Wealthy left out of Bush-era tax cut renewal

Embracing President Obama's plan to extend only some of the Bush-era tax cuts, Senate Democrats on Wednesday passed a bill that would mean stable income tax rates for most Americans but a sizable increase for the wealthiest.

House passes Ron Paul's Fed audit measure

In a move that serves as a capstone to Rep. Ron Paul's colorful career, the House on Wednesday voted to have Congress' chief investigators conduct a full audit of the Federal Reserve's shrouded decision-making process.

Any answers in Holmes' notebook?

James Holmes may have been sedated. He may be psychotic. Or he already may be trying to improve his chances in court by playing the part of the loopy, unhinged maniac.

Turkey closes blitzed border with Syrian 'no man's land'

Turkey closed its border with Syria on Wednesday in an attempt to hold back the chaos and lawlessness that has spread along the border, as Syrians flee the intense fighting between rebels and the army of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

In Gray's defense, he's getting good at defending himself

For the third time in as many days, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray stood at a podium on Wednesday to highlight the District's progress during his tenure — a defiant stand less than a week after his attorney rebuked the media's "rush to judgment" over a shadow-campaign scandal that has besmirched Mr. Gray's first 18 months in office.

Report's alarm: Legalize ivory to save elephants

When authorities arrested a pair of New York jewelers this year with a combined $2 million in contraband from African traders, they found no gold nuggets, no exotic gems, not one "blood diamond."

Obama calls for measures against gun violence

Faced with a clamor in his party for stricter gun control in the wake of the Colorado movie-theater massacre, President Obama said Wednesday night he would "leave no stone unturned" in seeking new measures to reduce violence nationwide, including more restrictive background checks on gun purchases.

House GOP members berate administration over Medicare bonuses

House Republicans berated the Obama administration Wednesday over a Medicare bonus program deemed wasteful by federal investigators, accusing top health officials of trying to pump extra money into the Medicare Advantage program ahead of the president's bid for re-election.

Romney uses trip to stress foreign policy

Taking a brief turn from the domestic issues that have dominated the campaign, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney kicks off a three-nation overseas trip Thursday that gives him the chance to showcase his differences with President Obama on the foreign policy front and to convince voters that he has the political chops to be a major world player.

Inside the Beltway: Pillars of Liberty

It is a tale of two tours: One for Mitt Romney, the other for those who pine to be his running mate. The next six days will showcase the "pillars " tour for Mr. Romney, now in London for the summer Olympic Games and soon to journey to Israel and Poland — all '"pillars of liberty" that share American values, says campaign policy director Lanhee Chen.

EPA declares water in Pa. town safe to drink despite fracking

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday declared that drinking water in Dimock, Pa., is safe to drink, despite concerns from some residents and environmentalists that nearby natural gas fracking had contaminated supplies.

AIDS conferees nonpartisan

With protesters in the audience chanting, ringing cowbells and waving red umbrellas, the AIDS 2012 session couldn't be called completely congenial.

Pentagon announces honors roll to recognize heroes

The Pentagon has posted a honors roll on it website to list decorated veterans and active-duty troops, after the Supreme Court struck ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to lie about earning military medals.

Police: Cal Ripken's mom safe after kidnapping

The mother of retired Baltimore Orioles baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. was abducted from her Aberdeen, Md., home at gunpoint but located unharmed Wednesday morning in her neighborhood, according to police.

North Korea confirms leader Kim Jong Un is married

With the briefest of remarks, North Korea ended weeks of speculation: The mystery woman accompanying young leader Kim Jong-un to recent public events is his wife, "comrade Ri Sol-ju."

Stocks rise as Boeing, others report income gains

Stocks are mostly higher on Wall Street in early trading after Boeing, Caterpillar and other U.S. companies turn in better financial results.

Commentary

INHOFE AND DEMINT: U.N. treaties mean LOST U.S. sovereignty

For years, liberals and misguided State Department officials have pushed for the U.S. Senate to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST). This treaty would convey ownership of the oceans to a United Nations agency and give international bureaucrats veto authority over U.S. naval operations and could force the United States to comply with international carbon emissions caps.

CAMP: Obama turns back clock on welfare reform

President Obama recently gutted the historic and bipartisan welfare reforms of 1996. His decision to allow states to ignore the work requirement in the welfare program is not only wrong, but illegal.

SCHWEIZER: No justice in Corzine case

As the march to the November elections heats up, voters can expect to find fewer and fewer issues that unite Democrats and Republicans.

MILLER: Miss Piggy gives up Chick-fil-A

Miss Piggy, the lovable Muppet who is always trying to lose weight, will have an easier time of it now that her puppeteers have banned her from Chick-fil-A. The Jim Henson Co., creator of the Muppets, pulled its toys from the popular fast-food chain in protest of the company owner's statement of support for traditional marriage.

GHEI: Poverty games

America is set to sweep a number of events at the Olympic Games, which open Friday. The hard work and determination of these athletes will pay off in a stack of gold medals, but the country is on track to shatter a different kind of record by year's end: Poverty will reach an all-time high.