Allen's Va. primary victory sets up showdown with Kaine

Republican George Allen clinched his party's Senate nomination in Virginia on Tuesday, setting up an all-out slugfest with Democrat Tim Kaine in what will undoubtedly be one of the nation's most consequential, closely-watched, and expensive races this year.

Democrats on track to hold Giffords seat in Arizona

Democrats appeared to have kept former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' seat in their fold Tuesday with Ron Barber, a one-time aid to Ms. Giffords, fending off a special-election challenge in Arizona's eighth congressional district.

Economy on a steady course despite job scare

While Wall Street and Washington were obsessing over recent signs of softening in the job market and a flare-up of the European debt crisis, much of the rest of the economy has been chugging along showing improvement.

Holder tells Cornyn in faceoff on gunrunning he won't quit

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday came under a withering attack from Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee over his handling of the botched "Fast and Furious" gunrunning investigation, including a call by one senior committee member for his resignation.

GSA: Vegas attendee not in on discipline

General Services Administration officials have been quick to point out that they are taking strong disciplinary action against those responsible for a lavish $823,000 Las Vegas conference funded by taxpayers that featured a red-carpet party, magic shows and in-room parties.

Congress members agree to fix tricky tax code

Amid all the unbridled partisanship and naysaying about Washington gridlock, a glimmer of consensus has begun to develop in Congress around the herculean task of fixing the nation's tax code.

Russia's independence day: Calls for freedom from Putin

Tens of thousands of Russians filled the streets of central Moscow on Tuesday to rally against the 12-year rule of President Vladimir Putin, braving torrential rain and the threat of vastly increased fines for protest-related offenses.

HURT: Postal Service failure a symptom of federal failure

On this tiny fishing island in the Gulf, the majestic and prehistoric tarpon sheathed in its armor of giant scales is called "Silver King." Fisherman here bow to the king when he breaks from his foamy lair and people who live along the shoreline of his domain talk of little else.

Kaine sees step backward if Allen beats him for Senate

Tim Kaine said Tuesday that electing George Allen to the U.S. Senate would lead to brass-knuckle politics and a turn-back-the-clock attitude on an already stagnant economy.

GOP pushes for independent leak investigation

Trying to force the fight over intelligence leaks straight to the Senate floor, Republicans on Tuesday introduced a resolution that would put the chamber's members on record over whether they think an independent counsel is needed to look at the Obama administration.

Redskins' Niles Paul drawing comparisons to Hall of Fame tight end

Niles Paul was just 8 months old when the Denver Broncos drafted little-known wide receiver Shannon Sharpe out of Savannah State. After three tight ends went down to injury, Sharpe stepped in and excelled at the position. He is now one of eight tight ends enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Attorney: Auburn killing suspect turns himself in

A man accused of killing three people at a party near Auburn University turned himself in Tuesday after a three-day manhunt that included a tense but fruitless search of a Montgomery home by police tactical units, a defense attorney said.

Lawmakers told Maryland can support 6th casino

Maryland can support a sixth casino and adding table games would more than make up for the revenue that competing casino operators could lose, representatives from a consulting firm told state lawmakers Tuesday.

Zimmerman's wife charged with perjury on assets

The wife of the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed Trayvon Martin was charged with perjury Tuesday, accused of lying when she told a judge that the couple had limited funds, resulting in her husband being released on $150,000 bond.

ING agrees to forfeit $619 million

Amsterdam-based ING Bank N.V. agreed Tuesday to forfeit $619 million to the Justice Department and the New York County District Attorney´s Office for conspiring to illegally move billions of dollars through the U.S. financial system on behalf of sanctioned Cuban and Iranian entities.

Sen. Levin: Automatic cuts to affect entire Pentagon budget

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Tuesday that all 3,000 accounts in the Pentagon's budget would be affected if automatic, across-the-board spending cuts occur in January.

Commentary

RAUM: Same-sex activism in black robes

In 2008, a majority of Californians voted to approve an amendment affirming that marriage is between a man and a woman. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit decided to strike down that amendment, nullifying the will of 7 million California voters.