Column: Dustups have government's role in common
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A big brother you can trust to keep you safe, give you a hand and do right by you? Or a big brother who snoops, lies and bullies you in all corners of your life?...

GOP ponders how to capitalize on Obama's woes
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The scandals dogging President Barack Obama are a political gift to Republicans, who could use some good luck after recent election losses. It's not clear, however, how Republicans can best capitalize on Democrats' woes, legislatively or politically....

High court to weigh in on legislative prayers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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....

Kerry to Mideast to advance struggling Syria plan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State John Kerry headed back to the Middle East on Monday 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 being undermined by Russia....

IG: ex-US Attorney retaliated in Fast and Furious
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department's inspector general says the U.S. Attorney in Arizona violated 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 called Operation Fast and Furious....

Democrats strike back at GOP voting measures
DENVER (AP) -- 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....

Court won't get involved in Miss. redistricting
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court won't order new legislative elections in Mississippi over complaints about the timing of the state's redistricting....

Kerry challenges Congress on diplomats' security
WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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. His comments come as the Republicans continue to press for answers about the Obama administration's handling of last year's deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya....

Court: woman can seek lawyer fees in vaccine case
WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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....

State Dept: Reports of anti-Semitism increase
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department has appointed a special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism as a new report documents a global increase in incidents of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial....