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...
by Marshall Cohen | Feb 26, 2013 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Chuck Hagel for defense secretary, handing a victory to President Barack Obama after a two-month showdown. Senators voted 58-41 to confirm Hagel. Only four Republicans joined a unified Democratic caucus to support Hagel’s...
by Tara Longardner & Olivia Marcus | Feb 26, 2013 | Immigration, Politics
WASHINGTON—U.S. homeland security spending on border and maritime security has been “done in an ad hoc way” and needs a more systematic approach, the head of a House homeland security subcommittee said Tuesday. The subcommittee on border and maritime security looked...
by Tom Meyer | Feb 26, 2013 | Health & Science
WASHINGTON — When President Barack Obama said recently that football needs to address the issue of player safety more seriously, he also offered a simple solution: fix the game or stop playing. “If I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before...
