Nation: Senate Republicans blocked a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, saying a hike would slow the economy and force employers to shed hundreds of thousands of jobs. The federal minimum is now $7.25. But …

Jobs: New unemployment claims fell to a seven-year low last week, feeding optimism that the economy is coming out of a winter freeze and growing. Unemployment claims dropped by 32,000 to 300,000, much better than expected. Nyet: Armed men holding …

World: Ukrainian troops re-took a government building occupied by protesters in the eastern city of Kharkiv. About 70 people were arrested. White House Press Secy. Jay Carney said yesterday that there’s strong evidence that the demonstrators who took over government …