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 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 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 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 Josh Solomon | Feb 26, 2013 | Politics
BETHESDA, Md. – The U.S. could jeopardize its status as the most attractive place for science students to conduct research if Congress does not act to stop automatic across-the-board federal budget cuts set for next Friday, said National Institutes of Health Director...
by Cathaleen Chen | Feb 20, 2013 | Politics
Chen/MedillChen/MedillChen/MedillChen/MedillChen/MedillPussy Riot imitators practice their protest dance before the demonstration begins. Chen/MedillChen/MedillChen/MedillThe demonstration featured about 15 performers, all young women. Chen/MedillThe rally is staged...
by Tom Meyer | Feb 20, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON — A coalition of Muslim and Jewish advocacy groups called Wednesday for the House of Representatives to pass the Violence Against Women Act after months of delay, saying the U.S. should be a leader in protecting women in the face of violence against...
by Rachel Janik | Feb 20, 2013 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his wife Sandra Jackson pleaded guilty on Wednesday to felony charges involving misuse of more than $750,000 in campaign money on personal spending. When District Judge Robert Wilkins questioned Jackson on...
