Unemployment benefits 101: When will your state cut off extended benefits?

The next Race to the Top? Arne Duncan outlines vision for teacher reform.

6:05 pm ET - Education Secretary Arne Duncan launched a $5 billion proposal Wednesday aimed at improving the teaching profession at every level. It would be modeled after the Race to the Top program.

Payroll tax deal close: Why did Republicans back down? (+video)

1:47 pm ET - Senate Republicans came to a realization on the payroll tax cut fight: We got the policy right but the politics wrong and it’s time to move on. Specifics of the deal are still being hashed out.

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Congo army reclaims two mines from rebel groups

5:15 pm ET - Congolese civil society and mining associations say these mines should now be guarded by specially trained mining police to better guarantee the end of conflict minerals.

Iran's good cop, bad cop act: agrees to talks, flaunts nuclear advances

4:56 pm ET - Iran has agreed to return to talks about its nuclear program. But it also trumpeted advances in that nuclear program, showing that it wants to bargain from a position of strength.

Chicago area called most corrupt in US. Why Rahm Emanuel is under fire.

4:35 pm ET - Chicago and its suburbs have averaged 51 public corruption convictions per year since 1976, a new study finds. Critics say Rahm Emanuel has not made City Hall sufficiently transparent.

Why did Democrats choose Antonio Villaraigosa to lead national convention?

4:04 pm ET - Antonio Villaraigosa has built an impressive résumé in the California Assembly and as mayor of Los Angeles. As chair of the Democratic National Convention, he could help woo Latinos. 

Should Ron Paul demand a new vote count in Maine?

2:02 pm ET - Evidence is mounting that the vote totals for the Maine caucuses, in which Mitt Romney edged out Ron Paul, were pretty messed up. In addition to towns that hadn't voted yet, others' totals were not recorded.

As Sarkozy seeks new term, French are wary of 'Merkozy' (+video)

8:39 am ET - An embattled French President Nicolas Sarkozy is touting his strong ties with powerful German chancellor Angela Merkel as he prepares to announce his bid for a second term today. 

Africa Rising: Ethiopia moves to diversify exports

1:17 pm ET - In an effort to move beyond just coffee, Ethiopia now exports leather, vegetables, flowers, and yes, the occasional bottle of wine. 

Honduras prison fire kills more than 300, highlights regional problem (+video)

10:32 am ET - This is the third fatal Honduras prison fire since 2003. The region as a whole lags on fire prevention measures and oversight.

Rick Santorum's new machine-gun ad: Will it work? (+video)

10:52 am ET - Rick Santorum is not going to sit back and wait for Mitt Romney to come after him. He’s going to take some preemptive punches – like with his new machine gun-toting Romney ad.

• The Vote: Is Rick Santorum facing a brewing 'women problem'?

Sean Penn jumps into Falkland Islands fray

1:09 pm ET - Sean Penn lashes out at the deployment of a British prince to the Falklands. The UK is not amused.

Rare visit to remote region highlights China's clampdown on Tibet

11:21 am ET - Conversations with ethnic Tibetans suggest that China's authoritarian policies designed to tamp down disorder are causing unrest and self immolations.

Israel says Bangkok, Delhi, and Tbilisi attacks all linked – to Iran

8:50 am ET - The Israeli ambassador to Thailand said that the bombs used in all three countries had similarities implying a common source. Two suspects were arrested carrying Iranian passports.

No budget? No problem! The strange politics behind a budgetless America.

7:07 pm ET - President Obama has proposed a federal budget. Congress looks sure to ignore it, and Senate Democrats show no desire to pass any budget. It would be the fourth straight budgetless year. 

• Congress poised to scale back unemployment benefits from 99 weeks
• America's big wealth gap: Is it good, bad, or irrelevant?