Law

Politics & Government

5 Takeaways From The President's NSA Speech

7:21pm January 17, 2014

by Carrie Johnson

The president's speech Friday offered a revealing look into the nation's phone data collection program and the direction of the surveillance policy debate. But some of biggest controversies have been put off or pushed to Congress.

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Senate Committee Lays Blame For Benghazi With State Department

7:44pm January 15, 2014

by Tom Gjelten

The Senate Intelligence Committee has released a new bipartisan report on the 2012 Benghazi attack. The report finds that the attack was preventable. According to the committee, fault lies with the State Department for failing to provide adequate security or heed warnings about a deteriorating security situation. The committee claims that individuals associated with al-Qaida affiliates participated in the attack, but it stops short of saying the attack was pre-planned. The report also does not implicate the "core" al-Qaida leadership.

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Students in Central High School walk through the hallways between classes.

Nearly Six Decades Later, Integration Remains A Work In Progress

1:30pm January 14, 2014

by Debbie Elliott

In Little Rock, Ark., a federal judge approved a settlement that brings an end to a landmark school desegregation case. The case dates back to 1957, when nine black students integrated Central High School, which up until that point was all-white. But after 60 years of desegregation efforts, are the classes really integrated?

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National

Supreme Court Declines To Consider Arizona Abortion Law

12:19pm January 13, 2014

The high court declined the state's request to review a lower court ruling that struck down its ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. That effectively blocks the law permanently, since the appeals court found it unconstitutional.

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Balance Of Power At Stake In High Court Case

12:18pm January 13, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

At issue in the Supreme Court on Monday is whether the president's power to make temporary appointments during the Senate recess can be curtailed by the use of pro forma Senate sessions during which no business is conducted.

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National

Marijuana 'Hash Oil' Explodes In Popularity, And Kitchens

7:19pm January 10, 2014

by Martin Kaste

A potent, syrupy extract of marijuana has become a popular way to ingest pot among young people, particularly in places where pot use has been liberalized. That has public safety officials worried, in part because making the substance can have explosive side effects.

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Economy

Former Banker Could Help Feds Learn More About Swiss Accounts

7:20am January 08, 2014

A Swiss banker has pleaded not guilty to charges he helped thousands of Americans evade paying their taxes. Raoul Weil was one of the top managers at UBS, a Swiss bank that helped nearly 20,000 Americans hide their assets in secret accounts.

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Record Could Hinder Confirmation Of Civil Rights Nominee

7:12am January 08, 2014

by Carrie Johnson

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday considers President Obama's nominee to enforce civil rights at the Justice Department. Debo Adegbile will need to overcome the opposition not only of voter fraud activists but also the Fraternal Order of Police.

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National

JPMorgan Chase Settles Madoff Case For $1.7 Billion

6:56am January 08, 2014

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay $1.7 billion to settle criminal charges accusing the bank of ignoring obvious warning signs of Bernard Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme.

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National

Big Cities See Violent Crime Rates Fall In 2013

8:43pm January 03, 2014

by Cheryl Corley

Cities across the country saw sharp drops in violent crime rates in 2013. For some big cities, murder rates reached historic lows. The numbers reflect a decades-long decline, which shows that plenty of neighborhoods in urban areas are safe while some remain troubled by violent crime.

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