Citizen Cartwright

Climate pledges

The Obama administration formally told the U.N. on Thursday that the United States intends to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

The Copenhagen Accord agreed to at U.N. talks in December required governments to submit their climate plans by Jan. 31.

The 17 percent U.S. target is about a 4 percent cut from the 1990 baseline other industrialized countries are using, and it's contingent on passing domestic legislation.

The European Union said it would stick with its pledge to cut emissions 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 — and 30 percent if other nations go along.

The Marshall Islands, which fears sea level rise, said on Thursday it would cut emissions 40 percent by 2020.

"If one of the smallest and most vulnerable island states can take action, the largest countries have no excuse not to follow our example," said Foreign Minister John Silk.

Bernanke's confirmation

The Senate's vote on Thursday to confirm the Federal Reserve chairman for a second term was 70-30, with the most "no" votes ever.

Some wonder if the confirmation fight compromised the Fed's independence.

Last votes of the Senate 60

Democrats rushed on Thursday to pass legislation to increase the debt limit before they lose their supermajority with the swearing-in of Massachusetts Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown.

Blair testifies on Iraq invasion

The former British prime minister dodged protesters at his long-awaited appearance in London Friday at an inquiry into his decision to join the United States in invading Iraq.

Blair denied that he'd made a "covert" deal with President George W. Bush to invade.

Hacking in the House

The House of Representatives is launching an investigation after the Web sites of 49 lawmakers were hacked following Wednesday night's State of the Union speech, with assailants posting an "obscenity-laced screed" against President Obama.

Also in the news

His health legislation stalled, Obama juggles an altered agenda The New York Times

Democrats prepare legislation to counter decision on campaign spending The Washington Post 

Can Obama get other Democrats elected? The Associated Press in Yahoo

Water vapor may help 'flatten global warming trend,' researchers say USA Today

Study: Barring handheld cell phones doesn't cut crashes Detroit Free Press

Reacting to Obama's State of the Union speech

Yes, he gives a great speech, but his long laundry list of proposals didn't draw much enthusiasm from the media.

He offered few concrete suggestions for ending partisan fighting, the Los Angeles Times said.

He "gave little indication how he would change the dynamics that have frustrated much of his agenda so far," according to The New York Times.

"In promising to 'do our work openly,' Mr. Obama did not quite convince that he has a new plan for doing it better," The Washington Post said in an editorial.

The Associated Press compiled a variety of reactions from lawmakers and others.

Corporations and climate change

Companies will have to include global warming on the list of business risks they report on to investors, the Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday. The vote on the issue was 3-2, along party lines.

Hard times for colleges

Average college endowment returns dropped 18.7 percent last year, the worst showing since the Great Depression, according to a joint study by Commonfund and the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

The rush to start campaign advertising

The James Madison Center for Free Speech on Wednesday asked the Federal Election Commission to quickly drop its rules restricting corporate and union spending on politics in the wake of last week's Supreme Court ruling.