IRS replaces head of division that targeted conservative groups

WASHINGTON -- Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS office under fire for improperly targeting conservative groups, was replaced by the agency's acting commissioner on Thursday, a day after she insisted she had done nothing wrong and refused to answer questions before a congressional committee.

Senate confirms Obama's first D.C. Circuit Court nominee

WASHINGTON -- Deputy Solicitor General Sri Srinivasan, a rising star in legal circles, won an easy and unanimous Senate confirmation Thursday to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, giving President Obama his first appointee to a conservative-leaning court that decides major regulatory disputes.

Obama restricts drone strikes overseas

WASHINGTON -- Under pressure from Congress and international allies, President Obama announced a change in what has been a central piece of his counter-terrorism strategy, saying he will place new restrictions on the targeting of terrorists with missiles fired from drones.

Conservative economists endorse immigration reform bill

WASHINGTON -- More than 100 conservative economists will call on Congress to approve an immigration overhaul, highlighting the potential economic benefits.

Top IRS official pleads the 5th Amendment at testy House hearing

WASHINGTON — A top Internal Revenue Service official invoked the 5th Amendment and declined to testify Wednesday before a House committee investigating the agency’s mishandling of applications by some conservative groups for tax-exempt status.

Immigration reform bill heads to full Senate

WASHINGTON — A sweeping bipartisan plan to overhaul the nation’s immigration system headed to the Senate floor after a key committee approved it Tuesday, but not before tilting the bill to the political right with amendments designed to attract more Republican support.

Reid to delay Senate votes on most Obama nominees until July

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that he will delay votes on several of President Obama’s nominees for key posts until July, a decision raising the prospect that he’ll seek further changes to Senate rules that would allow executive appointments to be confirmed by a simple majority.

Majority thinks global warming, clean energy should be priorities

WASHINGTON – Global warming and clean energy should be priorities for Congress and the president, a majority of Americans said in a recent survey.

Obama meets with young immigrants, encourages them to speak out

WASHINGTON -- President Obama met Tuesday with young immigrants and others who expressed their fear that family members will be deported and their hope that Congress will pass new immigration laws to keep families intact.

Top IRS official will invoke 5th Amendment

WASHINGTON — A top IRS official in the division that reviews nonprofit groups will invoke the 5th Amendment and refuse to answer questions before a House committee investigating the agency’s improper screening of conservative nonprofit groups.

Wyden calls industry-funded website 'constructive' as feds consider fracking rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — A website partially funded by the oil and gas industry could be a "constructive" tool for federal regulators as they...

Senate votes to cut crop insurance help for the wealthiest farmers in five-year farm bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday voted to limit the amount of government subsidies the wealthiest farmers receive when...

Senate confirms Srinivasan to seat on influential US Court of Appeals in District of Columbia

WASHINGTON (AP) — After five years of trying, President Barack Obama has placed his first nominee on a key appeals court in...

Obama's commerce secretary pick, Penny Pritzker, gets smooth confirmation hearing in Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary was questioned briefly about her ties to a subprime mortgage...

House immigration group sees resolution on disagreements as lawmakers return home to voters

WASHINGTON (AP) — House members writing a bipartisan immigration bill said Thursday they had patched over a dispute that threatened...

Code Pink anti-war protester shouts at Obama during national security speech

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama was interrupted three times by a woman who shouted about drones and detainees in Cuba as he...

US Rep. Jo Bonner resigning effective in August to take job with University of Ala. system

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner says he is resigning from Congress effective in August to take a post with the University of...

Senator says repeated sexual assaults in military allow culture to continue

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Charges that an Army sergeant secretly photographed and videotaped women at West Point are part of a military-wide...

Obama condemns 'appalling attack' on soldier, vows to stand with UK against violent extremism

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is condemning what he calls an "appalling attack" that killed a British soldier Wednesday.

Obama: New guidelines in place for when US can use drone strikes against suspected terrorists

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he has signed new policy guidelines to oversee when the U.S. can use drone strikes...