The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Tuesday, May 14, 2013  Acting IRS commissioner repeatedly failed to tell Congress that tea party groups were targeted

Friday, March 01, 2013  Obama still betting on a big fiscal deal as automatic cuts kick in, but odds weigh against him

Thursday, January 10, 2013  Erskine Bowles, co-chairman of the U.S. deficit commission, calls failure to agree on a plan to reduce the national debt "the most disappointing thing in my life."

Wednesday, January 02, 2013  The deals hands President Barack Obama most of the tax hikes on the rich that he campaigned for

Wednesday, January 02, 2013  The bill doesn't prevent a temporary Social Security payroll tax reduction from expiring

Friday, December 21, 2012  Thursday's drama was a major personal defeat for House Speaker John Boehner.

Thursday, December 20, 2012  If Congress and the White House don't reach an agreement, taxes would go up for nearly every American family as part of the year-end "fiscal cliff."

Monday, December 17, 2012  House Speaker John Boehner is offering $1 trillion in higher tax revenue over 10 years and an increase in the top tax rate on people making more than $1 million a year.

Thursday, December 13, 2012  South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint calls it "a political trophy" within Obama's grasp.

Thursday, December 13, 2012  Republicans still aren't budging on Obama's demands for higher tax rates on upper bracket earners, despite the president's convincing election victory and opinion polls showing support for the idea.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012  Evidence of Congress' plummeting popularity is everywhere.

Monday, December 10, 2012  The Obama-Boehner meeting Sunday was the first between just the two leaders since Election Day.

Monday, December 10, 2012  The stock market's unpredictability is perhaps the biggest wild card in the political showdown over the fiscal cliff.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012  The counter to a White House plan last week relies more on politically sensitive spending cuts and would raise half the $1.6 trillion in revenue proposed by Obama over the coming decade.

Monday, December 03, 2012  Congress and the White House are engaged in a high-stakes game of political chess over the looming fiscal cliff