http://hosted.ap.org/ AP Top Political News At 5:18 p.m. EDT &copy; 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/privacy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/terms">Terms of Use</a>. &copy; 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/privacy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/terms">Terms of Use</a>. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_POLITICAL_GROUPS?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior presidential advisers knew in late April that an upcoming report was likely to find that IRS employees had inappropriately targeted conservative political groups.... Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:52 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRS_POLITICAL_GROUPS?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By JULIE PACE and CHARLES BABINGTON 2013-05-20T21:00:52Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RAND_PAUL_NH?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Republican National Committee chairman are distancing themselves from conservatives who suggested in recent days that President Barack Obama could face impeachment for the developing scandal at the Internal Revenue Service.... Mon, 20 May 2013 21:18:34 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RAND_PAUL_NH?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By STEVE PEOPLES 2013-05-20T21:18:34Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEMOCRATS_VOTING?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT DENVER (AP) -- In a bitter fight, Colorado Democrats recently muscled through the Statehouse a massive elections reform bill that allows voters to register up until Election Day and still cast their ballots.... Mon, 20 May 2013 17:14:10 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEMOCRATS_VOTING?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By IVAN MORENO and NICHOLAS RICCARDI 2013-05-20T17:14:10Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NYPD_INTELLIGENCE?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York Police Department detective told a federal judge that he's seen no evidence that one of his informants brought up the subject of jihad as a way to bait Muslims into making incriminating remarks. But text messages obtained by The Associated Press show otherwise.... Mon, 20 May 2013 20:03:15 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NYPD_INTELLIGENCE?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By MATT APUZZO and ADAM GOLDMAN 2013-05-20T20:03:15Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_MYANMAR?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a long-awaited White House visit, President Barack Obama on Monday told Myanmar's president that he appreciates the Asian leader's efforts to lead the country in "a long and sometimes difficult, but ultimately correct, path to follow" toward democracy.... Mon, 20 May 2013 20:49:15 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_MYANMAR?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By MATTHEW PENNINGTON and NEDRA PICKLER 2013-05-20T20:49:15Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCANDALS_POLITICS?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The scandals dogging President Barack Obama are a political gift to Republicans, who could use some good luck after recent election losses. It's not clear, however, how Republicans can best capitalize on Democrats' woes, legislatively or politically.... Mon, 20 May 2013 07:29:31 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCANDALS_POLITICS?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By CHARLES BABINGTON 2013-05-20T07:29:31Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SYRIA?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State John Kerry headed back to the Middle East on Monday to press his case for peace talks between Syrian rebels and President Bashar Assad's regime amid increasing signs the new U.S. strategy to halt the war is being undermined by Russia.... Mon, 20 May 2013 17:20:39 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SYRIA?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By BRADLEY KLAPPER 2013-05-20T17:20:39Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IMMIGRATION?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate supporters of far-reaching immigration legislation accepted minor changes in public while negotiating over more sweeping alterations in private Monday as they drove toward expected Judiciary Committee approval by mid-week.... Mon, 20 May 2013 20:10:35 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IMMIGRATION?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By DAVID ESPO and ERICA WERNER 2013-05-20T20:10:35Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FAST_AND_FURIOUS?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Attorney in Arizona violated Justice Department policy by providing Fox News with information apparently aimed at undercutting the credibility of a federal agent who helped reveal the botched arms-trafficking probe called Operation Fast and Furious, the Justice Department's inspector general said Monday.... Mon, 20 May 2013 19:55:12 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FAST_AND_FURIOUS?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By PETE YOST 2013-05-20T19:55:12Z http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_TOWN_BOARD_PRAYER?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings.... Mon, 20 May 2013 15:59:58 GMT http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_TOWN_BOARD_PRAYER?SITE=NCSHE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT By MARK SHERMAN 2013-05-20T15:59:58Z