WTVM - Political - Headline

Apple case seen as possible spur to tax action

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:15:00 EDT

Now that tech darling Apple Inc. has been dragged front and center into the debate over the U.S. tax code, lawmakers are hoping that the spotlight on such a high-profile company could be the catalyst for Congress to take...

Early vote points to close race as LA picks mayor

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:06:00 EDT

An early count of mail-in ballots is pointing to a close race for Los Angeles mayor.

Senate panel approves immigration bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:06:00 EDT

Far-reaching legislation that grants a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters...

Biden: Jewish leaders drove gay marriage changes

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:25:00 EDT

Vice President Joe Biden is praising Jewish leaders for helping change American attitudes about gay marriage and other issues.

FBI ID's Benghazi suspects _ but no arrests yet

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:06:00 EDT

The U.S. has identified five men who might be responsible for the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year, and has enough evidence to justify seizing them by military force as suspected terrorists,...

Obama voices support for Senate immigration bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:45:00 EDT

President Barack Obama says a far-reaching immigration overhaul approved by a Senate panel is largely consistent with his own principles.

Pentagon wants $450M for Guantanamo prison

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:25:00 EDT

The Pentagon is asking Congress for more than $450 million for maintaining and upgrading the Guantanamo Bay prison that President Barack Obama wants to close.

IRS official to take the 5th at House hearing

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:45:00 EDT

Summoned by Congress, a key figure in the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups plans to invoke her constitutional right against self-incrimination and decline to testify at a congressional hearing...

Key senator to let Myanmar sanctions bill lapse

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:16:00 EDT

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, easing up on his long-held tough stance on Myanmar, said Tuesday he planned to allow key sanctions legislation against the Southeast Asian nation to lapse because of the country's...

No new funds needed for Okla. tornado recovery

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:06:00 EDT

Top lawmakers and officials said Tuesday that the federal government has plenty of money on hand to pay for recovery efforts in the wake of the devastating tornado that struck Oklahoma.

Feds halt data cull for State Dept terror report

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:56:00 EDT

The federal government has given the job of compiling statistics used by the State Department to analyze trends in global terrorism to an academic group, a move that may complicate accurate unclassified assessments of...

Senate votes to make small cut to food stamps

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:55:00 EDT

The Senate voted Tuesday to keep a $400 million annual cut - or roughly a half of 1 percent - to the food stamp program as part of a major five-year farm bill.

Deal on bin Laden evidence in WikiLeaks case

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:55:00 EDT

Lawyers in the court-martial of an Army private who sent more than 700,000 classified U.S. documents to WikiLeaks said Tuesday they have reached a deal that may eliminate the need for testimony from a member of the military...

Poll: Teens migrating to Twitter

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:55:00 EDT

Twitter is booming as a social media destination for teenagers who complain about too many adults and too much drama on Facebook, according to a new study published Tuesday about online behavior. It said teens are sharing...

White House: Reporters shouldn't be prosecuted

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:45:00 EDT

President Barack Obama believes journalists shouldn't be prosecuted for doing their jobs, the White House said Tuesday, showing solidarity with First Amendment advocates alarmed by a pair of high-profile federal probes...

Senate panel approves weapons for Syrian rebels

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:35:00 EDT

A Senate panel voted on Tuesday to provide weapons to rebels battling the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the first time lawmakers have endorsed the aggressive U.S. military step of arming the opposition in the...

Fort Jackson commander facing adultery charges

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:25:00 EDT

The Army says the commanding general of Fort Jackson, S.C., has been suspended in connection with charges of adultery and involvement in a physical altercation.

Moniz: LNG exports on hold until data reviewed

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:55:00 EDT

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said Tuesday he will delay final decisions on about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas until he reviews studies by the Energy Department and others on what impact the exports would...

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:00 EDT

Tea party activists waving flags and signs, singing patriotic songs and chanting anti-IRS slogans held rallies outside federal buildings across the country Tuesday to protest the agency's extra scrutiny of conservative...

Top figures barred from Iran's June ballot

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:15:00 EDT

Iran's election overseers removed potential wild-card candidates from the presidential race Tuesday, blocking a top aide of outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a former president who revived hopes of reformers.

Obama opposes GOP bill on Keystone XL oil pipeline

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:46:00 EDT

The White House says President Barack Obama opposes a House bill that would speed approval of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.

US lawmakers seek limits on Russia cooperation

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:05:00 EDT

Republicans are trying to block Obama administration overtures to Russia on missile defense, creating a potential obstacle to arms control talks.

With high-tech guns, users could disable remotely

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:45:00 EDT

A high-tech startup is wading into the gun control debate with a wireless controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved - and disable it remotely.

Syria opposition signals tough line on peace talks

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:27:00 EDT

Despite recent rebel setbacks in Syria's civil war, the main opposition bloc signaled a tough line Tuesday on attending possible peace talks with President Bashar Assad's regime.

Court: US can keep bin Laden photos under wraps

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:26:00 EDT

A federal appeals court Tuesday backed the U.S. government's decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and after a raid in which the terrorist leader was killed by U.S. commandos.

Georgian ex-PM detained on abuse of office charge

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:36:00 EDT

Allies of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili - a former prime minister and a provincial governor - were charged on Tuesday with embezzlement and abuse of office in another sign of an ongoing power struggle between the...

Obama pledges urgent aid to Oklahoma town

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:35:00 EDT

President Barack Obama pledged urgent government help for Oklahoma Tuesday in the wake of "one of the most destructive" storms in the nation's history.

Peace Corps to accept same-sex couples

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:36:00 EDT

The Peace Corps says it will begin accepting applications from same-sex domestic partners who want to serve together as volunteers overseas.

AP Sources: Obama ok punting gay immigration idea

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:35:00 EDT

Two people familiar with the Senate immigration deliberations say the White House has suggested to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy that it would be best to put off a controversy over gay marriage until a bill goes before the full...

Okla. Senator says tornado aid should be paid for

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:55:00 EDT

Conservative Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn says that any additional federal aid to help tornado victims and to rebuild devastated areas of his state should be financed with cuts to other programs in the government's $3.6...

China's Xi will meet Obama earlier than expected

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:55:00 EDT

China's new leader Xi Jinping will confer with President Barack Obama next month in California, months earlier than expected, as both sides seek to stem a drift in relations, troubled by issues from cyberspying to North...

Policy, discretion guide media sources probes

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:35:00 EDT

It was a rare moment in relations between the media and the government: In 2008, FBI Director Robert Mueller called the top editors at The New York Times and The Washington Post to apologize because the bureau had improperly...

O'Malley using agenda, fundraising to explore 2016

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:15:00 EDT

His latest legislative achievements put him in the vanguard of his party's liberal base. He's been a top fundraiser for President Barack Obama. And he's ramping up his travel to help fellow Democrats around the...

Killing of gay man in NYC draws protesters

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:45:00 EDT

The killing of a gay man who police say was taunted with homophobic slurs drew thousands of people to the scene of the crime to restore a sense of safety to one of the nation's most gay-friendly neighborhoods.

More Obama aides knew of IRS audit; Obama not told

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:05:00 EDT

White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior advisers knew in late April that an impending report was likely to say the IRS had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, President Barack Obama's...

AP source: Treasury told WH of IRS disclosure plan

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:45:00 EDT

A Treasury official says the department told the White House twice that the IRS was preparing to make public its targeting of conservative political groups.

GOP leaders say impeachment talk premature

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:45:00 EDT

The Republican National Committee chairman and a leading conservative, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, urged caution Monday for Republican critics calling for President Barack Obama's impeachment, but would not rule out...

Penn urges US to pressure Bolivia to free US man

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:44:00 EDT

Actor Sean Penn on Monday urged the U.S. government to pressure Bolivia to free an American businessman detained without charge since 2011 in a case that has drawn accusations he was the victim of corrupt local prosecutors.

Thousands march in NY to protest gay man's killing

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:34:00 EDT

Thousands marched the streets of Manhattan Monday to protest the killing of a gay man allegedly taunted with homophobic slurs - the most recent in a spate of bias attacks stirring up anxiety, disbelief and outrage in a...

Kerry to Mideast to advance struggling Syria plan

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:05:00 EDT

Secretary of State John Kerry is headed back to the Middle East to press his case for peace talks between Syrian rebels and President Bashar Assad's regime amid increasing signs the new U.S. strategy to halt the war is...

Gov't presses ahead on another leak case

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:04:00 EDT

In another case of the Obama administration investigating classified information improperly disclosed to reporters, the government is prosecuting a State Department expert on North Korea in a probe that appears to step into...

Obama vows US support as Myanmar leader visits

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:55:00 EDT

President Barack Obama on Monday told Myanmar's president during a long-awaited White House meeting that he appreciates the Asian leader's efforts to lead the country on its sometimes difficult path to democracy and...

Panel: Apple uses firms outside US to avoid taxes

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:54:00 EDT

Apple Inc. employs a group of affiliate companies located outside the United States to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. income taxes, a Senate investigation has found.

House passes bill on lying about military medals

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:15:00 EDT

People who falsely claim they have received a military medal in order to obtain money or government benefits could face up to a year in jail under legislation that easily passed the House Monday.

Senators require fingerprinting at 30 airports

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:24:00 EDT

Senate supporters of far-reaching immigration legislation accepted minor changes in public while negotiating over more sweeping alterations in private Monday as they drove toward expected Judiciary Committee approval by...

White House says more farm subsidy cuts needed

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:24:00 EDT

The Obama administration said Monday it wants to see more cuts to agriculture subsidies in a massive farm bill moving through the Senate this week.

IG: ex-US Attorney retaliated in Fast and Furious

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:04:00 EDT

The U.S. Attorney in Arizona violated Justice Department policy by providing Fox News with information apparently aimed at undercutting the credibility of a federal agent who helped reveal the botched arms-trafficking probe...

Myanmar leader vows justice over communal violence

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:44:00 EDT

Myanmar President Thein Sein says that all perpetrators of inter-communal violence in the country will be brought to justice.

Sally Ride to get posthumous Medal of Freedom

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:44:00 EDT

President Barack Obama will bestow the Medal of Freedom posthumously on Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space.

NYPD messages to Muslim informant: 'Get pictures'

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:14:00 EDT

A New York Police Department detective told a federal judge that he's seen no evidence that one of his informants brought up the subject of jihad as a way to bait Muslims into making incriminating remarks. But text...

Hezbollah pulled more deeply into Syria civil war

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:55:00 EDT

Hezbollah was pulled more deeply into Syria's civil war as 28 guerrillas from the Lebanese Shiite militant group were killed and dozens more wounded while fighting rebels, Syria activists said Monday.

Education Department gives 3 more states waivers

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:14:00 EDT

Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced on Monday that three more states would join the ranks of those given permission to ignore parts of the federal No Child Left Behind law in favor of their own school improvement plans.

Carney: Senior White House staff knew of IRS probe

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:54:00 EDT

The White House says White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler was first informed about an audit of the IRS' inappropriate targeting of conservative groups on April 24 and that she notified senior staff, including Denis...

US urges Egypt gov't to defend political speech

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:24:00 EDT

The Obama administration is calling on the Egyptian government to rein in prosecutions of political expression amid what it called a "growing trend" of efforts to punish and deter people from speaking their mind.

State Dept: Reports of anti-Semitism increase

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:04:00 EDT

The State Department appointed a special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism Monday as a new report documents a global increase in incidents of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.

Democrats strike back at GOP voting measures

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:15:00 EDT

In a bitter fight, Colorado Democrats recently muscled through the Statehouse a massive elections reform bill that allows voters to register up until Election Day and still cast their ballots.

Czech president in dispute over gay rights

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:15:00 EDT

The Czech Republic's controversy-courting new president is under fire for refusing to grant a university professorship to one of his critics and hinting that it is because the man is a gay rights activist.

Postponed US long-range missile test due Tuesday

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:44:00 EDT

The Air Force says its test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had postponed in April because of tensions with North Korea, is now scheduled to happen on Tuesday.

German FM criticizes remarks by Hungarian PM

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:35:00 EDT

It started out simple enough: German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized constitutional changes that have been made in Hungary. But Hungary's leader not only objected, he also found what he called a veiled reference to...

Military sex abuse has long-term impact for vets

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:35:00 EDT

New government figures underscore the staggering long-term consequences of military sexual assaults: More than 85,000 veterans were treated last year for injuries or illness linked to the abuse, and 4,000 sought disability...

Kerry challenges Congress on diplomats' security

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:14:00 EDT

Secretary of State John Kerry challenged Congress on Monday to go beyond its investigations of embassy security and help ensure that U.S. embassies and consulates abroad have the resources they need for appropriate security....

High court to weigh in on legislative prayers

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:04:00 EDT

The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings.

Court won't get involved in Miss. redistricting

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:04:00 EDT

The Supreme Court won't order new legislative elections in Mississippi over complaints about the timing of the state's redistricting.

High court uphold FCC power in cell tower disputes

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:44:00 EDT

The Supreme Court has affirmed the authority of federal regulators to try to speed local government decisions on proposals to build or expand cell phone towers.

Court: woman can seek lawyer fees in vaccine case

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:24:00 EDT

The Supreme Court says a woman can seek lawyers' fees from the government even though her lawsuit over damage she said was caused by a vaccine was ruled untimely.

Court: Should whistleblower protection be wider?

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:04:00 EDT

The Supreme Court will decide if government whistleblower protection applies to employees of a privately-held contractor or the subcontractor of a publicly-held company.

AP CEO calls records seizure 'unconstitutional'

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:04:00 EDT

The Associated Press' president and chief executive says the government's secret seizure of two months of reporters' phone records has already had a chilling effect on newsgathering, a week after the subpoenas...

AP IMPACT: Military sex abuse victims seek VA help

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:44:00 EDT

More than 85,000 veterans were treated last year for injuries or illness stemming from sexual abuse in the military, and 4,000 sought disability benefits, underscoring the staggering long-term impact of a crisis that has...

Charlotte remembers 1963 desegregation 'eat-in'

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:44:00 EDT

In the spring of 1963, a prominent civil rights leader led dozens of protesters on a four-mile march from a predominantly African-American college campus to the center of Charlotte's downtown.

AP CEO calls records seizure unconstitutional

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:53:00 EDT

The president and chief executive officer of The Associated Press on Sunday called the government's secret seizure of two months of reporters' phone records "unconstitutional" and said the news cooperative had not...

Obama exhorts good deeds by Morehouse graduates

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:53:00 EDT

President Barack Obama, in a soaring commencement address on work, sacrifice and opportunity, on Sunday told graduates of historically black Morehouse College to seize the power of their example as black men graduating from...

Syrian troops push into strategic rebel-held town

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:13:00 EDT

Syrian troops pushed into a rebel-held town near the Lebanese border on Sunday, fighting house-to-house and bombing from the air as President Bashar Assad tried to strengthen his grip on a strategic strip of land running...

Chinese premier visits India to boost ties

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:53:00 EDT

Just weeks after a tense border standoff, China's new premier visited India on Sunday on his first foreign trip as the neighboring giants look to speed up efforts to settle a decades-old boundary dispute and boost...

Obama agenda marches on despite controversies

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:33:00 EDT

Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama's agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies, political triage by the administration and party leaders in Congress and...

Obama to speak on legality of drone program

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:13:00 EDT

President Barack Obama will discuss the legality of his administration's secret drone program and other counterterrorism practices during a speech Thursday, a White House official said.

White House insists Obama was not involved in IRS

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:33:00 EDT

A top White House adviser insisted Sunday that President Barack Obama learned the Internal Revenue Service had targeted tea party groups only "when it came out in the news" while Republicans continued to press the...

A look at why the Benghazi issue keeps coming back

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:33:00 EDT

The night of smoke, chaos, gunfire and grenades that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, is well-documented. Eight months later, it is the decisions made back in Washington that remain murky and in perpetual dispute.

First lady to high school grads: Live your dreams

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:13:00 EDT

First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: Strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.

Assad: Syria transition talks are internal matter

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:03:00 EDT

Syrian President Bashar Assad said in a newspaper interview Saturday he won't step down before elections and that the United States has no right to interfere in his country's politics, raising new doubts about a...

A look at why the Benghazi issue keeps coming back

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:52:00 EDT

Obama takes Cabinet secretaries out to play golf

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:02:00 EDT

President Barack Obama has taken two Cabinet secretaries out for a round of golf - in the rain.

IRS probe ignored most influential groups

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:42:00 EDT

There's an irony in the Internal Revenue Service's crackdown on conservative groups.

Afghan lawmakers block law on women's rights

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:32:00 EDT

Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation on Saturday aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.

Politics, bribery charges swirl around Ugandan oil

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:22:00 EDT

Even before the first drops flow, Uganda's oil sector is beset by bribery allegations against officials, tax-related cases abroad that cost the government millions in legal fees, and the alleged interference of a...

SPIN METER: GOP raps Dems for IRS union cash

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:42:00 EDT

Seeking maximum political gain from the string of controversies swirling around the White House, Republicans are on the attack against Democratic lawmakers who accepted donations from the union that represents Internal...

Obama talks jobs, says politics misplace focus

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:12:00 EDT

President Barack Obama is calling attention to his economic proposals and efforts to expand the middle class.

Egyptians targeted with blasphemy charges

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:42:00 EDT

The pale, young Christian woman sat handcuffed in the courtroom, accused of insulting Islam while teaching history of religions to fourth-graders. A team of Islamist lawyers with long beards sang in unison, "All except the...

SPIN METER: GOP raps Dems for IRS union cash

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:52:00 EDT

Treasury officials told of IRS probe in June 2012

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:43:00 EDT

Senior Treasury officials were made aware in June 2012 that investigators were looking into complaints from tea party groups that they were being harassed by the Internal Revenue Service, a Treasury inspector general said...

Benghazi probe co-chair subpoenaed by House panel

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:02:00 EDT

The head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has subpoenaed the co-chairman of the independent review board that investigated last year's attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, to...

Energy Dept. backs Texas LNG export plan

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:52:00 EDT

The Energy Department on Friday conditionally approved a Texas company's proposal to export liquefied natural gas, only the second such project allowed to move forward amid a production boom that has led to glut of...

Hagel orders review of sex-abuse prevention

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:44:00 EDT

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday ordered the military to recertify all 25,000 people involved in programs designed to prevent and respond to sexual assault, an acknowledgement that assaults have escalated beyond the...

CBO: Obama budget cuts deficits $1.1T by 2023

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:42:00 EDT

President Barack Obama's budget would trim projected federal deficits by $1.1 trillion over the coming decade, using nearly $6 in higher revenues for every $1 in reduced spending to achieve it, Congress' nonpartisan...

GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:52:00 EDT

Political scandals have strange ways of causing collateral damage, and Republicans are hoping the furor over federal tax enforcers singling out conservative groups will ensnare their biggest target: President Barack...

Argentine dictator Videla dies in prison at age 87

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:42:00 EDT

Former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla, who took power over Argentina in a 1976 coup and led a military junta that killed thousands of his fellow citizens in a dirty war to eliminate so-called "subversives," died quietly in his...

US slams Russian anti-ship missiles going to Syria

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:32:00 EDT

The Obama administration denounced Russia on Friday for providing Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime with anti-ship missiles, saying the weapons would only worsen a war that Washington and Moscow have been promising...

Venezuela's military enters high-crime slums

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:12:00 EDT

Stern-looking soldiers clutching assault rifles wave down the beat-up Chevy Caprice entering this sprawling slum on the outskirts of Caracas.

On jobs trip, Obama tries to leave problems behind

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:12:00 EDT

President Barack Obama tried on Friday to leave behind the political battles that have overshadowed his second-term agenda, saying lawmakers should work on creating more middle-class jobs in the slowly growing economy. "Our...

Congress gets mixed advice on regulating drones

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:52:00 EDT

The growing use of unmanned surveillance "eyes in the sky" aircraft raises a thicket of privacy concerns, but Congress is getting mixed advice on what, if anything, to do about it.

Hagel names general to lead US troops in SKorea

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:52:00 EDT

An Army general who served as a top official on U.S. joint military staffs in Afghanistan and at the Pentagon is the choice to command U.S. troops in South Korea.

Report: Torture evidence found in Syrian prisons

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:32:00 EDT

Rights activists visiting abandoned government prisons in the first Syrian city to come under rebel control have found torture devices and other evidence that detainees were abused there, Human Rights Watch said in a report...

Michelle Obama speaks of 'hunger' for education

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:22:00 EDT

First lady Michelle Obama spoke passionately about the importance of education to the African-American community in a commencement address Friday, urging more than 600 graduates of Bowie State University to honor the...

Obama to host concert honoring Carole King

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:12:00 EDT

President Barack Obama is putting on a show at the White House next week for singer-songwriter Carole King.

Rights groups: Syria holds thousands incommunicado

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:52:00 EDT

About 30 security agents showed up just after midnight, breaking down the door to an apartment in the town of Daraya near the Syrian capital of Damascus. They grabbed a 24-year-old university student and drove off.

Rising consumer demands aids organic industry sway

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:41:00 EDT

The organic food industry is gaining influence on Capitol Hill, prompted by its entry into traditional farm states and by increasing consumer demand.

IMF says Cyprus at risk of even deeper recession

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:51:00 EDT

The International Monetary Fund said Friday that substantial risks still loom for the Cypriot economy even after a multi-billion dollar international bailout aimed at averting a debt default.

Ousted IRS chief: Errors not caused by politics

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:11:00 EDT

The ousted chief of the Internal Revenue Service is telling Congress that his agency made errors in targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, but he says the mistakes were not the result of partisan views.

'Scandal' cast performs finale live for Academy

Fri, 17 May 2013 05:22:00 EDT

Forget the DVR.

Obama picks budget official to run troubled IRS

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:11:00 EDT

President Barack Obama picked a senior White House budget official to become the acting head of the Internal Revenue Service on Thursday, the same day another top official announced plans to leave the agency amid the...

House bill protects homeland security budget

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:31:00 EDT

A Republican-controlled House panel moved Thursday to protect the Department of Homeland Security from the big cuts facing other domestic agencies under the party's budget slashing plan.

House immigration group reaches a deal

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:31:00 EDT

A bipartisan group of House members announced a deal Thursday on sweeping immigration legislation, a breakthrough that could boost chances for one of President Barack Obama's top second-term priorities.

Obama vows sustained effort on military sex abuse

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:51:00 EDT

President Barack Obama said Thursday the nation's military leaders told him they are "ashamed" of their failure to end sexual abuse in the armed services. Obama pledged to "leave no stone unturned" in the effort to halt...

Edwards reactivates law license, speaking at event

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:31:00 EDT

Former presidential contender John Edwards has reactivated his license to practice law and is setting out on the speaking circuit.

Another round for the House on 'Obamacare'

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:51:00 EDT

One more time, with feeling! The Republican-led House voted yet again Thursday to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law, knowing full well that won't stop it.

Interior issues new drilling rule on public land

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:41:00 EDT

Companies that drill for oil and natural gas on federal lands will be required to disclose publicly the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations, the Obama administration said Thursday. The new "fracking" rule...

Justice Dept. faulted over terrorist identities

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:12:00 EDT

The government allowed "a small but significant number" of terrorists into America's witness protection program and then failed to provide the names of some of them for a watch list that's used to keep dangerous...

Subpoena of AP records revives media shield bill

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:01:00 EDT

The controversy over the government's secret subpoena of Associated Press telephone records has revived legislation that protect journalists from having to reveal their sources to federal investigators - and the White...

US, Turkey project united front on Syria

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:51:00 EDT

President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan projected a united front Thursday on Syria, keeping stark differences about how much the U.S. should intervene behind closed doors as they looked to...

Second court invalidates Obama recess appointment

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:31:00 EDT

A second federal appeals court has found that President Barack Obama exceeded his power when he bypassed the Senate to install a member to the National Labor Relations Board.

Badgered: Obama acts, but Republicans unsatisfied

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:21:00 EDT

President Barack Obama, seeking to regain his footing amid controversies hammering the White House, named a temporary chief for the scandal-marred Internal Revenue Service Thursday and pressed Congress to approve new...

Obama calls on Congress to fund embassy security

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:51:00 EDT

President Barack Obama on Thursday tried to turn the tables on Republicans who have criticized his administration's response to last year's deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya, calling on lawmakers to approve his...

Senate confirms physicist Moniz as energy chief

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:21:00 EDT

Physicist Ernest Moniz won unanimous Senate confirmation Thursday to be the nation's new energy secretary.

Congress rethinks 9/11 law on military force

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:21:00 EDT

Congress is rethinking the broad authority it gave the president to wage a war on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in light of how President Barack Obama has used the power to target suspected terrorists...

US sanctions on 4 Syrian ministers, rebel leader

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:51:00 EDT

The Obama administration has added four Syrian government ministers to a U.S. terror blacklist as well as the leader of an al-Qaida-linked organization fighting President Bashar Assad's (bah-SHAR' AH'-sahd)...

Senate committee approves 3 judicial nominees

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:41:00 EDT

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved three of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, including one for an influential appeals court, for a full Senate vote.

House advances student loan fix

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:41:00 EDT

The days of fixed-rate student loans could be coming to a close, with House Republicans on Thursday advancing a proposal that would link rates to financial markets.

Turkish PM talks Syria with Obama at White House

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:00 EDT

President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and Turkey will keep ramping up pressure to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad from power, but there's "no magic formula" to stop his violence.

Obama walking a familiar path on IRS allegations

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:00 EDT

The Internal Revenue Service controversy dogging President Barack Obama is hardly the first time a White House and the tax agency have been accused of political meddling and bias. Nor is it the first time that political and...

Senate panel considers labor board nominees

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:00 EDT

Senate Republicans said Thursday they would not support five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, raising the possibility the troubled agency could be rendered mostly inoperable later this year.

AP source: Obama to tap Werfel as acting IRS head

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:11:00 EDT

President Barack Obama will appoint senior White House budget officer Daniel Werfel to be acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, a White House official says.

Deep divide in Congress over domestic food aid

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:51:00 EDT

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees laid the groundwork this week for reducing the size of the federal food stamp program, approving farm bills that would shrink food aid and alter the way people qualify for it.

INFLUENCE GAME: Tech, labor spar on immigration

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:41:00 EDT

To the U.S. technology industry, there's a dramatic shortfall in the number of Americans skilled in computer programming and engineering that is hampering business. To unions and some Democrats, it's more sinister:...

Army chief: Time to fight against sex assault

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:31:00 EDT

The Army's top officer is telling soldiers that after demonstrating courage and resilience in 12 years of war, it's time for them to make the fight against sexual assault their primary mission.

EPA nominee advances without GOP support

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:51:00 EDT

President Barack Obama's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency has moved one step closer to getting the job, but it came without Republican support.

Syrian troops repel rebel attack on Aleppo prison

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:01:00 EDT

Syrian rebels withdrew from a prison in the northern city of Aleppo Thursday after heavy fighting with government troops, an activist group said, as it more than doubled its tally of deaths from sectarian killings in a...

Senate panel backs Perez to head Labor Dept.

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:01:00 EDT

A Senate panel has endorsed the nomination of Justice Department official Thomas Perez to head the Labor Department despite opposition from Republicans.

Tea party groups call IRS process 'nightmare'

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:20:00 EDT

Anger over President Barack Obama's policies drove businessman Tom Zawistowski to file paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service nearly three years ago to create the Ohio Liberty Coalition.

Bulgaria's center-right party wants vote canceled

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:51:00 EDT

Bulgaria's ex-prime minister says the results of last weekend's parliamentary election should be canceled due to "gross violations" of voting law.

House panel OKs farm bill with food stamp cuts

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:10:00 EDT

The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday approved a sweeping farm bill that would trim the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program.

A timeline of the IRS's scrutiny of the right

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:30:00 EDT

By CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press A look at events leading to the disclosure that the Internal Revenue Service placed conservative groups under special scrutiny for 18 months before the 2012 elections, a...

Sexual abuse cases put Pentagon under fire

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:10:00 EDT

One after another, the charges have tumbled out - allegations of sexual assaults in the military that have triggered outrage, from local commanders to Capitol Hill and the Oval Office.

Joint Chiefs chair cites military sex abuse crisis

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:00 EDT

The top U.S. military officer says women in uniform are losing confidence that the problem of sexual assault in the armed forces can be solved.

Woman: China police ask to ax White House petition

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:20:00 EDT

Upset about plans for a petrochemical plant near her hometown in China, a woman turned to a new method that Chinese are using to air their complaints: she posted a petition on the White House's website. Then, Chinese...

Petraeus email objected to Benghazi talking points

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:30:00 EDT

Then CIA-Director David Petraeus objected to the final talking points the Obama administration used after the deadly assault on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, because he wanted to see more details revealed to the...

IRS commissioner ousted over tea party targeting

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:00:00 EDT

Hurrying to check a growing controversy, President Barack Obama ousted the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service late Wednesday amid an outcry over revelations that the agency had improperly targeted tea party...

Obama tries to regain control amid controversies

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:00:00 EDT

Under mounting pressure, President Barack Obama on Wednesday released a trove of documents related to the Benghazi attack and forced out the top official at the Internal Revenue Service following revelations that the agency...

Obama's assets worth between $1.8M and $6.8M

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:31:00 EDT

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama held assets last year that were worth between $1.8 million and nearly $7 million, according to federal financial disclosure forms the White House released Wednesday.

Obama news conference Thursday with Turkish PM

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:12:00 EDT

President Barack Obama says he's ready for more questions at a news conference Thursday about revelations that the IRS singled out conservative groups for extra scrutiny.

Obama: IRS acting commissioner being ousted

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:10:00 EDT

President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced the ouster of the top official at the Internal Revenue Service following disclosures that the agency targeted conservative political groups.

Who wants to be Detroit mayor? 22 candidates do

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:31:00 EDT

Detroit's next mayor will inherit a city low on cash and an office low on power, yet nearly two dozen candidates are seeking the job anyway.

Ex-SC Gov. Sanford reclaims House seat in comeback

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:31:00 EDT

Republican Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor whose extramarital affair derailed his political career, returned to Congress on Wednesday with his Argentine "soul mate" at his side.

Tenn. senator: Sale idea cost TVA $500 million

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:20:00 EDT

Sen. Lamar Alexander says President Barack Obama's plan to consider selling the Tennessee Valley Authority has already cost hundreds of millions of dollars - even if the nation's largest public utility is never sold.

New secretary lays out agenda for Native Americans

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 EDT

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told a Senate panel Wednesday that "Indian education is embarrassing" as she laid out her priorities on issues affecting Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Senate confirms former nurse to run Medicare

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:50:00 EDT

A former intensive care nurse with a businesslike approach to a politically divisive public policy area won Senate approval Wednesday to run Medicare and other major health insurance programs.

Family drama adds intrigue to Ill. governor's race

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:41:00 EDT

Politics has long been a family business in Illinois, a place where who you know - and who you're related to - matters more than most. But the family drama shaping up around the next governor's race adds a new layer...

Holder defends Perez's tenure at Justice Dept.

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:30:00 EDT

Attorney General Eric Holder and a leading House Republican clashed Wednesday over the Justice Department's refusal to turn over the private emails of Thomas Perez, a top department official nominated to be labor...

White House releases trove of Benghazi documents

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:20:00 EDT

The White House is releasing 100 pages of e-mails and notes related to the Obama administration's response to the attack on a diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, last September.

Holder defends subpoenas for AP telephone records

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:30:00 EDT

Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Wednesday that a serious national security leak required the secret gathering of telephone records at The Associated Press as he stood by an investigation in which he insisted he...

GOP, Dems challenge Holder over subpoenas to AP

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:30:00 EDT

Congressional Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday challenged Attorney General Eric Holder over the Justice Department's handling of the investigation of national security leaks and its failure to talk to The...

House panel boosts veterans spending

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:30:00 EDT

With no broader budget deal in sight, a key House panel responsible for implementing sweeping cuts to agency budgets moved Wednesday to exempt veterans and largely protect spending on border safety and other homeland...

Longer US white majority if immigration slows

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:30:00 EDT

Without increased immigration, whites would lose their U.S. majority in 2046, three years beyond official projections, and the nation's population would not reach 400 million until after 2060, a decade or more later than...

Correction: Immigration story

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:10:00 EDT

In a story May 14 about a Senate immigration bill, The Associated Press erroneously reported that two of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers entered the U.S. on student visas. In fact only one of them did.

Holder: Potential civil rights violations at IRS

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:40:00 EDT

Attorney General Eric Holder says the FBI's criminal investigation of the Internal Revenue Service could include potential civil rights violations, false statements and potential violations of the Hatch Act, which...

Obama planning June 3 mental health conference

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 EDT

President Barack Obama is planning a mental health conference next month in response to gun violence.

Hagel informed Obama of latest sex abuse case

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 EDT

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel informed President Barack Obama of the latest sexual assault allegations against a soldier who was assigned to prevent such crimes - the second soldier involved in similar accusations - and the...

Obama to meet with McCain on immigration, budget

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:50:00 EDT

The White House says President Barack Obama plans to meet with Republican Sen. John McCain on Wednesday to discuss ongoing efforts to pass an overhaul of immigration laws and budget issues.

Myanmar's president to visit White House on Monday

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:20:00 EDT

President Barack Obama is set to welcome Myanmar President Thein Sein (tayn sayn) to the White House Monday.

Senate Dem revives media shield law

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:40:00 EDT

A top Senate Democrat plans to revive legislation that would protect journalists and their employers from revealing their sources, days after it was revealed that the Justice Department secretly obtained Associated Press...

Senate votes to extend federal water projects law

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:00 EDT

The Senate on Wednesday put aside its partisan differences to extend the federal government's main water resources law, which promotes investment in port improvements, flood protection, dam and levee projects and...

LA is worst city for dog attacks on mail carriers

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:29:00 EDT

The U.S. Postal Service says Los Angeles was the worst city in America for dog attacks on letter carriers last year, and it urged pet owners to help reduce the attacks.

US explores new ways to press Iran on nuke program

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:19:00 EDT

The Obama administration is looking at new ways to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

Swiss to crack down on business, sports bribery

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:19:00 EDT

The Swiss government wants to broaden its anti-corruption laws to make bribery a criminal offense in almost all cases.

Projected lower deficit could slow any budget deal

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 EDT

The good news is the budget deficit for the current year is projected to come in well below what was estimated just a few months ago. The bad news for deficit hawks is that the development could further curb the already...

Justice investigating IRS targeting of tea party

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:09:00 EDT

The Justice Department is investigating the Internal Revenue Service for targeting tea party groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax exempt status, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday, widening a probe that...

Soldier in sexual assault office accused of abuse

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:49:00 EDT

A soldier assigned to coordinate a sexual assault prevention program in Texas is under investigation for "abusive sexual contact" and other alleged misconduct and has been suspended from his duties, the Army announced...

Search for Okla. tornado survivors nearly complete

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:55:00 EDT

Helmeted rescue workers raced Tuesday to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives,...

Jodi Arias asks for life term; jury deliberates

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:26:00 EDT

Jodi Arias begged jurors Tuesday to give her life in prison, saying she "lacked perspective" when she told a local reporter in an interview that she preferred execution to spending the rest of her days in jail.

Lawyer: Feds investigating Susan Powell case

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:16:00 EDT

The lawyer for the family of missing Utah woman Susan Powell said Tuesday that even as local police close the active part of their investigation into her disappearance, federal authorities continue to review the case - a...

Police defend officer who shot NY college student

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:05:00 EDT

The president of a New York police union defended an officer who accidentally killed a Hofstra University student during a standoff with an armed intruder, saying Tuesday the only person responsible for the woman's death...

Court strikes down Arizona 20-week abortion ban

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:05:00 EDT

A federal court Tuesday struck down Arizona's ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy absent a medical emergency.

AP PHOTOS: Devastation, reunion in tornado wake

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:35:00 EDT

By The Associated Press Residents sift through the remnants of their homes and parents hug children outside a demolished elementary school. Emergency workers tend to the wounded.

Power of Moore tornado dwarfs Hiroshima bomb

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:25:00 EDT

Everything had to come together just perfectly to create the killer tornado in Moore, Okla.: wind speed, moisture in the air, temperature and timing. And when they did, the awesome energy released over that city dwarfed the...

Face-chewing victim recovering, strumming guitar

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:05:00 EDT

A homeless man whose face was mostly chewed off in a bizarre attack last year appeared Tuesday to be mostly at peace with his disfigurement, strumming a guitar, making jokes and thanking people for their donations to help...

Talbot County horse owner charged with cruelty

Dante Renzulli — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:28:00 EDT

It's a battle that Talbot County residents along Highway 208 say they've been complaining about for years. They say John Weaver can't afford to feed his horses, so he lets them starve to death. An open

Local $1M Powerball lotto prize unclaimed

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:35:00 EDT

Only one person may have won the Powerball Jackpot Saturday, but there are several million dollar winners scattered across the country, including a lucky winner in Columbus.

Mother speaks out about 4 year old's day care sexual assault

Roslyn Giles — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:29:00 EDT

A Columbus mother of two agreed to talk to News Leader 9's Roslyn Giles about a situation she'd rather not disclose.

Serial arsonist sets fire to 5 random cars in Historic District

Brittany Dionne — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:57:00 EDT

Five vehicles burned overnight Friday in Columbus' Historic District.

The car owners were awakened by the flames in front of their houses just after 3 a.m. Saturday.

Board votes to close 2 area schools

Curtis McCloud — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:26:00 EDT

It was a packed school board meeting Monday night as many parents were hoping for a better outcome. Instead what they got was a vote that closed two schools in Muscogee County forever. "They keep saying

Final whitewater rafting preps underway on the Hooch

Roslyn Giles — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:56:00 EDT

If the thought of flipping out of a raft into the Chattahoochee River is what's keeping you from experiencing Columbus' whitewater rafting course...just ask raft guide trainee Hunter Price.

CSU student finds another student dead in her dorm room.

Roslyn Giles — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:08:00 EDT

A student at Columbus State University made a shocking discovery Saturday morning.

Woman in OK tornado finds lost dog while talking about him

RNN Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:50:00 EDT

Elderly resident Barbara Garcia frantically called for her dog after the tornado had leveled her house, but with no success.

NWS: OK tornado had winds of at least 200 mph

RNN Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:16:00 EDT

The tornado, with winds up to 200 mph, cut a 20-mile stretch as wide as two miles through the Oklahoma City metro area. The medical examiner's office reported 24 people died, including nine children.

EMT worker rescues own child when called to daycare for child abuse

Brittany Dionne — Mon, 6 May 2013 22:55:00 EDT

A Phenix City Emergency Medical Technician received a frightening call on Saturday that her baby was unresponsive.