$7 billion in gear U.S. sent to war will not return

About 20 percent of the equipment sent to Afghanistan will be disposed of because it is not needed or too costly to ship back, and it’s too complicated to donate or sell.

Snowden extradition could be a very complicated process

Bringing the former NSA contractor back to the United States to face charges would involve of number of challenging legal, political and diplomatic hurdles.

Dianna Wallen with Maxim during a 2009 visit. (Family photo)

An orphan’s death: ‘This is ... barbaric’

About 300 American families were trying to adopt Russian orphans when a ban took effect. The death of a 2-year-old girl has now given their campaign new urgency to help other children.

FILE - This 2007 file photo originally supplied by HBO, shows James Gandolfini, left, Steven Van Zandt and Tony Sirico, right, members of the cast of the HBO cable television mob drama 'The Sopranos.' HBO and the managers for Gandolfini say the actor died Wednesday, June 19, 2013, in Italy. He was 51. (AP Photo/HBO,Craig Blankenhorn)

Gandolfini, left, with "Sopranos" cast members. (AP 2007)

James Gandolfini, ‘Sopranos’ star, made mob boss into an icon

OBITUARY | The 3-time Emmy winner was best known for playing mob boss Tony Soprano in the HBO series.

New virus may be more fatal than SARS, according to disease experts

New virus may be more fatal than SARS, according to disease experts

Team studies “extremely high” death rate from the respiratory ailment spreading through Saudi Arabia.

Bernanke: Stimulus may be scaled back this year if growth persists

Bernanke: Stimulus may be scaled back this year if growth persists

The Fed gives a clearer picture of when it may reduce the $85 billion it spends per month on bonds.

On 8th-grade graduation day,
joy turns to anguish in an instant

On 8th-grade graduation day, <br>joy turns to anguish in an instant

Just hours after Bennett Rill finished eighth grade in Fairfax County, he apparently was electrocuted.

Dissecting the ‘SNAP Challenge’

Dissecting the ‘SNAP Challenge’

FACT CHECKER | Lawmakers suggest food-stamp recipients must subsist on $4.50 a day. Is that true?

SEAHOUSES, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Puffins return to their summer breeding grounds on the Farne Islands as National Trust rangers carry out a Puffin census on the Farne Islands on May 16, 2013 in Farne, England. A census is carried out every five years with the last one in 2008 recording 36,500 pairs of puffins. The Farne Islands, offer good protection for the birds to nest, providing excellent sources of food, and few ground predators, despite this rangers fear that the extreme winter could impact on breeding numbers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Puffins return to breeding grounds in England. (Getty)

Why are birds starving to death?

Biologists are finding bodies of migratory puffins and Arctic terns whose parents cannot feed them.

Death of Labor Dept. lawyer accused of sex assault was suicide, officials say

Death of Labor Dept. lawyer accused of sex assault was suicide, officials say

Paul Mannina appears to have cut his throat with a razor, but no official cause of death has been confirmed.

Federal prosecutor moves closer to finding out what Vincent Gray knew

Federal prosecutor moves closer to finding out what Vincent Gray knew

COLUMN | Advances in probe of illicit campaign donations could lead to more pressure on the D.C. mayor.

Glover Park strip club to open with more modest plans for nude dancing

Glover Park strip club to open with more modest plans for nude dancing

D.C.’s alcohol board will let JP’s open with nude dancing on stages, but not on tables or in VIP alcoves.

When The Doors set Alexandria on fire

When The Doors set Alexandria on fire

STATE OF NOVA | Remembering Jim Morrison's 1967 concert return to the place he went to high school.

Could D.C. area home values could go flat next year? Zillow report says so.

Could D.C. area home values could go flat next year? Zillow report says so.

WHERE WE LIVE | Local housing experts disagree with Zillow's projection of 0.1 percent growth.

A nearly perfect summer forecast

A nearly perfect summer forecast

WEATHER GANG | Sunshine and light breezes are expected for one of the longest days of the year.

3 pedestrians struck by SUV near Union Station; 2 in critical condition

3 pedestrians struck by SUV near Union Station; 2 in critical condition

Six were injured after car sped through intersection, trapping one person under a van.

Nats come back in 11th to beat Phillies

Nats come back in 11th to beat Phillies

Jayson Werth hits a game-tying single in the ninth before Ian Desmond wins it with a grand slam.

Amid power-line dispute, James River makes most-endangered places list

Amid power-line dispute, James River makes most-endangered places list

Trust for Historic Preservation says 500,000-vote line “would compromise the scenic integrity.”

EDITORS’ PICKS

First Lady Michelle Obama jumps as she dances with school children at the Siete de Enero school located in a low income neighborhood in Mexico City, Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Mrs. Obama is on a three-day visit to Mexico.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

Commander-in-style

PHOTOS | No matter where in the world she goes, Michelle Obama gets attention for her fashion choices.

Sweet soy sauce transforms convenient, quick-cooking shrimp.

14 tasty summer shrimp recipes

PHOTOS | From Indian and Thai to Mexican and Italian, here are delicious ways to cook summer shellfish.

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

James Gandolfini dies at 51

James Gandolfini, the actor famous for his role in “The Sopranos,” died in Italy.

Frederick Douglass statue

The figure of the famed abolitionist and District advocate finds its place inside the halls of Congress.

Photos of the day

Royal Ascot, protests in Brazil, Lego exhibition, flooding in India, Cheetah-Cub robot and more.

Animal views

Rodent exhibition, swimming with elephants, Mexico’s feline mayoral candidate and more.

Eye on entertainment

Madonna, Michael Buble, Barbara Streisand, Jackie Chan, Jerry Seinfeld, Estelle and other celebrities.

Johnathon’s journey

Johnathon Carrington is valedictorian of Dunbar High and is headed to Georgetown. But, he worries, is he ready?

Brazil’s other soccer fields

With the Confederations Cup opening this week, here’s glimpse at some of Brazil’s overlooked soccer fields — in its cities’ slums.

Life in a Siberian prison

A look inside a high-security prison camp outside Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

FEATURED VIDEOS

Music as medicine

Music as medicine

Musicians Alan Yellowitz and Adam Mason run “The Beat Goes On,” a health and wellness program that uses “rhythm enrichment” to brighten the day for seniors suffering from mental illness.
What Germans think of Obama’s visit

What Germans think of Obama’s visit

Pedestrians in Cologne, Germany, discussed their sentiments towards the American president, his visit and his surveillance programs.
Baby white rhino debuts at Australian zoo

Baby white rhino debuts at Australian zoo

Meet Pepper, the latest attraction at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, near Melbourne. She's a Southern White Rhinoceros, only two weeks-old and weighs 185 pounds.
Fans say Gandofini 'put New Jersey on the map'

Fans say Gandofini 'put New Jersey on the map'

‘Sopranos’ fans in Bloomfield, N.J. - where the final scene of the show was filmed - were shocked and saddened by James Gandolfini’s death.
Brazil: Largest protests in 2 decades

Brazil: Largest protests in 2 decades

Protesters filled streets throughout Brazil on Tuesday night, to rally against government corruption and high taxes.
Biden: Emancipation ‘took a long time’ to get to Texas

Biden: Emancipation ‘took a long time’ to get to Texas

Speaking at the dedication of a statue of abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass, the vice president joked “finally the message got to Texas.”
A Juneteenth story

A Juneteenth story

Juneteenth celebrates the anniversary of the days when Texas rejoined the union and the last confederate slaves won their freedom. Hari Jones, curator of the African American Civil War Museum, tells us the story of how, and why African American’s fought in the Civil War.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

How did Customs and Border Protection avoid furloughs?

How did Customs and Border Protection avoid furloughs?

FEDERAL EYE | Janet Napolitano told CBP employees that Congress approved a plan to help mitigate sequester impacts for the agency.

DISCUSSIONS

Free Range

Free Range

Transcript | Our resident foodies talked about gin and tonics, Baltimore pit beef and vegetarian recipes.

DIVERSIONS