Congress is moving rapidly just weeks before the start of the school
year to speed billions of dollars in emergency education aid to states
in hopes of reversing the layoffs of tens of thousands of teachers.
President Barack Obama stepped into the contest for the Illinois Senate
seat he once held Thursday, hoping to help save Democrats from an
embarrassing defeat in November.
Rallying a pivotal part of his base, President Barack Obama pleaded
with labor leaders Wednesday to energize their members about the
upcoming election, depicting a choice between those who fight for the
middle class and those who are "not lifting a finger to help."
Nearing a milestone in the long and divisive Iraq war, President Barack
Obama on Monday hailed this month's planned withdrawal of all U.S.
combat troops — "as promised and on schedule" — as a major success
despite deep doubts about the Iraqis' ability to police and govern
their country.
A city commission on Tuesday denied landmark status to a building near
the World Trade Center site, freeing a group to convert the property
into an Islamic community center and mosque that has drawn national opposition.
House investigators accused veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel of 13
violations of congressional ethics standards on Thursday, throwing a
cloud over his four-decade political career and raising worries for
fellow Democrats about the fall elections.
Challenging civil rights organizations and teacher's unions that have
criticized his education policies, President Barack Obama said Thursday
that minority students have the most to gain from overhauling the
nation's schools.
Despite setbacks on Capitol Hill, President Barack Obama said Tuesday
he still supports the need for broad climate legislation and pledged to
keep pushing for it. The White House expressed fresh hope the Senate
and House might strike a deal on a sweeping energy plan this year.
People in this Russian town used to stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo
because they had never seen a black man. Now they say they see in him
something equally rare — an honest politician.
The Obama administration faced a blast of criticism on Wednesday over
its ouster of a black Agriculture Department employee for her remarks
about race. The woman says she's not sure she would go back to her job
now, even if asked.
