by Fritz T. Burgher | Feb 27, 2013 | Business
WASHINGTON — With $85 billion in mandated budget cuts only two days away unless Congress acts, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Wednesday suggested swapping the sequestration, as the cuts are called, for a long-term economic policy. “I think a good policy...
by Mitchell Armentrout | Feb 27, 2013 | National Security
WASHINGTON – Decade-long efforts to streamline medical recordkeeping for military personnel between the defense and veterans affairs departments are costing at least $1 billion in “down-the-drain-funding,” the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman said Wednesday....
by Marshall Cohen | Feb 27, 2013 | Business, Politics
Most states follow the federal minimum wage, but some states have taken matters into their own hands and raised the pay limit. Graphic by Marshall Cohen/MedillWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama caught the political world off guard when he proposed raising the minimum...
by Catherine Reid | Feb 27, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON — When comedian Seth MacFarlane joked about Jews running Hollywood during the Academy Awards, the Anti-Defamation League quickly labeled the remark “offensive and not remotely funny.” An official of the ADL told a congressional hearing Wednesday that...
by Kris Anne Bonifacio | Feb 27, 2013 | Living, Politics
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court justices pointedly questioned two key provisions of the Voting Rights Act on Wednesday, possibly signaling trouble for the landmark civil rights legislation. During oral arguments in Shelby County v. Holder, conservative justices questioned...
by Cathaleen Chen | Feb 26, 2013 | Immigration
WASHINGTON –A top congressional staffer said Tuesday that it would take “something short of Armageddon” to derail the upcoming immigration reform legislation. In a discussion held by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund,...
by Fritz T. Burgher | Feb 26, 2013 | Health & Science, Politics
WASHINGTON — When Alonzo J. King, Jr. was arrested for threatening a group of people with a shotgun in Wicomico County, Md., he quickly pled guilty and was convicted of second-degree assault. However, what transpired during his arrest has brought his case to the...
by Tom Meyer | Feb 26, 2013 | Education, Living
WASHINGTON — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a long-time advocate of education reform, called Tuesday for a strong focus on reducing absenteeism in schools and advancing graduation from high school. Bloomberg urged school districts to concentrate on keeping...
by Taylor Hiegel | Feb 26, 2013 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday approved President Barack Obama’s choice of Jack Lew to be the next Treasury secretary, moving the nomination to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote that could come as soon as Wednesday. The former...
by Stephanie Yang | Feb 26, 2013 | National Security
WASHINGTON—Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today said improving aviation security, immigration reform and cybersecurity are the main priorities of her agency this year in in her annual state of homeland security address. However, Napolitano said the $85...
by Summer Delaney | Feb 26, 2013 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON—Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged the Senate Tuesday to make gradual cuts in the federal budget and avoid the sweeping, automatic reductions promised by the impending sequester. Bernanke’s appearance before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban...
