How Google changed power and politics

Since opening a one-man lobby shop nine years ago, the Web giant is now a pioneering corporate player in D.C., spending more than most companies, giving money to groups and moving to an office roughly the size of the White House.

Pro-Russian gunmen cause unrest in eastern Ukraine

While the violence is not widespread, its coordination makes Ukrainian officials fear a replay of the Crimea takeover.

(Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post)

What a difference a month makes

Looking at the cherry trees now, it’s hard to remember that on March 4 the Tidal Basin was covered by another snowstorm.

On the Scottish independence
question, the U.S. has stayed silent

On the Scottish independence <br>question, the U.S. has stayed silent

Scots vote on leaving the United Kingdom in September, which could diminish the top American ally.

Hundreds flock to New Hampshire to see GOP stars Ted Cruz and Rand Paul

Hundreds flock to New Hampshire to see GOP stars Ted Cruz and Rand Paul

Other Republican luminaries also spoke at the Freedom Summit, which stoked excitement for 2016.

Is Washington, D.C. ready to
give up on neighborhood schools?

Is Washington, D.C. ready to <br>give up on neighborhood schools?

Proposals from Mayor Gray pit school choice against having nearby schools as neighborhood anchors.

Don’t fake it: Your lover already
knows how satisfied you are in bed

Don’t fake it: Your lover already<br> knows how satisfied you are in bed

A study finds cohabitating or married men and women are equally good at judging their partner’s pleasure.

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

Britain's Prince William (R) and his wife Catherine, carrying baby Prince George arrive at the international airport in Wellington on April 7, 2014. William, Kate and their son Prince George are on a three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia. AFP PHOTO / MARK TANTRUMMark Tantrum/AFP/Getty Images

(Mark Tantrum / AFP/Getty Images)

Best news images of the week

PHOTOS | From a royal family trip to a pillow fight on the Mall, our favorite images from this week.

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. 

Featured Photo Galleries

Best news photos of the week

A look at some of our favorite images from the week of April 6.

A search for answers at Woodson High

Fairfax County school tries to come to grips with six apparent student suicides in three years.

Coachella 2014

The three-day music festival opened Friday in Indio, Calif., with Outkast headlining the first night in a long-awaited reunion.

The 2014 Masters

First, second and third 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.

Politics

Measuring Obama against LBJ’s legacy

Measuring Obama against LBJ’s legacy

COLUMN | THE TAKE | Fifty years from now, will we be looking at the Obama’s record the same way we do LBJ’s?

More Opinions

Tea party runs dry

Tea party runs dry

RIGHT TURN | The establishment has won.

Lifestyle

Heading to Sturgis, S.D., for the love of the ride

Heading to Sturgis, S.D., for the love of the ride

The annual motorcycle Rally Week in a South Dakota town draws bikers from all over.

Arts

Her plays are made for D.C. audiences

Her plays are made for D.C. audiences

So why don’t the sophisticated, unpredictable plays by Lynn Nottage show up on more area stages?

Local

Death of 7- year-old boy prompts D.C. police to improve search tactics

Death of 7- year-old boy prompts D.C.   police to improve search tactics

Internal review of case of missing autistic boy found dead in car last July, results in new policies.

Sports

D.C. United tops Red Bulls, 1-0

D.C. United tops Red Bulls, 1-0

Danny Arnaud scores in the fourth minute and Andrew Dykstra records his second straight shutout as United’s unbeaten streak hits three.

Technology

Apps that might help nudge you into financial health

Apps that might help nudge you into financial health

Here’s a round-up of apps that could help manage your finances.

Business

Relief for distressed borrowers
could bring a bigger tax bill

Relief for distressed borrowers <br> could bring a bigger tax bill

Congress let lapse a tax break that helped many underwater homeowners to get mortgage relief.

Real Estate

In Old Town Alexandria, a rare chance to buy new housing

In Old Town Alexandria, a rare chance to buy new housing

Old Town Commons is sought-after because most property in the historic town is, well, old even if well-kept.

Federal Government

The salary gap between the genders at U.S. government agencies is shrinking

The salary gap between the genders at U.S. government agencies is shrinking

FEDERAL EYE | Female federal workers still earn less than their male counterparts, but the disparity is waning, report shows.

World

Libya crisis over oil highlights government’s vulnerability

Libya crisis over oil highlights government’s vulnerability

Whoever controls oil could decide whether the government grows stronger or the nation fractures.

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