Politics

The Senate Wednesday passed a $137.9 billion package aimed at helping jobless people get more benefits and businesses to hire more workers, but only after controversy about the bill's cost and impact. The rare bipartisan vote was 62 to 36.

The following products are being recalled because they could be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and others with weakened immune systems:

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's oldest son says he doesn't expect his dad to run for president in 2012.

President Barack Obama welcomed Haitian President Rene Preval to the White House on Wednesday, pledging that as it rebuilds, the earthquake-wracked country "will continue to have a steady and reliable partner in the United States of America."

The House passed legislation Wednesday that would ban misleading mailings designed to appear they're from the Census Bureau, following criticism that Republican groups were sending fundraising letters using the census name.

Anti-war lawmakers are getting a chance to make their case before facing almost certain defeat of a House resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Haitian President Rene Preval (reh-NAY' preh-VAHL') has visited the White House to thank President Obama and the American people for all the help his country received after January's massive earthquake.

Former Pennsylvania treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer (HAY'-fuhr) has dropped out of the Democratic primary race for the U.S. House seat once held by late Rep. John Murtha.

Former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed announced Wednesday he will not run for Congress in Georgia, saying he can do more to push a conservative agenda through his work for a political startup.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday renewed America's commitment to the recovery and reconstruction of earthquake-devastated Haiti, telling visiting President Rene Preval he knows the crisis has not passed.