WASHINGTON-The Senate leadership, with a chamber composed of 58 Democrats, needed two Republicans to vote for the economic stimulus plan in order for it to overcome the filibuster barrier to pass. They found three.

WASHINGTON-President Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill passed in the House of Representatives Friday afternoon by a 246-183 vote, about a half a day after the final bill was released to lawmakers. The Senate then passed the bill with just enough votes late Friday night 60-38, with three Republicans voting "yes."

WASHINGTON-The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, established by former President Bush to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, has been widely acclaimed for its success in distributing antiretroviral treatment over the past five years to more than 2 million people suffering from the disease. Now that there has been a change in the White House, those familiar with PEPFAR are wondering what the future holds for the fight against AIDS, especially since the program no longer has a director

WASHINGTON-Nearly 4,000 people from more than 180 nations gathered Thursday at the Washington Hilton to hear President Obama and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair speak at the annual National Prayer Breakfast.

"We're heavy on prayer and light on food," said Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Mich., the co-chair of the event with Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The towering former football player lives in the mountains of western North Carolina, hunts, goes to a Baptist church, is fiscally conservative, pro-life-and serves in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat. Rep. Heath Shuler, 37, is entering his second term in Congress, representing a conservative district where he unseated a Republican who held the office for 16 years.

WASHINGTON-In the same ballroom where the Republican National Committee mourned John McCain's loss last Nov. 4, members of the RNC elected a new chairman in an effort to become a party that wins national elections.

Instead of dancing under chandeliers to Americana music like on the Election Night, delegates at the Capital Hilton huddled in whispered negotiations as the vote for the new party leader dragged on for several hours.