Some breaking news to pass along this morning before we even get our first cup of coffee: Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the longest-tenured member of Congress, died early this morning at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He was 92. No formal cause of death was given, though Byrd had been hospitalized last week with what was believed to be heat exhaustion. Byrd had served in the Senate since January 3, 1959, and is one of the more decorated legislators in that body's history -- his vitae includes two stints as the Majority Leader and he chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee. Byrd overcame an association with the Ku Klux Klan early in his life to rise to prominence in Washington; he holds several unique distinctions, like being the only member of Congress to put himself through law school while serving a term, as he did at American University while he was serving in the House of Representatives between 1953 and 1959. more ›

As the Senate prepares to vote today over whether to close debate on legislation granting the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives, no one can safely say whether the votes will be there to head off a threatened filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made his opposition to the bill painfully clear in a floor speech yesterday, and voting rights activists have been scrambling to gain enough Republican allies to reach... more ›

After next week, Washington's wheels will grind to a sudden month-long halt as members of Congress leave the city for their traditional August recess. Armed with that deadline, voting rights activists are making a last-minute push in the U.S. Senate. When we last checked, legislation to grant the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives was ready to be debated on the floor of the Senate, though supporters of the bill admitted to... more ›

As the full Senate readies to debate and vote on legislation that would grant the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives, voting rights activists are focusing on two key senators -- Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.). According to people close to the lobbying effort, the legislation has garnered enough votes for a simple majority, but is still short of the votes needed to prevent a filibuster. And while... more ›

This weekend, as Washingtonians celebrated Earth Day with Anacostia River cleanups and tree plantings at the National Zoo, the Post highlighted the Capitol Power Plant, a coal-burning blight to Southeast. Thanks to Senators Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the familiar smokestacks continue to burn coal in the heart of the District, a clear violation of the Clean Air Act. In 2000, when officials wanted to stop using the dirtiest of fossil fuels, the... more ›

We swear to God, D.C. is the only town where every main street looks like a ghost town during the nights when prez and vice prez debates take place. You know what? You deserve a night out if you watched that entire snoozefest on C-SPAN yesterday evening. Have at it: The bluesy-rock act the Black Keys hit up the 9:30 Club. The Hill's Third Annual Political Book Fair takes place at Trover Shop, 221 Pennsylvania... more ›

This week, Politics and Prose will host both former Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) and Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the chamber's longest serving member, as both politicians push their new books and their displeasure with the Bush administration. more ›