WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is hoping competition combined with cash will encourage states and school districts to improve the nation's teaching corps.Read more

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BOISE, Idaho — Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum is exploring Secret Service protection following a rowdy rally in Washington state earlier in the week.Read more

BOISE, Idaho — Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum isn't predicting victory, but he says he's going to plant a flag in the state where Mitt Romney was born.Read more

BOISE, Idaho — The latest Republican to surge in polls, Rick Santorum is trying to turn his newfound strength into something lasting.Read more

His Senate history isn't as fiscally conservative as the group might like.Read more

The GOP presidential candidate says it did more harm than good.Read more

• Link | PoliTex blog: From North Texas to D.C., our insiders take you beyond the usual rhetoric

WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party has picked Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to chair its national convention this summer in Charlotte, N.C.Read more

LAS VEGAS — U.S. Sens. Harry Reid and Dean Heller are shedding political donations amid reports that a Nevada developer and lobbyist is the target of a federal campaign finance investigation.Read more

WASHINGTON — The White House says Iran is lashing out at the world to "distract attention" from the damage that international sanctions are having at home.Read more

WASHINGTON — In a Feb. 3 story about contributions to political committees supporting Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama, The Associated Press incorrectly identified a New York company founded by hedge fund manager Paul Singer as Renaissance Technologies. Singer's company is Elliott Management Corp.Read more