ceremony attended by the...
U.S. special operations forces who participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden were in uniform and wearing nametags during a CIA award ceremony attended by the writer of the film "Zero Dark Thirty," a Pentagon...
The Agriculture Department says it has no indications that genetically modified wheat found in Oregon last month has spread beyond the field in which it was found.
The Agriculture Department says it has no indications that genetically modified wheat found in Oregon last month has spread beyond the field in which it was found.
President Barack Obama is honoring the WNBA champion Indiana Fever, calling the players an inspiration to young athletes - even those on his daughter Sasha's basketball team.
President Barack Obama honored the WNBA champion Indiana Fever on Friday, calling the players role models for young athletes - even those on his daughter Sasha's basketball team.
President Barack Obama is tapping his former campaign finance chairman, an HBO executive and the head of a major Catholic charity to be U.S. ambassadors.
Handing plum European posts to key campaign boosters, President Barack Obama on Friday nominated his former finance director to be U.S. ambassador to Denmark and tapped two major fundraisers for postings in Spain and Germany.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says the future of the American economy depends on immigrants.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told religious conservatives Friday that the future of the nation's economy depends upon immigrants in part because they "are more fertile" and create more businesses than native-born...
A House proposal to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks has been revised to include rape and incest exceptions after the Republican sponsor raised a storm by saying that very few rapes...
House Republicans have modified a tough anti-abortion bill to include exceptions for rape and incest after the GOP sponsor of the legislation raised a firestorm by declaring that very few rapes result in pregnancies.
Activists are reporting the heaviest fighting in months in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
Hezbollah's leader vowed Friday that his militants would keep fighting in Syria "wherever needed" after the U.S. agreed to arm the rebels in the civil war, setting up a proxy fight between Iran and the West that...
The town where 20 children and six educators were massacred in December went silent for a moment Friday, six months later, at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on weapons control, with the reading...
The town where 20 children and six educators were massacred in December went silent for a moment Friday, six months later, at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on weapons control, with the reading of names...
The House is heading toward passage of a sweeping defense bill that reflects the outrage among lawmakers over the growing number of sexual assaults in the military.
The House overwhelmingly passed a sweeping, $638 billion defense bill on Friday that imposes new punishments on members of the armed services found guilty of rape or sexual assault as outrage over the crisis in the military...
Call logs, credit card records, emails, Skype chats, Facebook messages, and more: The precise nature of the NSA's sweeping surveillance apparatus has yet to be confirmed, but given the revelations spilling out...
Phone call logs, credit card records, emails, Skype chats, Facebook message, and more: The precise nature of the NSA's sweeping surveillance apparatus has yet to be confirmed.
President Barack Obama's decision to authorize lethal aid to Syrian rebels marks a deepening of U.S. involvement in the two-year civil war. But U.S. officials are still grappling with what type and how much...
President Barack Obama's authorization of military aid to the Syrian rebels "dramatically" increases U.S. support for the opposition, the White House said Friday, while acknowledging that it will take time for the...
Six months after the Newtown school shooting, the tragedy will be marked with a moment of silence, the reading of thousands of names of gun violence victims and calls around the country to pass legislation...
Newtown held a moment of silence Friday for the victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on gun control, with the reading of names of thousands of...
President Barack Obama says being a father is the best job he's got.
President Barack Obama says being a father is the best job he's got.
The British government has issued an alert to airlines around the world, urging them not to allow former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden to board flights to the United Kingdom.
The British government has warned airlines around the world not to allow Edward Snowden, who leaked information on top-secret U.S. government surveillance programs, to fly to the United Kingdom.
Czech police and prosecutors say they believe a top aide of Prime Minister Petr Necas ordered a military intelligence agency to illegally spy on three people.
A multi-pronged scandal involving the prime minister's top aide, his estranged wife, military spy chiefs, former ruling party lawmakers and kilograms of gold raised unanswered questions Friday about the troubled...
The White House says President Barack Obama is taking advantage of new advances in the wireless industry to help create jobs.
The White House says President Barack Obama is taking advantage of advances in the wireless industry to help create jobs.
Attorney General Eric Holder says national security has been damaged as a result of leaks about a pair of government surveillance programs and that the U.S. will punish the person who is responsible.
Attorney General Eric Holder says national security has been damaged as a result of leaks about a pair of government surveillance programs and that the U.S. will punish the person who is responsible.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell's Tidewater Virginia drawl could make the word "court" sound as if it had two syllables. And Justice Clarence Thomas, though he doesn't talk much, speaks in a deep...
Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell's Tidewater Virginia drawl could make the word "court" sound as if it had two syllables. And Justice Clarence Thomas, though he doesn't talk much, speaks in a deep baritone.
The Bank of England says its deputy governor Paul Tucker will step down later this year after more than 30 years with the central bank.
The Bank of England says its deputy governor Paul Tucker will step down later this year after more than 30 years with the central bank.
The Arizona Senate is poised to pass an $8.8 billion state budget Thursday that includes the Medicaid expansion sought by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer as she embraces a signature part of President Barack Obama's...
The Arizona Legislature embraced a signature component of President Barack Obama's health care law Thursday after a drawn out battle that divided the state's Republican leadership and saw GOP Gov. Jan Brewer work...
In the end, Iran's presidential election may be defined by who doesn't vote.
In the end, Iran's presidential election may be defined by who doesn't vote.
A former Iranian president who was blocked from a comeback bid is urging voters not to boycott Friday's election.
In the end, Iran's presidential election may be defined by who doesn't vote.
Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is excited to call the Clinton Foundation "my home" for a number of new initiatives at the organization founded by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
As she considers another White House bid, Hillary Rodham Clinton intends to work in the nonprofit world on issues like improving early childhood education, promoting the rights of women and girls, and finding ways to improve...
US officials say the Obama administration has concluded that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has used chemical weapons against the opposition seeking to overthrow him, crossing what President Barack Obama...
President Barack Obama has authorized sending weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time, U.S. officials said Thursday, after the White House disclosed that the United States has conclusive evidence President Bashar...
Activists say Syrian rebels have gained control of a key military base in the central Hama province after intense clashes with regime forces.
Syrians are being killed at an average rate of 5,000 per month, the U.N. said Thursday as it raised the overall death toll in the civil war to nearly 93,000, with civilians bearing the brunt of the attacks.
The House has backed mandatory minimum sentences of two years for members of the armed services convicted of rape or sexual assault in a military court.
Angered by the epidemic of sexual assault in the military, the House on Thursday endorsed a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for a member of the armed services convicted of rape or sexual assault in a...
By KIMBERLY DOZIER Associated Press A top House lawmaker says those who want to harm the U.S. are already changing their behavior after leaks about classified U.S. surveillance programs.
Two senior Republican lawmakers said Thursday that terrorists are already changing their behavior after leaks about classified U.S. data gathering programs, but they offered no details.
A backup chorus that included Nancy Pelosi, Kathleen Sebelius and actress Linda Carter has helped singer Mary Wilson serenade congressman John Dingell in a ceremony honoring the longest-serving member of Congress.
A Capitol ceremony honoring Rep. John Dingell for becoming Congress's longest-serving member in history featured the expected, such as praise and jokes from Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner. It...
Of the handful of tea party-backed Republicans eyeing a 2016 presidential bid, Sen. Rand Paul is emerging as the most forceful in pushing libertarian principles.
Of the handful of tea party-backed Republicans eyeing a 2016 presidential bid, Sen. Rand Paul is emerging as the most forceful in pushing libertarian principles, especially on anti-terrorism issues.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were meeting Thursday with relatives of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting, who were visiting Washington on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the...
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met Thursday with relatives of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting, who were visiting Washington on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the tragedy to push...
The Obama administration estimates that 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
The Obama administration estimates that 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers.
The Senate has voted to kill a GOP measure preventing immigrants here illegally from taking the first steps toward citizenship until the U.S.-Mexico border has been under control for six months.
Key Senate Republicans are working to develop a compromise on border security that would satisfy GOP demands for stronger enforcement language in a far-reaching immigration bill without costing Democratic support, lawmakers...
FBI Director Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) is nearing the end of his 12 years as head of the law enforcement agency that is conducting high-profile investigations of the Boston Marathon bombings, the attack in...
FBI Director Robert Mueller is leaving the law enforcement agency that he has run every day since the week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the same way that he entered it: being grilled about how the FBI is...
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a decision with the potential to profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology...
The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously threw out attempts to patent human genes, siding with advocates who say the multibillion-dollar biotechnology industry should not have exclusive control over genetic information...
Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent graduates looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries.
Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent grads looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries, even if it takes a generous subsidy...
The Supreme Court has come up with a new regulation banning demonstrations on its grounds.
The Supreme Court has come up with a new regulation banning demonstrations on its grounds, two days after a broader anti-demonstration law was declared unconstitutional.
The fight for the soul of the Republican Party intensifies this week as GOP leaders gather in Washington to court social conservatives.
A fresh debate has erupted within the GOP over social issues.
President Barack Obama's health care law is called the Affordable Care Act, but a glitch could make it unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and...
It's called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obama's health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says commanders must remain part of the legal process in dealing with major offenses in the military such as sexual assault.
In a story June 12, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was the only Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee who supported a measure to remove commanders from decision-making on...
A council of federal judges in Washington will look into a misconduct complaint against a conservative judge who's alleged to have made racially discriminatory comments.
A council of federal judges in Washington will look into a misconduct complaint against a conservative judge who is alleged to have made racially discriminatory comments.
For the first time, America's racial and ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group, the government said Thursday. It's a historic shift that shows how young people are at the forefront...
In a first, America's racial and ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group, reflecting sweeping changes by race and class among young people. Due to an aging population, non-Hispanic whites last...
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't accept watered-down background checks as the price for pushing gun control legislation through the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't accept watered-down background checks as the price for pushing gun control legislation through the Senate.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he will move "expeditiously" to review about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas and will make decisions by the end of the year.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he will move "expeditiously" to review about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas and will make decisions by the end of the year.
Rural America is losing population for the first time ever, largely because of waning interest among baby boomers in moving to far-flung locations for retirement and recreation, according to new census estimates.
Living in a rural Nevada town, Moe Royels recalls a more bustling time years ago when retirees poured in to enjoy the warm desert climate, nearby casinos and quiet community. But soon boom turned to bust, and years after the...
One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade...
One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy, with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade pact.
The nation's new billion-dollar epicenter for fighting global cyberthreats sits south of Salt Lake City, tucked away on a National Guard base at the foot of snow-capped mountains. The long, squat buildings span...
The nation's new billion-dollar epicenter for fighting global cyberthreats sits just south of Salt Lake City, tucked away on a National Guard base at the foot of snow-capped mountains. The long, squat buildings span 1.5...
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell is stepping down and being replaced by White House lawyer Avril Haines, the first woman to hold the post.
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell is stepping down and being replaced by White House lawyer Avril Haines, who will be the first woman to hold the post.
The director of the National Security Agency is making a forceful defense of spy operations that have stirred fears of government snooping and violations of privacy rights.
Once-secret surveillance programs were crucial in enabling the U.S. government to thwart dozens of terrorist attacks, says the director of the National Security Agency in a forceful defense of spy operations that have...
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
Two Miami police officers were injured Wednesday while participating in President Barack Obama's motorcade in Florida, police said. Neither of the injuries was life-threatening.
Two Miami police officers were injured Wednesday while participating in President Barack Obama's motorcade in Florida, police said. Neither of the injuries was life-threatening.
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself.
