Israel-Hamas fighting continues

Frantic efforts to reach a cease-fire in the 7-day-old Israel-Gaza conflict appeared stalled late Tuesday, after negotiators throughout the day confidently predicted an imminent truce and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton rushed to Israel to appeal for peace.

U.S. helps shield Israel with financial aid for Iron Dome defense system

Israel has intercepted hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip over the past seven days thanks to a U.S.-funded defense system that intercepts short-range missiles and knocks them out of the sky.

Illinois works on driver's licenses for illegals

Top Illinois state officials said Tuesday they'll push to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants — a move backed also by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who for years stood as Democrats' key impediment to pushing immigration in Congress.

Leading OB-GYN group endorses greater contraceptive access

The nation's largest organization of women's health professionals said Tuesday that it now supports allowing over-the-counter sales of all oral contraceptives.

GOP riled at intel's early edits on Libya

Leading Republicans reacted angrily to an admission Tuesday by President Obama's director of national intelligence that his office scrubbed references to al Qaeda's role in the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi, Libya, from the early talking points used by top administration officials, calling it the latest sign of the administration's bungling of the attack and its aftermath.

Some 'Black Friday' deals may be duds

Black Friday shoppers may want to reconsider tradition, because waking up early and standing outside in long lines in the freezing cold won't necessarily help them score great deals.

HURT: Whole gaggle 'wasn't looking' during presidential election

During this time of Thanksgiving, it is altogether fitting and appropriate that we stop to give thanks for one of our most important and cherished freedoms in America: our freedom of the press. Without the vigorous and unflinching watchdogs of truth and justice, where would we be today?

Warner won't make bid to return to Virginia governorship

Sen. Mark R. Warner said Tuesday he will not run for governor of Virginia next year, ending speculation that picked up steam earlier this month when the popular politician said he was thinking about seeking his former job again.

West concedes in Fla. House race, leaves one black GOP lawmaker

Rep. Allen West on Tuesday conceded Tuesday he has lost his bid for re-election to Congress, saying that while questions about the vote count remained, he was unlikely to close the gap with Patrick Murphy, the Democratic challenger in his southern Florida district.

Inside the Beltway: Vegetarians have a squawk

Vegetarians could very well join President Obama's circle of special interest groups.

At Asia summit, Obama tries to avoid dispute over South China Sea

After talking tough on China during the election, President Obama pressed ahead with his message of fostering greater U.S. political and economic ties to Asian nations during a meeting of South Asian leaders Tuesday and ignored questions about China's claim to the South China Sea.

Crafting D.C. ethics bill proving difficult

When D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson got up Tuesday to leave a meeting on campaign finance reform with city Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan, colleagues at the conference table joked he was running out to raise money before the proposed legislation kicks in.

Syrian rebels seize military base, munitions

Syrian rebels have taken over a large military base in the country's north, carting off tanks, armored vehicles and truck-loads of munitions their leaders say will give them a boost in their fight to topple President Bashar Assad.

Unemployment falls in 75 percent of U.S. states

An increase in hiring helped lower unemployment rates in 37 U.S. states last month, the latest indication that the job market is slowly healing.

Bernanke warns Congress to avoid 'fiscal cliff'

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday urged Congress and the Obama administration to strike a budget deal to avert tax increases and spending cuts that could trigger a recession next year.

Elmo actor Kevin Clash resigns amid sex allegation

Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from "Sesame Street" in the wake of an allegation that he had sex with an underage youth.

Commentary

TAUBE: GOP can still fight Obamacare

The important economic implications of Obamacare, President Obama's costly national health care plan, are being debated in the court of public opinion. Yet the equally important political implications are only now beginning to rise to the surface.

DRIESSEN: Global warming hysteria will kill jobs

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have boosted shale gas production from zero a few years ago to 10 percent of all U.S. energy supplies in 2012, observes energy analyst Daniel Yergin.

LAMBRO: Suppressing Benghazi truth for Election Day advantage

One of President Obama's national security boasts in the 2012 presidential election was that al Qaeda's ranks have been "decimated," they're "on the run" and "on the path to defeat."

MILLER: Stuck on the fiscal cliff

As fiscal cliff negotiations between Congress and the White House start in earnest this week, conservatives are under pressure to stay true to their principles. Postelection, House Speaker John A. Boehner said Republicans may give in to more revenue demands -- but not rate hikes -- as long as the package includes real spending cuts and entitlement reform.

EDITORIAL: Women voted for birth control

Planned Parenthood is patting itself on the back over President Obama's victory earlier this month. According to Dawn Laguens, the abortion provider's executive vice president, women were scared away from Mitt Romney with the threat that he would take away their birth control.