Obama to address drones, Gitmo in security speech
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is set to at least partially lift the veil of secrecy surrounding U.S.-directed drone strikes around the world, a key component of counterterrorism strategy, as he outlines the contours of the continuing threat to American security....

US, Israel raise hopes for Mideast peace restart
JERUSALEM (AP) -- The United States and Israel raised hopes Thursday for a restart of the Middle East peace process, despite little tangible progress so far from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's two-month-old effort to get Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table....

Between economy and trouble, Obama approval steady
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy is recovering, the White House is dealing with multiple controversies, and President Barack Obama appears generally unaffected either way....

Tea party storm largely inside IRS _ so far
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three days of congressional hearings about the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative political groups have lawmakers looking for ways to widen an investigation that has so far been largely contained within the tax collection agency....

House to vote on variable rate student loans
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House lawmakers are ready to pass legislation that links student loan rates to the financial markets in spite of a veto threat from President Barack Obama....

Senator: Assaults let military culture continue
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A senator says repeated sexual assaults in the military allow a culture to continue....

Who else took the 5th? Baseball star, banker, more
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The baseball star, the Hollywood 10, Oliver North. And Lois Lerner of the IRS....

Urban renewal? Big US cities showing strong growth
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Urban renewal? New census estimates show that most of the nation's largest cities further enhanced their allure last year, posting strong population growth for a second straight year....

House panel moves to curb military sexual assaults
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of a House panel angry over the growing epidemic of sexual assaults in the military took a key step toward tackling the problem by passing legislation Wednesday that would strip commanding officers of their longstanding authority to unilaterally change or dismiss court-martial convictions in rape and assault cases. Lawmakers believe the revision will lead to a cultural shift and encourage victims to step forward....

House committee passes Iran sanctions legislation
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new push to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions by crippling the country's economy gathered momentum on Capitol Hill Wednesday with approval of legislation by the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would impose even tougher economic sanctions against Tehran....