by Kit Fox | Feb 8, 2012 | Environment
WASHINGTON — Cheryl Cook squinted toward the wine glass in her outstretched hand to scrutinize the liquid inside. She swished the contents, took a sniff and brought the glass to her lips. “This tastes better than my tap water,” she said Wednesday after taking a sip...
by Ariel Rothfield | Feb 8, 2012 | Politics
WASHINGTON— Free of the usual partisan divides, a House panel put aside political differences Wednesday to discuss a growing, universal threat to the national security and economy of the United States — cyberattacks. “We have a real and very present danger when it...
by Mattias Gugel | Feb 8, 2012 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON – Should union members be able to choose which political campaigns their dues support and should labor organizations be forced to share with their members how exactly those political dollars are being spent? The House Committee on Oversight and Government...
by Ed Demaria | Feb 8, 2012 | Environment, Politics
WASHINGTON – A blue-ribbon commission Wednesday recommended creation of a new government agency to control nuclear waste and a new consent-based strategy to deal with the issue. Members of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future advised a House...
by Megan Neunan | Feb 8, 2012 | Health & Science
WASHINGTON — If you have ever served your child apple juice, you may have served more arsenic along with it than the federal government allows in bottled water. The “APPLE Juice Act of 2012,” introduced Wednesday by two House Democrats, requires that the Food...
by David Uberti | Feb 8, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – A top U.S. general highlighted Wednesday the NATO-led coalition’s successes in Afghanistan, but he didn’t directly refute claims made in a high-profile military journal article that openly criticized the current strategy. Lt. Gen. Curtis...
by Ariel Rothfield | Feb 8, 2012 | Health & Science
WASHINGTON— Testifying before the House Communications and Technology Committee, Larry Clinton, president and CEO of Internet Alliance, called current government policies “outdated” and “ineffective” in dealing with relation to cybersecurity. “Understand that you are...
by Chris Kirk | Feb 7, 2012 | Environment, Politics
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has never been less concerned with the environment, a leading environmental organization said Tuesday after scoring congressmen based on their voting records last year. Led by House Republicans who dismiss environmental...
by Patrick Svitek | Feb 7, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Transportation Safety Administration head John Pistole told a House subcommittee Tuesday that he will continue a controversial program that replaces federal employees with private workers at airport security checkpoints, although he is unlikely to expand...
by Edwin Rios | Feb 7, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – The shift of military resources toward the Asia-Pacific region signals a need for new stealth bombers able to combat potential threats, deal with growing demands, and offset attrition of older aircraft, the president of a public policy research...
by Shirley Li | Feb 7, 2012 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON –Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke called the U.S. economic outlook “uncertain” Tuesday and urged “close monitoring” of the economy. At a hearing before the Senate Budget Committee, Bernanke noted the recovery of manufacturing in the country, but said...
by Rachel Morello | Feb 7, 2012 | Education, Health & Science
Video: Megan Neunan / Medill Video: Safiya Merchant / Medill WASHINGTON — It’s not every day that robots roam the White House. Obama hosted the second White House Science Fair Tuesday, honoring students who have won competitions in science, technology, engineering and...