Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, the ninth straight decline since the pandemic began.

Nevada won't face any federal penalties following its Common Core testing meltdown last year that left most of the state's students unable to finish their annual mandated exam.

Medicare chief Marilyn Tavenner -- who oversaw the rocky rollout of the president's health care law -- says she's stepping down at the end of February.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has hit Japan's northern coast near the nuclear power plant crippled in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.