The pastor of the Episcopal parish closest to the White House will give the benediction at President Obama's inauguration Monday. read more

President Obama is pushing Congress to act on his proposal to curb gun violence with an assault weapons ban. The NRA is bound to push back. What do you think of the president's plan? read more

Long-strained ties between Netanyahu and Obama sprang to the fore of Israel's election campaign after the U.S. president was quoted as criticizing the prime minister's character. read more

Myrlie Evers-Williams, 79, the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, will be the first laywoman to give an invocation at a presidential inauguration when she prays at Obama’s swearing-in. read more

Christie, who had been pushed to run as a presidential candidate in 2012, is seen as a possible national party leader as it tries regroup after November's elections. Find out why he says he'll be more ready in 2016. read more

When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Barack Obama's health care law was "constitutional," most Americans thought the legal case against the law was settled. But it's far from over. read more

The American-Jewish group Jewish Voice for Peace has entered the fray of voicing its opinion of President Obama’s selection for Secretary of Defense. read more

Christian legal activists contend that, if passed, the same-sex marriage bill will declare Illinoisans who support traditional marriage to be bigoted and prejudicial. read more

Republicans said they might try to add more spending cuts to the bill, which contains over $600 billion in tax increases but only around $12 billion in spending cuts. read more

Monday's negotiations appeared to offer the last hope for avoiding the across-the-board tax increases and draconian cuts in the federal budget that will be triggered at the start of the New Year. read more