by Jeanne Kuang | Mar 14, 2014 | Education
WASHINGTON – The skyrocketing cost of higher education is front and center with most parents and prospective college students, but a more arcane issue, the integrity of the accreditation process, is also presenting challenges for policymakers. Accreditation is the...
by Sara Olstad | Mar 13, 2014 | Immigration
WASHINGTON — Pedro Hernandez-Ramirez came to the U.S. from Mexico illegally more than 10 years ago, eventually settling in Elyria, Ohio, marrying an American citizen and helping raise his four kids, including stepson Juan, who has severe cerebral palsy. In 2013,...
by Sylvan Lane | Mar 12, 2014 | Immigration
WASHINGTON—A group of House Republicans said they’re eager to get cracking on immigration reform, and that deal could be done in early 2015 before the presidential campaign season kicks into gear. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said in an interview Wednesday that many...
by Sara Olstad | Mar 12, 2014 | Politics
WASHINGTON – First lady Michelle Obama might be nicer than Miss Piggy, at least according to Kermit the Frog. One of the reasons Kermit thinks Obama is so nice is her support for the nation’s military families, the Muppet said. Obama, Kermit and Gen. Martin Dempsey,...
by Jonathan Palmer | Mar 12, 2014 | Education
WASHINGTON- Legislation aimed at expanding federal funding for programs that allow low-income students to leave failing schools awaits action on Capitol Hill. But hopes for passage this year are fading with the midterm election looming in November. Two bills, the...
by Stephanie Haines | Mar 12, 2014 | Politics
WASHINGTON – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday approved legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine. The Senate bill would also provide a $1 billion loan to Ukraine and reform the U.S. participation in the...
by Jeanne Kuang | Mar 12, 2014 | Education
WASHINGTON — The Education Department isn’t doing a great job helping students who are trying to clear their student loan defaults, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Wednesday. A borrower who defaults on his or her student loans has...
by Ellen Garrison | Mar 12, 2014 | Living
Data from un.org and Kristina Koch WASHINGTON — The biggest obstacle to recruiting women for the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions as senior managers in the field is not sexism, it’s a lack of qualified female applicants U.N. recruiter Kristina...
by Cat Zakrzewski | Mar 12, 2014 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry told a House subcommittee Wednesday that isolating Russia could jeopardize U.S. interests in Iran and Syria, but “we will do what we have to do.” The hearing came a day before Kerry plans to depart for London to meet with the...
by Lauren Caruba | Mar 12, 2014 | Health & Science
WASHINGTON – Republicans aggressively cross-examined Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the rocky implementation of the Affordable Care Act Wednesday, saying the law isn’t working as promised. At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the...
by Jane Herman | Mar 12, 2014 | Immigration
WASHINGTON—The growing number of refugees who are children fleeing Central American countries because of violence, abuses and hardships is a top priority for the U.N., United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Wednesday. “Even if we have to...
by Mary Kate Hayes | Mar 12, 2014 | Politics
WASHINGTON – An anticipated wave of baby boomer retirements over the next 20 years has the U.S. Labor Department worried. On average, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 per day. This large number of retirees requires resources to help them choose retirement plans. A 1974 law...
