Search results for

The House of Representatives approves a bill to cut student loan interest rates in half over the next 5 years. The measure passed with bipartisan support. The Democrats' bill would reduce interest rates on college loans for low- and middle-income students, by stepping them down slowly, from the current 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in five years.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) forms a presidential exploratory committee and says that he will announce his plans — to run for the top office or not — on Feb. 10. Obama's move allows him to raise money for a presidential candidacy.

President Bush's secretaries of State and Defense spent their days defending his new plan in Iraq, first at a White House news conference and then on Capitol Hill. Secretaries Rice and Gates found only minimal support for a greater troop commitment in Congress.

Steve Inskeep talks to Ken Menkhaus, professor of Political Science at Davidson College in North Carolina. He analyzes the U.S. military strike in Somalia.

President Bush says it is "vital" that Congress quickly confirm the changes he has made to his national security team. With new commanders and new policies in the works for Iraq, the White House seems to be clearing the decks at home as well, with a number of top-level personnel changes.

Lt. Gen. David Petraeus is expected to take command in Iraq and oversee President Bush's new policy. A graduate of West Point, Petraeus commanded the fabled 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq and went on to become the top trainer for Iraqi forces.

Reports say President Bush's new Iraq strategy is likely to be carried out by new commanders. Media reports say the president will replace the two top generals in the region.

A new book argues that Motown was a step in the evolution of the American popular song, a tradition reaching back to songwriters like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter.

Ravneet "Ruby" Kaur came to the United States in 1986 when she was 6 years old. Civil unrest had engulfed the state of Punjab, India, and her family, religious Sikhs, decided to stay in the United States. Ruby has worked as a nurse and is now in her second year at UCLA medical school.

Artist Joseph Cornell created works out of framed boxes filled with found objects. His work is on display now at an exhibit called "Navigating the Imagination," hosted by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.