Obama administration acknowledges 4 American citizens killed in drone strikes since 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen since 2009. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama in which he plans to pledge more transparency to Congress in his counterterrorism policy....

IRS official in targeting probe says she did nothing wrong _ then says no more, taking the 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....

Others who took the 5th before Congress: Banker, baseball star, White House gate crashers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The baseball star, the Hollywood 10, Oliver North. And Lois Lerner of the IRS....

Census: Big cities exceed pace of growth over suburbs for second year as outlying areas fizzle
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Urban renewal? New census estimates show that most of the nation's largest cities further enhanced their allure last year, posting strong population growth for a second straight year....

House subcommittee approves legislation to stem growing epidemic of sexual assault in military
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 approves Iran sanctions bill
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 taking videos of at least 12 women in West Point bathroom
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....

Pentagon to seek new records system for vets health care, says it won't solve claims backlog
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability claims....

Chief judge of DC federal court apologizes for delay in unsealing documents in leak case
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....

House passes GOP bill to speed approval of Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans pushed through a bill Wednesday to bypass the president to speed approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. Democrats criticized the legislation as a blatant attempt to allow a foreign company to avoid environmental review....