Unemployment Benefits Extension Vote Likely Delayed

Roughly 2 million workers whose unemployment insurance benefits have expired will likely have to wait until late March or early April for the Senate to vote again on an extension, Democrats and Republicans said.

Grayson Restraining Order Dropped

Rep. Alan Grayson’s estranged wife has voluntarily dropped a restraining order against him, according to a statement from his office.

Democrats Duel for Open House Seat in Iowa

In a state that was expected to play host to multiple competitive contests this year, Democrats are dueling for the nomination — and most likely, the seat — in northeastern Iowa’s open 1st District.

Bearnaise Evolves With the Neighborhood

Back when he was the driving force behind only two budding hospitality concepts, Capitol Hill restaurateur Spike Mendelsohn looked around his slice of Southeast D.C. and figured the place could use some razzle-dazzle.

Is Solar Energy Really a ‘Boutique Fantasy’? | Topic A: Energy

Nancy Folbre debunks a common misconception that solar is a niche industry that is not economically viable.

Issa Wants to Go Further on Height Act

One of the District’s chief advocates in the House gave some unsolicited guidance to Mayor Vincent Gray and the D.C. Council on Wednesday.

Take the Good With the Bad: Former Reporter Speaks Out

It’s not every day someone chronicles the aftermath of a fall from grace.

Landrieu: Flood Insurance Decided Florida's Special Election

Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., said Wednesday that she believes flood insurance legislation was the deciding factor in Tuesday’s special election in Florida, not health care.

• Jolly Wins Special, Florida's 13th Now Leans Republican
• Steve Israel Lobbies Sink to Run in the Fall

McConnell Supports Kentucky Ballot Change Pushed by Paul to Allow Multiple Candidacies

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he supports legislation passed by a Kentucky Senate committee Wednesday to change the state’s election law to allow one candidate to run in multiple federal races on the same ballot.

Senate to Pentagon: Why All These Spare Parts You Don’t Need? | Topic A: Defense

Stars and Stripes reports that “the Senate wants answers from Pentagon officials on why the Defense Department spent more than $754 million last fiscal year on parts it didn’t need.”

Gray: Whom Do You Trust? Me or 'Greedy' 'Uncle Earl'?

With corruption allegations threatening to derail his campaign for the April 1 primary, Mayor Vincent Gray is putting his reputation up against “Uncle Earl.”

• Prosecutors Allege Gray Personally Solicited 'Uncle Earl' for Shadow Campaign
• 'Uncle Earl' Plea Details Secret Money to 28 Local and Federal Candidates
• D.C. Businessman Tied to 2010 Mayoral Campaign, Federal Candidate Faces Corruption Charges

Club for Growth PAC Backs GOP Candidate in Alaska

The Club for Growth’s political action arm announced Wednesday it is supporting Dan Sullivan in the Republican Senate primary in Alaska.

Boehner: IMF Aid to Ukraine Isn't Necessary (Updated) (Video)

Speaker John A. Boehner said authority sought by President Barack Obama to extend IMF loans to Ukraine isn’t needed.

Conventions or Ailing Kids? Bill Trade-Off Not as Simple as It Looks

When the options are promising more funding for sick children or preserving the funding for booze and balloons at political conventions, the choice should be about as obvious as it ever gets in Congress.

• Cantor's Pediatric Bill Could Have Been a Bust

Feinstein: CIA Spied on Intelligence Committee (Updated) (Video)

The chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee torched the CIA in a floor speech Tuesday, charging the agency with spying on her committee’s computers in a possibly illegal search she said has been referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution.

• Read or Watch Feinstein's Full Floor Speech
• Boehner Stays Out of Feinstein-CIA Feud (Updated) (Video)
• Reid Disappointed CIA Unrepetant, Backs Feinstein
• Brennan Denies CIA Spied on Senate

D.C. at SXSW: Booting Up a Tech Hub

The District of Columbia had a strong presence at South By Southwest this year, a sign of the city’s focus on boosting its tech cred.

When All Is Said and Done, Keep It Classy

Capitol Hill got you down? Maybe you didn’t get the press secretary position you were so qualified for. Maybe your merit raise hardly amounted to a cost-of-living adjustment? Or perhaps the boss that loved you is retiring, or caught in some embarrassing scandal, and you’re done listening to people scream at you over the telephone.

Ukraine's Neighbors Urge Expansion of U.S. Gas Exports

The crisis in Ukraine has injected a new element of Cold War politics, as well as a supporting cast of European diplomats and Washington lobbyists, into the debate on Capitol Hill over natural-gas exports.

• Industry Group Says Fracking Could Help Ukraine

House Oversight Committee to Consider Modest Change to Height Act

After much public and official rancor over the century-old law governing the height of buildings in the nation’s capital, a House panel is looking at making one minor, largely noncontroversial change to the law.

Ronnie Cho 'Very Close' to Making Decision on House Run in Arizona

AUSTIN, Texas — Ronnie Cho, a former White House staffer, is “very close” to making a decision on whether he’ll run for Arizona’s 7th District this year.

Issa Issues Report Ripping Lois Lerner

Darrell Issa has apologized to Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking Democrat Elijah E. Cummings for cutting off his mic, but the chairman isn’t changing the course of his committee.

Independent Catania Prepares for D.C. Mayoral Campaign

“We are literally living in the 10th anniversary of the month in which I knew I would be leaving the GOP,” D.C. Councilmember David Catania said on a February afternoon in his office on the fourth floor of the John A. Wilson Building.

Washington Jewish Film Festival Moves Forward

No rest for the weary! The 24th annual Washington Jewish Film Festival just wrapped this past weekend, but planning for next year’s festival is already under way.

Next Nasty Nomination Fight for Obama: Michael Boggs on the Hot Seat

After Republicans and seven Democratic defectors teamed up to sink the president’s pick to head the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division last week, some of the president’s allies are redoubling their efforts to claim a scalp of their own: Michael P. Boggs, a nominee for the District Court bench in Georgia.

Florida Tossup Tests Patterns for Special Elections

Whatever the outcome of Tuesday’s tight congressional contest in Tampa Bay, this footnote is assured: The winner will become the 64th person in the current House first sent to the Capitol by a special election. That’s an astonishing 15 percent of the membership.

Senate Conservatives Fund Endorses House Candidates

Senate Conservatives Fund — an organization that has traditionally supported conservative Senate hopefuls — has backed five House candidates.