Tom Howell Jr.

Ohio gives Obama a thumbs down, yet Hillary Clinton tops GOP all-stars: poll

Ohio voters this month gave President Obama a failing grade, but that's not hampering Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton's edge over all Republican comers in theoretical matchups for the 2016 presidential race. Published July 31, 2014

Russians are unfazed by the West’s response to Putin’s actions in Ukraine: poll

Russians are largely unswayed by the West's response to their nation's incursions in eastern Ukraine, with nearly two-thirds of them saying Russia needs to have a "very strong position" in relations with its neighbor, according to Gallup. Published July 31, 2014

Obama admin to blame for HealthCare.gov woes, $840M cost: GAO

Obamacare's balky federal website was doomed last fall by poor management within the Obama administration, cost overruns and shifting deadlines and requirements, government investigators say in a report for Congress. Published July 30, 2014

Senators to FIFA, others: Don’t reward Putin with the World Cup in 2018

Looking to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the unrest in eastern Ukraine, a pair of U.S. senators say world soccer officials should think about stripping Russia's hosting rights for the 2018 World Cup. Published July 30, 2014

GOP seizes on Alison Lundergan Grimes’ odd ‘Iron Dome’ comments

Recent remarks by Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes have Republicans wondering if she knows what Israel's "Iron Dome" defense system actually does. Published July 30, 2014

$** FILE ** This Sept. 18, 2012, file photo shows female soldiers training on a firing range while wearing new body armor in Fort Campbell, Ky. Only a small fraction of Army women say they’d like to move into one of the newly opening combat jobs, but those few who do, say they want a job that takes them right into the heart of battle, according to preliminary results from a survey of the service’s nearly 170,000 women. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)$

Democrats’ new bill would make sure women in military can get free birth control

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen introduced a bill Wednesday that would make sure women in the U.S. military can obtain FDA-approved forms of birth control without an insurance co-pay. Published July 30, 2014

Chris Christie’s latest push is bail reform: report

Republican Gov. Chris Christie will prod New Jersey lawmakers Wednesday to overhaul the state's bail system, offering a diversion from the high-profile executive's efforts to grapple with public-pension funding. Published July 30, 2014

U.S. woman with Ebola is stable, improving, son says

The son of Nancy Writebol, a missionary from North Carolina who contracted the Ebola virus in Liberia, said Wednesday his mother is improving during her fight against the deadly virus. Published July 30, 2014

Alison Lundergan Grimes uses ‘war on women’ strategy to attack Mitch McConnell

Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes released a campaign ad Wednesday that uses her party's "war on women" strategy to attack her powerful Republican opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Published July 30, 2014

U.S. surgeon general is hesitant about green-lighting marijuana

The acting U.S. surgeon general said Wednesday he is wary of legalizing marijuana because it would be "yet another product out there" that can cause respiratory problems. Published July 30, 2014

GOP challenger plans to crash Sen. Pat Roberts’ campaign event to debate the issue

Senate candidate Milton Wolf said Wednesday he will re-route his campaign bus to set up an impromptu debate with incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts before Kansans cast their ballots in the Republican primary. Published July 30, 2014

Ohio Gov. John Kasich cruising to re-election: survey

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is cruising to re-election this year because his Democratic challenger remains largely unknown in the Buckeye State, a new survey said. Published July 30, 2014

Geography, awareness dictate uninsured rates in Obamacare era: study

Four out of every 10 uninsured Americans live in states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid under Obamacare and have incomes below the threshold for gaining the state-federal health benefits under President Obama's reforms. Published July 29, 2014

Elijah Cummings presses GOP governors on Medicaid expansion decisions

Rep. Elijah Cummings wants to know why some Republican governors have expanded Medicaid while others remain adamantly opposed to the key pillar of Obamacare. Published July 29, 2014

Appeals court upholds Obamacare tax as constitutional

A key appeals court on Tuesday ruled that despite including a tax, Obamacare doesn't violate the Constitution's requirement that all tax bills originate in the House of Representatives, giving the Obama administration another health care win. Published July 29, 2014

New Englander Scott Brown turns his gaze to the U.S. border crisis

New Hampshire may be a long way from the southern U.S. border, but Senate candidate Scott Brown is using the immigration crisis to take on President Obama and his Democratic opponent, Jeanne Shaheen, on the campaign trail. Published July 29, 2014

Putin a ‘megalomaniac’ who must be challenged with force: Sen. Johnson

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "megalomaniac" who will forge ahead in eastern Ukraine unless the U.S. and others stand up to him with actual force, because economic sanctions are simply not enough, Sen. Ron Johnson said Tuesday. Published July 29, 2014