The economy continues to recover, but at a much slower pace than expected. The US reaffirms its commitment to defend South Korea from attacks. Authorities release search warrant details of the Newtown School massacre. The History Channel drama The Bible continues to be a big hit. The government reports an unexpected jump in jobless claims, but not enough to shake up Wall Street.

Accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes is willing to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison. A tour of the border brings senators close to an immigration bill. Oral arguments conclude, leaving the marriage case in the hands of the Supreme Court. Overseas, banks in Cyprus open today for the first time in more than a week. Stocks were mixed on Wednesday as tepid demand at an Italian debt auction renewed investor concerns about the financial stability of the euro zone.

At the Supreme Court, arguments are heard over the federal law defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Inside the high court, the justices considered novel theories of law. Religious leaders weigh in on marriage at rallies in the nation’s capital. The Indiana Supreme Court upholds the nation's most generous and ambitious school choice program. A good day on Wall Street as traders are focused on signs of recovery in the US economy.

With Congress on recess, Obama seeks to turn up the heat on lawmakers to address immigration when they return. Pro-abortion protesters demand North Dakota Republican governor to veto legislation that could pave the way to legal personhood for unborn children. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Afghan president Hamid Karzai saying that Washington and Kabul are now of the same mind on peace talks with the Taliban. The Supreme Court opens the first of two days of oral arguments over same-sex marriage. Finance minister of Holland, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, sent traders into a tailspin with a few not-so-well chosen words.

The Supreme Court prepares to hears two days of arguments over two measures that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Billionaire New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to pour twelve million dollars into television commercials advocating gun control. Washington expresses displeasure with Iraq over aid to Syria. The US suspects Iran of airlifting weapons and fighters to help prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Business news, after developments on the European debt crisis last week traders got spooked and drove the market down.

House lawmakers okay a Senate-passed stopgap funding bill while the long-term battle over deficit reduction continues. North Korea launches a cyberattack on South Korea, but was more akin to digital vandalism than to national-security or corporate espionage. President Obama speaks to about a thousand Israeli college students in Jerusalem. He spoke mainly of the issues surrounding the Palestinians, rather than tackling more serious issues. National Religious Broadcasters President Frank Wright submits his resignation, which will be effective in the fall. Technology and commodity-related stocks led Wall Street down on Thursday as oil and metal prices fell.

Former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson recounts testimony in the Kermit Gosnell trial. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signs several bills into law that make Colorado the strictest state on gun control in the country. President Obama is in Jerusalem talking up the peace process. The Senate passes its stopgap government funding bill. Stocks hold their ground as Wall Street turns its attention to the Federal Reserve.

A federal judge strikes down a Missouri law that would have exempted the state from the part of Obamacare that requires insurance plans to cover abortion inducing drugs. A tragedy is averted on a college campus in Florida. Accusations over the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Both the rebels and the regime accuse each other of using chemical weapons in Aleppo. President Obama weighs in on the History Channel series The Bible. The Dow Jones Industrial Average turns down again and Wall Street logs its first three-day losing streak this year.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus discusses the GOP’s new action plan to capture new voters. Israel prepares for a three-day visit from President Obama. Thomas Perez, President Obama’s nominee for Labor Secretary, faces opposition from Republicans over his work at the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division. The US hopes an American pastor jailed in Iran will be pardoned during this week’s observance of the Persian New Year. Terms of a European bailout of Cyprus rattled global markets yesterday.

Sunday political talk shows: Dueling budget blueprints in the House and Senate, GOP chairman vows more robust outreach to minorities. CPAC '13: Freshman Texas senator lifts conservatives' spirits, attendees choose Rand Paul first and Marco Rubio second in presidential straw poll. North Korea: Pentagon draws up plans to protect U.S. from Pyongyang nuclear threat. Obamacare: Federal judge issues another injunction protecting religious conscience on birth-control and abortifacient mandate. Business: Dow winning streak ends, market looks ahead to update from Fed on monetary policy.