GAO: $1 billion in tax credits went to cheats

Tax cheats were given $1.4 billion in government-backed mortgage loans under President Obama's economic stimulus, and the government doled out at least an additional $27 million in tax credits to delinquents who took the first-time-homebuyer tax break, according to a government audit released Tuesday.

Assad declares 'state of war' as regime's grip on Syria loosens

Syria's conflict heated up Tuesday with rebels battling the regime's elite Republican Guard forces in the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, as Turkey's prime minister threatened to defend his country's territory from Syrian military encroachments in response to the nation's downing of a Turkish war plane Friday.

Romney taking heat on amnesty question

The past two weeks have offered Mitt Romney numerous opportunities to clarify his stance on immigration — and every time the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has taken a pass.

Obama cries the blues for cash

President Obama — who analysts originally thought would be history's first $1 billion presidential candidate — lowered that bar Tuesday, warning donors instead that he now expects to be outspent by Republicans this year.

Utah's Sen. Hatch, N.Y.'s Rep. Rangel win primary challenges

Two veteran congressmen, New York's Rep. Charles Rangel and Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch, were headed to victory Tuesday after early returns showed them staving off primary challenges from younger rivals.

How could Sandusky's wife not know?

Perhaps one of the most shocking witnesses at the child-molestation trial of Jerry Sandusky was his wife of 46 years, Dorothy, known as Dottie.

Nora Ephron, author of 'Sleepless in Seattle,' dies at 71

Nora Ephron, the essayist, author and filmmaker who challenged and thrived in the male-dominated worlds of movies and journalism and was loved, respected and feared for her wit, died on Tuesday of leukemia. She was 71.

Jazz, once forbidden, now washes through Kyrgyzstan

Wedding ceremonies in the mountainous Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan traditionally are accompanied by folk songs and, increasingly, Russian pop music - but these days, revelers might be treated to the once-forbidden sounds of live jazz.

UVa. board votes to reinstate Sullivan

In an abrupt about-face, the University of Virginia's governing body voted on Tuesday to reinstate ousted President Teresa Sullivan, who was forced to resign earlier this month.

Issa: Obama's privilege claim in 'Fast and Furious' suggests complicity

The chairman of a House committee that recommended a contempt citation against Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in the Fast and Furious scandal said Tuesday that President Obama's assertion of executive privilege means the White House is either covering up its role in the botched operation or is obstructing a congressional probe.

Egyptian court says military cannot arrest civilians

An Egyptian court on Tuesday suspended a government decision allowing military police and intelligence to arrest civilians, a setback for the country's military rulers after the decree drew an outcry from opponents who accused them of trying to impose martial law.

Capitals hire Adam Oates as new coach

The Washington Capitals are going back to the well of moving former players behind the bench, as Adam Oates was named head coach Tuesday afternoon.

Queen Elizabeth, ex-IRA chief face Northern Ireland peace milestone

Queen Elizabeth II prayed together Tuesday with Catholic and Protestant leaders from across Northern Ireland as this long-divided land demonstrated its rising faith in a shared future — and braced for a peacemaking milestone that has been a quarter-century in the making.

Putin visits West Bank, tours key Christian shrine

Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his Palestinian counterpart Tuesday for what he said was a "responsible" position in negotiations with Israel, frozen for nearly four years, and said Russia has no problem recognizing a Palestinian state.

On tape, Sandusky's son Matt talks of sex abuse

Jerry Sandusky's son told police he was abused starting when he was 8, a decade before the former Penn State assistant football coach adopted him, according to a police interview recording obtained by NBC News.

Facebook draws user ire with email switcheroo

In yet another change that upset users, Facebook has replaced the email addresses users chose to display on their profile pages with (at)facebook.com addresses.

Commentary

BERMAN: The Muslim Brotherhood's Egyptian sweep

For all their ideological fervor, revolutions in practice tend to be fairly predictable affairs. More often than not, when the initial groundswell of popular discontent recedes, the best-organized and most ideologically cohesive political factions assume power and proceed to run the show according to their own preferences.

DECKER: 5 questions with Rep. Ralph Hall

Rep. Ralph Hall represents the Fourth Congressional District of Texas, which straddles the Oklahoma and Arkansas borders northeast of Dallas. In more than six decades of public service, he also has been a county judge, a Texas state senator and a Navy pilot during World War II, when he served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. In 2004, Mr. Hall switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party, explaining, ''I'm not comfortable in the caucus with them running down a president [George W. Bush] that I've known since he was 11." He currently is chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

NUGENT: The once and always community organizer

Really, Mr. President? Are you and your campaign team that pompous, arrogant and cash-strapped that you have sunk so low as to create a registry where die-hard Democrats getting married or celebrating an anniversary can request that family and friends make donations to your campaign in lieu of gifts? One would think the master of class warfare would at least know what class meant.

EDITORIAL: Foreign law rules in U.S. courts

Can U.S. state laws be overturned because foreign governments don't like them? According to the Supreme Court, the answer is yes.

MILLER: Shopping with Barack

The Obama campaign is selling celebrity. This is evident from President Obama's online re-election store, which offers 288 products covered in his name. By comparison, Mitt Romney has a modest 35 items in his shop. Campaign tchotchkes say a lot about the candidate.