Michigan lawmakers pass measure to help indigent criminal defendants

— Legislation designed to fix the uneven defense of indigent criminal defendants in Michigan is headed for Gov. Rick Snyder's signature following passage Wednesday in the state Senate.

Obama: 'Lives have been saved' by NSA programs

Berlin — Trying to tamp down concerns about government over-reach, President Barack Obama on Wednesday defended U.S. Internet and phone surveillance programs as narrowly targeted efforts that have saved lives and thwarted at least 50 terror threats.

House to consider $2B in cuts to food stamps

Washington — A wide-ranging farm bill the House is considering would cut food stamps by $2 billion a year and make it more difficult for some people to qualify for the domestic food aid program.

Senator: IRS to pay $70M in employee bonuses

Washington — The Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts enacted this year, according to a GOP senator.

Schuette: Ex-SOS Land still viable GOP candidate for Levin's seat

Former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land may not have a multimillion-dollar congressional war chest at her disposal like Republican members of Michigan's congressional delegation who have passed on running next year for the U.S. Senate.

State Senate OKs bill to dissolve Inkster, Buena Vista school districts

The Michigan Senate on Wednesday narrowly approved giving the state treasurer and superintendent of schools sweeping power to dissolve the struggling Inkster and Buena Vista school districts.

Newly signed law guarantees revenue for DIA, Detroit Zoo

Lansing — Legislation guaranteeing the Detroit Zoo and Detroit Institute of Arts can collect all of the revenue generated by special millages was signed into law Tuesday by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.

Michigan Senate fails to vote on Medicaid bill

Lansing — The Michigan Senate postponed a vote Tuesday on expanding the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor as supporters continued trying to drum up votes.

Medicaid battle to be fierce in Senate

A controversial bill to expand Medicaid health care coverage to nearly a half-million more Michiganians moves to the Senate this week, where its chances for passage as of Monday remained a tossup.

Legislature OKs surcharge to help pay utility bills

— The state Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would create a permanent low-income energy assistance fund with revenue from surcharges on utility customer's electric bills.

NSA director: Surveillance programs foiled about 50 terrorist plots

Washington — The National Security Agency director on Tuesday vigorously defended two formerly secret surveillance programs as having foiled more than 50 terrorist plots, including a plan to blow up the New York Stock Exchange.

Michigan lawmakers move to protect homes

State lawmakers are racing the clock this week to hammer out new rules on home foreclosure, including a first-in-the-nation inspection provision supporters call a safeguard against vandalism for lenders and critics label a trapdoor for evicting homeowners.

Michigan Senate fails to pass changes to hunting, fishing license fees

The state Senate failed Tuesday to approve general increases and revisions in hunting and fishing license fees proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder as part of the 2013-2014 fiscal year state budget.

Military plans would put women in most combat jobs

Washington — Military leaders are ready to begin tearing down the remaining walls that have prevented women from holding thousands of combat and special operations jobs near the front lines.

Obama: NSA secret data gathering 'transparent'

Washington — President Barack Obama defended top secret National Security Agency spying programs as legal in a lengthy interview Monday, and called them ...

Obama hints Bernanke likely to leave Fed in January

Washington — President Barack Obama has given the clearest signal yet that Chairman Ben Bernanke will likely leave the Federal Reserve when his term ends in ...

House to take up anti-abortion bill

Washington — The abortion wars return to Congress in a big way with House legislation to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.

Moderate leader's election in Iran stirs local hopes

Iranian community leaders and academic experts in Metro Detroit hope moderate Haslan Rowhani's election as Iran's president opens the door for a new and warmer ...

Fight over surveillance efforts blurs party lines in Michigan

Revelations the government has amassed Americans' phone, email and Internet records has split Michigan lawmakers on whether the surveillance programs are ...

High Court strikes down Arizona's proof of citizenship law for voters

Washington — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states cannot on their own require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal ...

Immigration enforcement official resigning

Washington — The head of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement agency is leaving his job after more than four years.

Immigration bill could decide 2016, senator says

Washington — Republicans' hopes to reclaim the White House in the 2016 elections hinge on whether they support — or sabotage — the immigration overhaul being ...

MSU law professor officially launches AG bid

— Michigan State University law professor Mark Totten officially launched a campaign for attorney general Monday, hoping to be the Democratic challenger next ...

Christie maintains a political balancing act

— Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is walking a political tightrope as he charts his future, trying to balance his re-election campaign in a ...

Bills to stop siphoning of zoo, DIA tax advance

State lawmakers are a step closer to preventing municipal tax increment authorities from skimming funds from the Detroit Zoo and Detroit Institute of Arts ...

From roads to schools, Mich. budget touches you

Schoolchildren, drivers, hunters and others will face changes when the new state budget takes effect in 3 ½ months.

Police: Grand Rapids mom missing for 2 weeks

— Police are looking for a Grand Rapids mother of three children who hasn't been seen by her family since May 30.

Mike Rogers not running for Levin's U.S. Senate seat

— U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, considered a top candidate by Michigan Republicans to win the 2014 U.S. Senate seat, announced Friday he will seek re-election in the ...

Senate Dem leader accuses GOP of leaking discussions to media

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer said she is walking away from negotiations on raising taxes to fund road repairs, and accused Republicans leaders of ...