Lisa Mascaro

WHAT OBAMA SAID: The president pointed to a top-to-bottom review of the administrationÕs homeowner relief program he requested just days ago. WHAT NEVADAÕS DEMOCRATS WANT: Rules on who can refinance home loans leave out many in Nevada, they say, and further loosening them would prevent foreclosures in a state with 11.6 percent unemployment.. WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama said Wednesday he is acutely aware of NevadaÕs foreclosure crisis and is evaluating whether more can be done to help homeowners, including by redirecting unused bank bailout money for homeowner relief.

Suddenly unpopular, much less powerful, senator is adjusting to a low-key position in Senate politics. . Washington

Projects like DesertXpress should be part of federal strategy, Nevadan tells panel. WASHINGTON ? The proposed DesertXpress train between Las Vegas and Southern California got a shout-out on Tuesday at a Senate hearing on the future of high-speed rail.

EnsignÕs office says mistressÕ husband made demands that were Ôexorbitant,Õ ÔoutrageousÕ. Washington

HusbandÕs account of how wifeÕs affair with Ensign Ôruined our lives and careersÕ comes to light. In a letter dated five days before Sen. John EnsignÕs public confession of an extramarital affair, Doug Hampton pleaded to a national Fox News anchorwoman for help in exposing the senatorÕs Òheinous conduct and pursuitÓ of HamptonÕs wife.

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Ensign and his staff silent as more details ? and more questions ? emerge on his affair with a former staffer. The Hamptons: A lawyer for Cynthia and Doug, who both worked for Ensign, confirmed the affair Wednesday, calling the senatorÕs decision to come forward Òunfortunate.Ó The politics: Ensign gave up his leadership post in the GOP on Wednesday, and strategists say the once-rising star now faces a ÒhypocrisyÓ problem as a staunch conservative. More Nevada GOP news. Neither the FBI nor Metro Police in Las Vegas is investigating any claim that Sen. John EnsignÕs former mistress or her husband tried to blackmail the senator for hush money about the affair, spokesmen for the agencies confirmed Wednesday.

Ensign acknowledges infidelity, governorÕs chief of staff quits, state senator resigns Affair with married former employee lasted from late 2007 to August 2008 Revelation tarnishes rising star in a party reeling from leadership vacuum SenatorÕs admission comes after entering picture for run at presidency in 2012 Fallout could weaken Republican efforts to rebuild party at state and national levels . Nevada politics were thrown into turmoil, and the stateÕs Republican Party suffered another serious setback Tuesday as Sen. John Ensign acknowledged an extramarital affair with a staff member who was the wife of a top aide to the senator.

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Proposed maglev link from Las Vegas to Southern California a winning idea. This nation must do a far better job of cleaning up the environment and reversing its dependency on fossil fuel consumption, which contributes to global warming.

Measure limits advertising, compels disclosure of cigarette ingredients. THE SENATE VOTE: 79 YEAS, 17 NAYS

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THE MONEY Public or private, rail line will need major subsidies from government. Railroad building is not for the financially timid.

Harry Reid joins the Twittering class

Planners Ômoving aheadÕ despite senatorÕs defection to rival project. WASHINGTON ? Senate Majority Leader Harry ReidÕs decision to support construction of a conventional high-speed rail link to California is just a Òbump in the road,Ó promoters of the rival maglev rail line said Tuesday. They vowed to push ahead on a proposal that has existed for years on, if anything, optimism.

Compromises sought for card-check bill

Industry urges state to wait for U.S. decision on mercury. WASHINGTON ? The Nevada Mining Association is asking the state to postpone ordering the mining industry to install additional mercury emissions control equipment until the federal government reveals its plans for gold mining pollution this summer.

Senators and others stumble onto many ways to say ÔSotomayorÕ. WASHINGTON ? With the historic nomination of the first Hispanic woman to the U.S. Supreme Court came the phonetic fallout.

Proponents say it wonÕt set funding effort back. WASHINGTON ? Governors and transportation officials from across the country converged on the White House this week to discuss the future of high-speed rail with Vice President Joe Biden and the secretary of the Transportation Department.

WASHINGTON ? As President Barack Obama conducts his first Middle East visit, Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley has emerged as a vocal critic of his approach to Israel, and is among those pushing a tougher stand with Saudi Arabia.