Amy Klobuchar

US senators pleaded with Iran Tuesday to free three American hikers it has held since July 2009 ahead of the US Mother's Day celebration this weekend and flatly denied the youths were spies.

5 major US airlines won't charge for carryons, but other fees aren't going anywhere. U.S. airlines never met a fee they didn't like. Until now, it seems.

NY senator says 5 major airlines agree not to charge for carry-on bags, wants others to follow. Five major airlines have agreed not to follow Spirit Airlines in instituting fees for carry-on luggage, and New York Sen. Charles Schumer said he was hopeful other carriers would follow suit.

Six Democratic senators want to stop airlines from charging passengers for carryon bags. Six Democratic senators want to hit U.S. airlines with a tax if they charge passengers for their carryon bags.

Congress passes bill to promote US as a destination for international tourists. Millions of foreign tourists are shying away from U.S. destinations, a trend that Congress hopes to reverse in a travel promotion act it passed Thursday.

Congress passes bill to promote US as a destination for international tourists. Millions of foreign tourists are shying away from U.S. destinations, a trend that Congress hopes to reverse in a travel promotion act it passed Thursday.

EDITOR'S NOTE ? An occasional look at how influence is exercised in Washington.

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Health care lobbying subsides as interest groups see new political terrain. Notice you're not bombarded anymore by TV ads about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul plan?

A one-two punch of bad news suddenly has Democrats facing an election year with campaign finance rules that favor Republicans and a Senate that can block Democratic initiatives. And President Barack Obama called on the leader of his winning 2008 campaign to help.

A one-two punch of bad news suddenly has Democrats facing an election year with campaign finance rules that favor Republicans and a Senate that can block Democratic initiatives. And President Barack Obama called on the leader of his winning 2008 campaign to help.

Awful week for Democrats, from Senate loss to high court ruling; how does party move ahead?. A one-two punch of bad news suddenly has Democrats facing an election year with campaign finance rules that favor Republicans and a Senate that can block Democratic initiatives. And President Barack Obama called on the leader of his winning 2008 campaign to help.

NY Sen. Schumer to draft bill banning cadmium in kids' jewelry after AP reports of high levels. Reports of high cadmium content in children's jewelry imported from China have prompted a senior U.S. senator to press for legislation that would ban the toxic heavy metal as a hazardous substance from those products and toys.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prices for hundreds of brand-name drugs have soared since the beginning of the decade, especially those that treat depression, infections and heart disease, according to a U.S. government report on Monday.

The United Nations called for access to thousands of ethnic Hmong deported to communist Laos from neighbouring Thailand as Bangkok insisted Wednesday that the returned people would be treated well.

US lawmakers on Tuesday denounced Thailand for expelling more than 4,000 Hmong into Laos and demanded that the Vientiane government allow immediate international monitoring to ensure their safety.

Senate confirms first openly gay person US marshal, she will oversee Minn. in new post. Minneapolis assistant police Chief Sharon Lubinski has become the first openly gay U.S. marshal.

The U.S. Senate has approved the nomination of Sharon Lubinski, the nation's first openly lesbian U.S. Marshal. The U.S. Senate has approved the nomination of Sharon Lubinski, the nation's first openly lesbian U.S. Marshal. Lubinski will become the district of Minnesota's U.S. Marshal. Lubinski was recommended to President Obama by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat. ?Sharon Lubinski will be an excellent U.S. Marshal,? Klobuchar said in a statement announcing Lubinski's confirmation. ?Her mix of experience managing a large, urban police department and working in a rural sheriff's office makes her uniquely qualified for this position. I know she will make Minnesota proud as she serves in this role.? The Obama administration is on track to setting a new record on openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender appointees. President Clinton appointed about 140 gay officials over 8 years. In his first year in office, Obama has appointed nearly 100 openly LGBT officials. Lubinski has

Nine US senators have written Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to protest the possible expulsion of more than 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to communist Laos, where they fear persecution.

Guests for the Sunday TV news shows. Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

Federal Communications Commission must do more to protect wireless customers, GAO finds. Federal regulators receive tens of thousands of customer complaints about wireless services every year, but don't do enough to follow up or protect consumers who have problems with their mobile carriers, government auditors found.