Senate passes its first budget in four years on 50 to 49 vote  —  The Senate early Saturday passed its first budget in four years by a vote of 50 to 49.  —  The close vote was a big victory for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) …

On third anniversary, Obama touts health law's benefits  —  President Obama on Saturday touted his landmark healthcare reform law on its third anniversary, but cautioned that there was “more work to do to implement” its provisions.  —  “Three years ago today, I signed into law the principle …

Walking While Black in New York  —  The New York City Police Department has a long history of violating constitutional rights by stopping, questioning or frisking people on the streets without legal justification.  The city has steadfastly denied that the detentions — made under …

Massachusetts lawmaker 'took pictures of his genitals and put them on a female coworker's computer'  —  A state representative in Massachussetts is being investigated after allegedly sending pictures of his genitals to a government computer.  —  The investigation is ongoing and the committee …

North Dakota Personhood Measure Passes State House  —  North Dakota became the first state on Friday to pass a fetal personhood amendment, which grants legal personhood rights to embryos from the moment of fertilization.  The state House of Representatives voted 57 to 35 to pass the amendment …

Miss Israel: Obama ‘world-class hunk’  —  President Barack Obama has earned a new title: world-class hunk.  —  That was the assessment of Miss Israel, the 21-year-old Ethiopian immigrant Titi Aynaw who met Obama on Thursday.  —  “He's an exciting man, a world-class hunk …

Saving Children From Guns  —  For nearly two months, my assistant, Jennifer Mascia, and I have been publishing a daily blog in which we aggregate articles about shootings from the previous day.  Of all the stories we link to, the ones I find hardest to read are those about young children …

Girls Outnumbered in New York's Elite Public Schools  —  In the United States, girls have outshined boys in high school for years, amassing more A's, earning more diplomas and gliding more readily into college, where they rack up more degrees — whether at the bachelor's, master's or doctoral levels.

Gov. Christie says he does not believe in gay conversion therapy  —  Gov. Chris Christie speaks in Edison earlier this month.  Christie said today he doesn't believe in gay conversion therapy.  (Photo by Ed Murray/The Star-Ledger)  —  TRENTON — Under pressure from Democrats …

The 1% aren't like the rest of us  —  The ultra-rich share few of the priorities of most Americans, but their access to policymakers is greater, a study finds.  —  Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer, left, and Debbie Stabenow are seen at the conclusion of a news conference held by Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill.

The New Republic Fires Timothy Noah  —  On Thursday, New Republic columnist Timothy Noah received an email from editor Frank Foer asking him to meet at 2:30 pm on Friday.  During the meeting, Foer told Noah that he was out of a job.  —  When Noah got to the New Republic's lobby …

FAA To Close 149 Air Traffic Towers Under Cuts  —  (CHICAGO) — Under orders to trim hundreds of millions of dollars from its budget, the Federal Aviation Administration released a final list Friday of 149 air traffic control facilities that it will close at small airports around the country starting early next month.