4 Americans killed since 2009 in US drone strikes
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes since 2009 in Pakistan and Yemen. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama....

Broke no laws, IRS official says _ then takes 5th
WASHINGTON (AP) -- At the center of a political storm, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents targeted conservative groups swore Wednesday she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself....

House panel moves to curb military sexual assaults
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of a House panel angry over the growing epidemic of sexual assaults in the military took a key step toward tackling the problem by passing legislation Wednesday that would strip commanding officers of their longstanding authority to unilaterally change or dismiss court-martial convictions in rape and assault cases. Lawmakers believe the revision will lead to a cultural shift and encourage victims to step forward....

House committee passes Iran sanctions legislation
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new push to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions by crippling the country's economy gathered momentum on Capitol Hill Wednesday with approval of legislation by the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would impose even tougher economic sanctions against Tehran....

Soldier charged with videotaping women
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Army sergeant has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping at least a dozen women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom....

Judge apologizes for lag in unsealing documents
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge apologized Wednesday for an 18-month delay in unsealing documents in a case involving an alleged leak of classified information to a reporter....

Senate rejects bid to let states run food stamps
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Republican bid to turn the federal food stamp program over to the states....

Senators warm to transportation nominee
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's nominee for transportation secretary - Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx - received a friendly reception from senators of both parties Wednesday laced with warnings that the nation needs to make a host of transportation improvements with no clear way to pay for them....

Union power at issue as Garcetti elected LA mayor
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The next mayor of Los Angeles was able to defeat a fellow Democrat by depicting her as a pawn of utility union bosses in the city long friendly to labor, an outcome expected to echo beyond California as unions nationwide face threats to their clout....

Obama threatens veto of House student loan plan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday threatened to veto legislation by House Republicans that would avert a doubling of student loan interest rates on July 1 but allow them to vary with the markets going forward....