(CNSNews.com) - A coalition of community and ethnic groups on Thursday sponsored a "night of 1,000 conversations" dealing with what it considers America's "broken" immigration system. The advocates for illegal workers want comprehensive immigration reform that would make it easier for the workers to remain in the United States.

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Thursday appeared in Washington, D.C., to promote a plug-in hybrid car that supporters claim can travel 150 miles or more on a gallon of gasoline and to answer critics who accuse Congress of posturing on global warming issues.Appearing with Markey was actor Rob Lowe, who told reporters and fans that "clean energy is something I've been interested in for a while." He said he had decided to take a public stand on the issue, because "I've been watching as the climate changes."

(CNSNews.com) - The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a case examining the way labor unions use non-members' dues, prompting one of the lawyers arguing the case to urge the justices to "protect the integrity of our election system."Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna said that allowing the union to use non-members' money for political purposes without affirmative consent tarnishes the election system, because it funnels money to a campaign that the dues-payer may not support.

(CNSNews.com) - As the U.S. House of Representatives begins debate on a non-binding resolution criticizing President Bush's troop "surge" policy for Iraq, some lawmakers are frustrated that the Congress is not considering bills that offer alternative approaches to the conflict.

(CNSNews.com) - Leading Democratic proponents of setting a timetable for pulling troops out of Iraq have refused to meet with the father of a dead soldier who believes a withdrawal would mean his son's life was "wasted."Army SSG Joshua Hager was wounded near Ramadi when an improvised explosive device blew up under his vehicle on Feb. 22, 2007. He died the next day from his injuries.Hager's father, Kris Hager, wants opponents of the war to rethink their position because he believes ending U.S. involvement would mean his son's life was wasted there.

(CNSNews.com) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to increase the reward for Osama bin Laden's capture, or for information leading to his capture, to $50 million. The increase would be mandated by an amendment to a pending Defense Department authorizations bill.Current law limits federal rewards to $25 million except when personally authorized by the Secretary of State "if he [or she] determines that offer or payment of an award of a larger amount is necessary to combat terrorism or defend the Nation against terrorist attacks."

(CNSNews.com) - Activists from more than a dozen environmental groups gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday to lobby for the Clean Energy Act, the final part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) "100-hour" agenda that the activists are calling a "first step" in restructuring the government's energy policy.The bill would roll back some tax loopholes and subsidies for oil companies and use the increased federal revenue to invest in renewable energy research. Supporters of the measure estimate it will bring in $14 billion over the next 10 years.

(CNSNews.com) - A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week would designate English as the country's official language and require immigrants to learn English before becoming naturalized citizens."English is the language of opportunity in America," the bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), said in a statement. "The best way for our newcomers to work toward their own success is through our common bond of language."

(CNSNews.com) - In an unscientific poll released Thursday, the liberal activist group MoveOn.org revealed that its members believe Sen. Barack Obama is the best choice to lead the country out of Iraq. Presumed Democratic 2008 frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton lagged far behind.The Illinois Democrat earned 28 percent of members' support in the organization's "virtual town hall vote" held online this week.