Improving economy alters political landscape
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy is clearly, if slowly, recovering on President Barack Obama's watch and robbing Republicans of a central argument against Democrats....

Furlough Friday: Unpaid day off for many in gov't
WASHINGTON (AP) -- No one answered the tax-help hotline at the IRS on Friday. And you could forget about getting advice on avoiding foreclosures at the 80 Housing and Urban Development field offices nationwide....

Obama: Sexual assault threatens trust in military
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- With a growing sexual assault epidemic staining the military, President Barack Obama urged U.S. Naval Academy graduates Friday to remember their honor depends on what they do when nobody is looking and said the crime has "no place in the greatest military on earth."...

Obama's drone rules leave unanswered questions
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama left plenty of ambiguity in new policy guidelines that he says will restrict how and when the U.S. can launch targeted drone strikes, leaving himself significant power over how and when the weapons can be deployed....

Kerry makes sub-Saharan Africa visit
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Nigeria must respect human rights as it cracks down on the Islamist extremists. He's also pledging to work hard in the coming months to ease tensions between Sudan and South Sudan....

Obama OKs honor for Birmingham bombing victims
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday to award Congress' highest civilian honor to four girls killed in an Alabama church bombing during the civil rights movement. He called it a tragic loss that "helped to trigger triumph and a more just and equal and fair America."...

Journalist and author Haynes Johnson dies at 81
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pioneering Washington journalist Haynes Johnson, who helped redefine political reporting, has died at age 81....

IRS replaces official who revealed targeting
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Internal Revenue Service official who led the unit that targeted tea party groups and publicly disclosed the activity has been replaced, making her the third top IRS official moved aside since the episode was revealed two weeks ago....

Kerry blasts Iranian election maneuvering
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry harshly criticized Iranian authorities on Friday for eliminating hundreds of presidential candidates, suggesting that Tehran is standing in the way of legitimate, representative democracy....

Kerry's focus on peace talks, not settlements
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israel's government on Friday to prevent further settlement construction where possible to help revitalize Middle East peace hopes, but stressed that the Jewish state and Palestinians alike should remain focused on the larger goal of restarting direct negotiations....