by Kris Anne Bonifacio | Mar 12, 2013 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel faced an uphill battle winning confirmation as secretary of Defense, but his first few weeks on the job are proving to be an even bigger challenge. For his first foreign trip as defense secretary, Hagel headed to Afghanistan where his visit...
by Audrey Cheng | Mar 11, 2013 | Education
WASHINGTON — Grace Tien struggles daily with teaching social studies to Baltimore 2nd graders in an environment she describes as violent and depressing. But her year as a Teach for America corps member in one of the country’s worst school districts is also...
by Rachel Janik | Mar 7, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act into law Thursday after a 500-day journey to reauthorization that was fraught with controversy. Even now, some of the most significant gains of the new law may be the least talked-about. The...
by Kimberly Railey | Mar 7, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON — Despite a Supreme Court decision to hear new challenges to campaign spending limits, campaign finance reformers are doubling down on efforts to restrict the role of money in politics. The country’s highest court agreed Feb. 19 to hear McCutcheon v....
by Marshall Cohen | Mar 7, 2013 | Living, Politics
WASHINGTON — “Elections have consequences,” politicians often say, but the long lines at polling places in November have triggered a debate on voting reform that could outlast the re-elected president and his agenda. In the wake of problems on Election Day, President...
by Rachel Janik | Mar 7, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON—The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved a gun trafficking bill over Republican opposition. The proposal would combat illegal movement of firearms across state lines, and also hit straw purchasers — those who buy guns from licensed dealers for...
by Kris Anne Bonifacio | Mar 7, 2013 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Thursday to confirm John Brennan as the next CIA director, ending a rare talking filibuster by Sen. Rand Paul after nearly 13 hours. The 63-34 tally included 13 Republicans voting for Brennan and three Democrats voting against his...
by Marshall Cohen | Mar 5, 2013 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — Jack Lew has accumulated a few gray hairs after four decades in Washington. Now that he’s Treasury secretary, he’s in store to grow a few more. Lew enjoyed a surprisingly smooth nomination process and the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed him last week to...
by Tara Longardner & Olivia Marcus | Mar 5, 2013 | Immigration
WASHINGTON—“Mixed status” families and their advocates consider a new federal immigration policy aimed to keep families together “a step in the right direction—but not good enough.” Under the rule effective Monday, certain undocumented immigrants who are immediate...
by Alyssa Howard | Mar 5, 2013 | Health & Science
WASHINGTON – Severely mentally ill individuals who may be prone to violence too often can’t get the psychiatric help they need because of legal roadblocks and inadequate treatment options, witnesses told a House investigatory committee said Tuesday. Held in the wake...
by Cathaleen Chen | Mar 5, 2013 | Immigration
Washington – In the widening immigration reform debate, lawmakers and immigration experts agreed Tuesday on the importance of recruiting highly skilled immigrants. The conclusion was simple — the current green card and visa system is ineffective in retaining...
by Stephanie Yang | Mar 5, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON- House Democrats said Tuesday they want to create more American jobs by introducing a bill that would require U.S.-made parts be used in the construction of all bridges, roads and other infrastructure projects nationwide. West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall, the...
