From mortgage relief to painful bills from the IRS

In 2007, Congress let homeowners get loan forgiveness from banks without reporting it as income. If the tax break is not renewed, many could owe thousands.

U.S. blocks Iran’s U.N. pick, setting up new confrontation

Hamid Aboutalebi was allegedly a member of the group responsible for the takeover of the U.S. Embassy.

The Glenn family mourns Bryan, who died in 2012. (Linda Davidson/Post)

After six suicides, a search for solace

At W.T. Woodson High School in suburban Virginia, there is an urgent question: Why would so many teens take their lives?

5 words to fix the Second Amendment

5 words to fix the Second Amendment

OUTLOOK | The former Supreme Court justice says this would change the law to its original intent.

The autopen: 1937’s killer app shows how D.C. can be slow to change

The autopen: 1937’s killer app shows how D.C. can be slow to change

They’re clunky, but “robot pens” are still signing government documents — including in the Oval Office.

Obama selects a ‘proven manager’ and budget wonk to guide health care

Obama selects a ‘proven manager’ and budget wonk to guide health care

The choice of Sylvia Mathews Burwell shows the need for steady hands to handle the complex issue.

Picks of the Week 

How online skim reading may
be changing your brain-wiring

How online skim reading may <br> be changing your brain-wiring

Our brains, neuroscientists warn, are developing new circuits with a big impact on non-digital reading.

Deeper than the Titanic:
How low can we go to find Flight 370?

Deeper than the Titanic: <br> How low can we go to find Flight 370?

GRAPHIC | The ocean’s depth frames the complexity of the search.

A love that led to fire. Well, 77 fires.

A love that led to fire. Well, 77 fires.

Two ordinary people’s lives transform into a romance during a string of rural serial fires.

HEorganicgood0408

Photo: BigStock

Is organic food really better?

A look at nutrition and contamination in organic and conventional meat, milk, produce, eggs and fish.

Editors’ Picks

Cherry blossoms and the Jefferson Memorial are seen April 10, 2014 at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. The trees should be at peak bloom over the coming weekend.The first cherry trees were ceremonially planted by First Lady Helen Taft and Japanese Viscountess Iwa Chinda on March 27, 1912. Over 3,000 trees were planted throughout the modern National Mall and Memorial Parks as a gift from Yokohama, Japan to Washington. AFP PHOTO / Karen BLEIERKAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

(AFP/Getty Images)

Peak time for peak blossoms

PHOTOS | D.C.’s cherry blossom trees bloomed just in time to provide a colorful finale to the city’s festival. 

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ducks as an object is thrown on stage during an address to members of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries during their annual convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Thursday, April 10, 2014, in Las Vegas. Clinton, a possible presidential contender in 2016, ducked but did not appear to be hit by the object, and then joked about the incident. Security ushered out a woman who said she threw a shoe but didn't identify herself to reporters or explain the action. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun, Steve Marcus) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT

(Steve Marcus / AP)

Shoe thrown at Hillary Clinton

VIDEO | A woman has been arrested in Las Vegas after she threw a shoe at the former secretary of state.

Featured Photo Galleries

Photos of the day

Ukraine, “Spider-Man 2” premiere, Civil Rights Summit, Hillary Clinton dodges shoe, stiletto heel murder trial and more.

Fires, tear gas flow when police evict Rio de Janeiro squatters

People occupying a cellphone company’s abandoned buildings in the Telerj slum protest police action.

The 2014 Masters

First and second round action from the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

Crisis in the Central African Republic

The first European Union troops arrived in the Central African Republic.

Images of Earth

Photos from the International Space Station, Landsat and other satellites around the globe.

Cherry blossoms reach peak bloom in D.C.

It’s prime viewing time for Washington’s famous trees from Japan.

Controversial magazine covers

Rolling Stone, New Yorker and Time covers gave people something to talk about.

Ostrich racing, lingerie basketball and more of the weirdest sports

Photographer Sol Neelman documents some of the world’s oddest sporting events.

Politics

Without inflammatory rhetoric, would Pelosi be speechless?

Without inflammatory rhetoric, would Pelosi be speechless?

House leader’s name-calling style lacks substance when it comes to her political opponents.

More Opinions

Tea party runs dry

Tea party runs dry

RIGHT TURN | The establishment has won.

Lifestyle

Can Katherine Heigl sue Duane Reade for tweeting her photo? Yes, she can.

Can Katherine Heigl sue Duane Reade for tweeting her photo? Yes, she can.

Why the actress actually has a case in her $6 million lawsuit against the drugstore chain.

Arts

Miley Cyrus in D.C.: More quirky, less twerky — she even rode a giant hot dog

Miley Cyrus in D.C.: More quirky, less twerky — she even rode a giant hot dog <br>

REVIEW | In D.C., the polarizing singer is sexy, mischievous and more intriguing than her pop peers.

Local

With budget cuts, ‘the incentive to come to Washington has worn down’

With budget cuts, ‘the incentive to come to Washington has worn down’

Much of the region’s growth is now driven by births, not new residents, census figures show.

Sports

Conditions perfectly menacing

Conditions perfectly menacing

COLUMN | COLUMN | At Augusta National, a chamber of commerce afternoon wreaks havoc with some of golf’s best.

Technology

The NSA may have exploited Heartbleed

The NSA may have exploited Heartbleed

MONKEY CAGE | If this is true, it will gravely damage US credibility in the Internet governance debate.

Business

How Buffett and Graham are saving $675 million in taxes

How Buffett and Graham are saving $675 million in taxes

COLUMN | The companies are doing a clever cash-rich split-off — and it’s completely legal.

Real Estate

Georgetown’s $16M mansion sells

Georgetown’s $16M mansion sells

WHERE WE LIVE | The Williams-Addison House sold for the highest price for a D.C. home since 2010.

Federal Government

Career diplomat Bill Burns retiring

Career diplomat Bill Burns retiring

IN THE LOOP | Burns is retiring after staying on longer than he intended at the urging of President Obama.

World

Venezuela’s opposition leaders meet with Maduro

Venezuela’s opposition leaders meet with Maduro

Dialogue with the president could be the first step toward ending the country’s political crisis.

Discussions

How we feel about Colbert replacing Letterman (hint: conflicted)

How we feel about Colbert replacing Letterman (hint: conflicted)

Q&A TRANSCRIPT | Hank Stuever’s weekly TV chat discussed Colbert’s big move, plus what to expect from “Mad Men” and “Veep.”

Diversions