John B. Rhea came to the city agency with extensive credentials in banking but no experience in housing, and proceeded to become a provocative figure.

The judge in the case of Mansour J. Arbabsiar, who has been in custody since his arrest in September, said it was not fair to postpone proceedings.

New York is to pay $15 million in a class-action suit challenging arrests for loitering that were based on laws that had been ruled unconstitutional.

Rick Santorum’s rebuke of Mitt Romney could scramble the dynamics of the race even as many in the party’s establishment were urging its most committed activists to finally fall in line behind Mr. Romney.

Rick Santorum won the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and a nonbinding primary in Missouri on Tuesday, raising fresh questions about Mitt Romney’s ability to corral conservative support.

Rick Santorum’s victories in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri were his first breakout moments, but how much they will matter in the long run remains unclear.

Facing defeats as three other states held their nominating contests on Tuesday, Newt Gingrich traveled to a place he hopes will help get him back in the saddle next month: Ohio.

Officials at a major Democratic “super PAC” scheduled meetings with potential donors and made plans to coordinate with independent fund-raising groups that support Congressional candidates.

Facing criticism from religious-affiliated institutions, the Obama administration promised on Tuesday to explore ways to make a new health insurance requirement more flexible.

As time runs short for a bipartisan Congressional negotiating group, there is talk of another short-term extension for payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits.