Iran says it executed nuclear scientist in US spy mystery
By NASSER KARIMI and JON GAMBRELL Iran executed a nuclear scientist who defected to the U.S. and returned to the Islamic Republic under mysterious circumstances a year later, an official…
Government programs
Obama immigration plan blocked by 4-4 tie at Supreme Court
By MARK SHERMAN The Supreme Court deadlocked Thursday on President Barack Obama’s immigration plan that sought to shield millions living in the U.S. illegally from deportation, effectively killing the plan…
Trump as nominee improves odds for parts of Obama’s legacy
By JOSH LEDERMAN There’s no cheering at the White House for Donald Trump’s success. Yet for President Barack Obama, things could be worse. Trump’s ascent as the presumptive Republican nominee…
Once unthinkable in US, drug shoot-up rooms get serious look
By DAVID KLEPPER Across the United States, heroin users have died in alleys behind convenience stores, on city sidewalks and in the bathrooms of fast-food joints — because no one…
Give drug felons food stamps, many states now say
By GRANT SCHULTE and SCOTT McFETRIDGE Nebraska is desperate to stop the runaway growth of its prison population, but doing so depends a lot on people like Ronald Tillman. Tillman,…
Justices seem divided over Obama immigration actions
By MARK SHERMAN The Supreme Court appeared divided between its liberal and conservative justices Monday over President Barack Obama’s immigration programs that could affect millions of people who are in…
‘Cuban Twitter’ fallout found relief in FOIA’s glacial pace
By JACK GILLUM As U.S. officials dealt with the fallout of the government’s once-secret “Cuban Twitter” program, they had one thing on their side: notorious delays in the federal Freedom…
Poor offenders pay high price when probation turns on profit
By ADAM GELLER and SHARON COHEN Tennessee (AP) — Outside the $200-a-week motel room that Steven Gibbs and his family call home, the afternoon sun sparkled. Inside, though, he had…