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Markey, Gomez prep for final debate

By Nancy Krause — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:32:25 GMT

With just a week left before a special election in Massachusetts will determine who will fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by now-Secretary of State John Kerry, two of the candidates are expected to face off for their final debate Tuesday night.

Whitehouse defends Obama's surveillance

By Ted Nesi, WPRI.com Reporter — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:44:48 GMT

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse broke with fellow progressives who've harshly criticized President Obama's use of surveillance in terrorism investigations.

Does Big Data make gov't 'Big Brother?'

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:14:30 GMT

With every phone call they make and every Web excursion they take, people are leaving a digital trail of revealing data that can be tracked by profit-seeking companies and terrorist-hunting government officials.

Obama defends drone strikes

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:55 GMT

President Barack Obama on Thursday defended America's controversial drone attacks as legal, effective and a necessary linchpin in an evolving U.S. counterterrorism policy.

IRS official: I did nothing wrong

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:35:58 GMT

The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups has told Congress she did nothing wrong and has invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions.

IRS chief knew of 2012 targeting

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:28:40 GMT

The former head of the Internal Revenue Service said he first learned in the spring of 2012 — in the heat of the presidential campaign — that agents had improperly targeted political groups that vehemently opposed President Barack Obama's policies.

Obama asks for more embassy security

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:06:17 GMT

President Barack Obama is trying to turn the tables on Republicans who have criticized his administration's response to last year's deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya.

Ousted IRS head apologizes to tea party

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:13:17 GMT

The ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized to Congress on Friday for his agency's tougher treatment of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

Holder defends phone record subpoenas

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:11:37 GMT

The leaders of a House panel told Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday that they had serious concerns about the Justice Department's gathering of phone records at The Associated Press.

RI delegation slams IRS over audit news

By Ted Nesi, WPRI.com Reporter — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:56:26 GMT

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse suggested the scandal over IRS audits of conservative groups reflects a broken campaign-finance system.

Social Status: Printable pistols

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:45:55 GMT

A University of Texas law student has made history and headlines recently by successfully firing the world’s first 3-D printed gun, but some lawmakers are taking aim.

Op-Ed: Trust down, partisanship rises

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:11:44 GMT

Gen Y has been called lazy, haplessly doomed and politically apathetic. Why do they feel this way? Short answer: They just don't trust their leaders in government.

Kennedy pal is first out gay NBA player

By Ted Nesi, WPRI.com Reporter — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:49:17 GMT

A former Boston Celtics player is crediting Congressman Joe Kennedy III with helping him become the first openly gay active athlete in a major U.S. sport.

Bill approved to end airport delays

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:21:30 GMT

Congress easily approved legislation Friday ending furloughs of air traffic controllers that have delayed hundreds of flights daily, infuriating travelers and causing political headaches for lawmakers.

Did FAA have to furlough controllers?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:36:24 GMT

The FAA has no choice but to cut $637 million as its share of $85 billion in automatic, government-wide spending cuts that must be achieved by the end of the federal budget year on Sept. 30.

Senate passes bill to end FAA furloughs

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:03:04 GMT

With flight delays mounting, the Senate approved hurry-up legislation Thursday night to end air traffic controller furloughs blamed for inconveniencing large numbers of travelers.

Mayor: Boston suspect said NYC was next

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:06:41 GMT

New York City officials say the Boston Marathon bombing suspects intended to blow up their remaining explosives in Times Square.

Another home searched in ricin case

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:13:24 GMT

The Mississippi man charged with sending poisoned letters to President Barack Obama and others was released from jail Tuesday, FBI agents returned to another man's house where they'd previously searched in connection with the case.

FBI: No ricin found in home of suspect

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:34:13 GMT

Investigators haven't found any ricin in the house of Mississippi man accused of mailing poisoned letters to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator and a local judge, according to testimony Monday from an FBI agent.

Cowan to fill Kerry's Senate seat

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:24:01 GMT

Gov. Deval Patrick's former chief-of-staff will fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Sen. John Kerry's confirmation as the nation's new secretary of state.