Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on May 7 ordered the armed services to take immediate steps to curb sexual assault in the military. He said commanders should be held more accountable for assaults by service members and asked for better prevention training and education programs.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Sexual Harassment" (April 27, 2012).

The Census Bureau said May 8 that African-Americans voted at a higher rate than whites in 2012. The higher rate was especially pronounced among young voters. The number of white voters declined for the first time since 1996 despite an overall increase in the white population, the bureau said.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Changing Demographics" (Nov. 16, 2012).

The Minnesota House of Representatives approved May 9 a bill that would allow gay marriages in the state. The state Senate will consider the bill next week. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has pledged to sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gay Marriage" (March 15, 2013).

President Obama said April 30 that he will follow through with a 2008 campaign pledge to close the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He said the facility does not keep America safe and hurts its international standing. The announcement comes amid a hunger strike among terror suspects at the prison to protest their detainment and living conditions.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Closing Guantanamo" (Feb. 27, 2009).

Bolivian President Evo Morales said May 1 that he will expel the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from his country, alleging that it has sought to undermine his leftist government. The U.S. State Department called the decision "baseless and unfounded."

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Foreign Aid and National Security" (June 17, 2011).

President Obama arrived in Mexico City on May 2 to discuss with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto how both countries can better address Mexico's drug war. Obama said he hopes the visit will also lead to better economic cooperation between the neighbors.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Mexico's Future" (Oct. 26, 2012).

The European Union relaxed an oil embargo on Syria on April 22, providing a way to purchase crude oil from rebel-controlled areas and thereby give financial assistance to rebels fighting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The EU ban on importing Syrian petroleum products began in September 2011 because of the Syrian government's violent repression of civilian uprisings.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Unrest in the Arab World" (Feb. 1, 2013).

The Obama administration urged the Supreme Court April 25 to rule that presidents have authority to make certain appointments without Senate approval, whether or not the Senate is in session. Three Obama appointments to the National Labor Relations Board were ruled invalid by a federal appeals court because they did not have Senate approval while the Senate was in session. The Constitution allows the president to make some appointments when the Senate is in recess.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Re-examining the Constitution" (Sept. 7, 2012).

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum was dedicated April 25 on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Bush was accompanied by President Obama and former Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush, as well as several current and former foreign leaders.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Presidential Libraries" (March 16, 2007).

The Obama administration said April 16 the president will veto a bill its backers say would improve U.S. cybersecurity if the measure passes both chambers of Congress. White House officials said the bill does not offer enough privacy protection for consumers.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Improving Cybersecurity" (Feb. 15, 2013).

The U.S. Senate rejected a proposal April 17 to expand background checks on firearm sales to include private transactions at gun shows and over the Internet. The proposal received 54 votes — six shy of the 60 required for passage — with only two Republicans voting in favor.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gun Control" (March 8, 2013).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said April 18 that his country will not rule out providing arms to Syrian rebel groups. Several Israeli allies, including the United States, have begun giving medical supplies and food to secular and moderate factions seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Unrest in the Arab World" (Feb. 1, 2013).

At least 14 people were injured April 9 at Lone Star Community College near Houston by an unidentified suspect who ran from building to building cutting people with a knife. He was arrested after being tackled by a student. Police are searching for a motive.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Crime on Campus" (Feb. 4, 2011).

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said April 10 that the Food and Drug Administration designated its experimental drug for advanced breast cancer, Palbociclib, as a breakthrough therapy. The designation is meant to speed up development and review of experimental treatments.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Breast Cancer" (April 2, 2010).

Educational organizations and state officials unveiled April 11 a proposed compact that would create a common market for online education nationwide and make it easier for institutions to enroll students anywhere in the country. The proposal would also set some standard consumer protections.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Future of Public Universities" (Jan. 18, 2013).

Researchers from the United States and United Kingdom said in a study published March 31 that up to half the Arctic landscape could change from ice to shrubbery over the next 50 years because of global climate change. They said the increase in greenery would cause the region to absorb more heat from the sun, accelerating the warming process.

For background, see the following CQ Global Researcher report: "Climate Change" (Feb. 2010).

President Obama proposed a $100 million federal project April 2 to map the inner workings of the brain in search of answers to such diseases as autism, epilepsy and Alzheimer's. Funding for the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative — or BRAIN — must be approved by Congress.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Treating Alzheimer's" (March 4, 2011).

Federal investigators said April 3 that as much as $700 million in federal aid intended to help Louisiana families elevate their homes after Hurricane Katrina may have been misspent. Some homeowners who received grants of up to $30,000 used the money for other purposes, said U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gulf Coast Restoration" (Aug. 26, 2011).

The Supreme Court heard arguments on March 26 over the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage. The justices will hear arguments on March 27 over the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gay Marriage" (March 15, 2013).

Scientists for a global cancer research project said March 27 they have discovered 74 new genetic "mistakes" that lead to increased risks for breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The discoveries will likely lead to improved cancer detection over time, the scientists said.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Preventing Cancer" (Jan. 16, 2009).

A Connecticut judge made public on March 28 search warrant affidavits in the case against Adam Lanza, the suspected gunman in December's Newtown school massacre. Investigators searching Lanza's bedroom had seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a check from his mother with a note asking him to purchase another firearm and drawers full of gun paraphernalia, the affidavits say.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gun Control" (March 8, 2013).

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said March 19 that a Senate bill to address gun violence will not include a proposed ban on so-called assault weapons. He said there were not enough votes for the ban to clear the Senate.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gun Control" (March 8, 2013).

A coalition of energy companies, environmental groups and philanthropies agreed March 20 on the creation of a center that will develop environmental standards for the process known as fracking — a method of exploiting natural gas — along the Marcellus Shale formation, which extends from New York to Kentucky.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Fracking Controversy" (Dec. 16, 2011).

A New York man convicted in the killing of a rabbi during a botched diamond heist in 1991 was freed March 21 after serving 22 years in prison following a reinvestigation of the case. Prosecutions recommended tossing out David Ranta's murder conviction after a witness admitted he had been coached by a detective into identifying Ranta in a police lineup.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Eyewitness Testimony" (Oct. 14, 2011).

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed two measures March 12 designed to curb gun violence. The first would expand background checks to include private gun sales. The second would increase federal financing for a grant program designed to help schools improve security procedures. The Senate will vote on both bills later this week.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gun Control" (March 8, 2013).

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was named successor to Pope Benedict XVI March 13 after five votes in the papal conclave. Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis I, became the first-ever pontiff from South America and the first non-European leader of the Roman Catholic Church in more than 1,200 years.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Future of the Catholic Church" (Jan. 19, 2007).

California water officials on March 14 released the first part of a $23 billion plan to restore and protect the Bay Delta series of waterways in the northern part of the state. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan proposes twin tunnels to carry water to farmland and millions of residents.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Water Shortages" (June 18, 2010).

Twelve former Florida A&M University band members were charged March 4 with second-degree manslaughter in the 2011 hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Preventing Hazing" (Feb. 8, 2013).

Secretary of State John Kerry said March 5 that the Obama administration supports efforts by Mideast nations to send arms to opposition groups in Syria. Kerry spoke with Mideast officials during a tour of the region and said they promised to send arms to moderate forces rather than extremists.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Unrest in the Arab World" (Feb. 1, 2013).

Bumble Bee Foods recalled some of its tuna products March 7 because cans may not have been sealed properly. The company said loose seals or seams could lead to contamination, but no illnesses have been reported.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Food Safety" (Dec. 17, 2010).

Leaders from the Syrian National Coalition fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad agreed Feb. 25 to attend an international conference in Rome centered around discussions on how to end the Syrian conflict. The move came after Secretary of State John Kerry promised more non-military U.S. aid. The coalition initially boycotted the session because its leaders thought Western nations were not putting enough pressure on al-Assad to step down.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Unrest in the Arab World" (Feb. 1, 2013).

A Brandeis University study released Feb. 27 shows that the wealth gap between white and African-American families has nearly tripled over the past 25 years. Differences in homeownership rates are the biggest reason wealth among white families has outpaced that of black families, says the study.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Income Inequality" (Dec. 3, 2010).

David Hughart, the former president of Massey Energy subsidiary White Buck Coal, pleaded guilty Feb. 28 to two federal conspiracy charges for helping miners at the company and other Massey-owned operations know about surprise federal inspections in advance. Investigators say the advanced warnings helped miners conceal deadly conditions that led to the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine explosion in West Virginia. Hughart faces up to six years in prison.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Mine Safety" (June 24, 2011).

The Supreme Court said Feb. 19 that it will hear a case challenging how much individuals can contribute to political campaigns within a two-year period. A district court in Washington, D.C., earlier ruled in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission that capping donations does not violate the First Amendment.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Campaign Finance Debates" (May 28, 2010).

The New York Times Co. said Feb. 20 that it will sell The Boston Globe and other holdings in its New England Media Group. It purchased The Globe in 1991 for $1.1 billion.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Future of Journalism" (March 27, 2009).

Ford Motor Co. said Feb. 21 it will add 450 jobs and expand an engine plant in Cleveland to feed a growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles in the United States. Experts say the expansion is a sign of a steady recovery in the U.S. auto market.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Auto Industry's Future" (Feb. 6, 2009).

An Obama administration official said Feb. 12 that 34,000 of the 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be home by February 2014. Troop withdrawals will continue until the end of 2014 as the United States hands over security responsibilities to the Afghan government, the official said.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Afghanistan Dilemma" (Aug. 7, 2009).

The boards of directors for US Airways and American Airlines will vote Feb. 13 on whether to merge and create what would be the largest carrier in the world in terms of revenue and passengers. Any merger would have to be approved by federal regulators.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Future of the Airlines" (March 7, 2008).

The Illinois Senate passed a measure Feb. 14 to legalize same-sex marriage. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said he would sign the bill if it passes in the House. Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gay Marriage Showdowns" (Sept. 26, 2008).

A new Pew Charitable Trusts report said Feb. 5 that flaws in the U.S. voting system are deep and widespread and not limited to any specific states or counties. Problematic issues include long wait times, lost votes and mishandling of absentee and provisional ballots, the report said.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Voter Rights" (May 18, 2012).

The Obama administration sanctioned Iran's main broadcasting agency on Feb. 6 for helping the Iranian government censor Western reports about Iran. Experts say the move is part of a broader effort to force Iran to provide more information about its nuclear program.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "U.S Policy on Iran" (Nov. 16, 2007).

The NFL reinstated former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams Feb. 7 after a 10-month suspension for offering bounties to players who injured opponents. The Tennessee Titans hired him directly after his reinstatement as a defensive assistant.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Professional Football" (Jan. 29, 2010).

A Texas state judge on Jan. 29 delayed the execution of Kimberly McCarthy until April 3. She was convicted of killing a neighbor in 1997. The stay gives her attorneys time to determine whether the predominantly white jury for McCarthy, who is black, was improperly selected on the basis of race. She would be the first female executed in the United States since 2010.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Death Penalty Debates" (Nov. 19, 2010).

The Commerce Department reported Jan. 30 that the U.S. economy contracted by 0.1 percent in the final quarter of 2012, its worst performance since 2009. The drop in GDP was caused by fewer exports and a decrease in military spending, the report said.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Attracting Jobs" (March 2, 2012).

Snowmobiler Caleb Moore died Jan. 31, a week after suffering a heart contusion in a crash at ESPN's X Games in Colorado. His death is the first in the 18-year history of the X Games, an annual competition focused on action sports and extreme sports.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Extreme Sports" (April 3, 2009).

At least three people, including two bystanders, were injured Jan. 22 in a shooting at Lone Star College in Houston after two men opened fire at each other. A fourth person suffered a heart attack. Police have yet to find a motive.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Crime on Campus" (Feb. 4, 2011).

Defense officials said June 23 that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is lifting the military's ban on women serving in combat. The move, recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overturns a 1994 rule restricting women from many positions in the infantry and artillery.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Women in the Military" (Nov. 13, 2009).

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced a bill Jan. 24 that would ban the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of 158 models of semi-automatic weapons that have at least one military feature.

For background, see the following CQ Researcher report: "Gun Rights Debates" (Oct. 31, 2008).