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Justice Department Warns Of 'Pain' From Looming Cuts

Credit Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Attorney General Eric Holder speaks before a meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General on Tuesday.

By Carrie Johnson

Originally published on Thu February 28, 2013 6:30 pm

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President Obama minced no words when he talked about how the looming budget cuts known as sequestration could hurt the Justice Department.

"FBI agents will be furloughed. Federal prosecutors will have to close cases and let criminals go," Obama said.

Starting late Friday, if Congress and the White House can't come to an agreement, the Justice Department will face $1.6 billion in cuts — about 9 percent of its budget. Attorney General Eric Holder told a group of state law enforcement officials who met in Washington this week that the situation looks ugly.

5:33 pm

Thu February 28, 2013

The Pope Emeritus' New Shoes And The Mexican Man Who Makes Them

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Credit Alfredo Valadez / AP

Armando Martin Dueñas shows replicas of the hand-crafted loafers given to Pope Benedict XVI.

Credit Alfredo Valadez / AP

Armando Martin Dueñas shows a replica of one of the hand-crafted loafers that were given to Pope Benedict XVI during his March 2012 visit to Mexico at the Ackerman shoe factory in Leon, Mexico.

By Carrie Kahn

Originally published on Fri March 1, 2013 8:42 am

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As Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican and his papacy, he slipped out of his trademark red shoes and put on a pair of Mexican leather loafers. The shoes, actually three pairs, two burgundy and one brown, were a gift to the Pope during his trip last year to Mexico.

5:32 pm

Thu February 28, 2013

Change In Law May Spur Campus Action On Sexual Assaults

Credit Jacquelyn Martin / AP

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi discusses the Violence Against Women Act on Capitol Hill on Thursday. The House passed the measure, which could help curb violence on campus.

By editor

Originally published on Thu February 28, 2013 9:41 pm

Most cases of sexual assault or harassment on school campuses don't attract national attention.

5:30 pm

Thu February 28, 2013

Some Political Lessons From The Violence Against Women Act Vote

Credit Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights / Flickr

Supporters of the Violence Against Women Act rally in front of the U.S. Capitol last June. On Thursday, the House passed a reauthorization measure.

By Frank James

Originally published on Thu February 28, 2013 7:22 pm

The fight over reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act is now behind us. But like much of what happens in Washington, the process wasn't pretty.

In the debate leading up to Thursday's House vote, you had Democrats accusing Republicans of continuing a "war on women," and Republicans accusing Democrats of crass political pandering.

5:06 pm

Thu February 28, 2013

Strategy To Prevent HIV In Newborns Sparks Enthusiasm And Skepticism

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Credit Siegfried Modola / AFP/Getty Images

By taking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy, this Tanzanian mother lowered the risk of passing HIV to her daughter.

Credit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Where is Option B+? Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, like Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, are already planning to implement the program. The U.S. government funds Option B+ through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

By Richard Knox

Originally published on Thu February 28, 2013 7:52 pm

There's great enthusiasm among some global health leaders about a bold – some say radical — strategy to prevent pregnant women from transmitting HIV to their newborns.

But skeptics worry that the approach, dubbed Option B+, will pit pregnant women with HIV against others infected with the virus, diverting resources from the broader struggle against the pandemic.

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5:34 pm

Thu February 28, 2013