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Fort Belvoir, Virginia (CNN) — A chunk of the glass ceiling came tumbling down Monday as veteran national security officer Letitia “Tish” Long became the first woman to head a major intelligence agency.

Long, who has spent 32 years in government service, including more than two decades in the intelligence community, was sworn in as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the office responsible for collecting and analyzing overhead imagery and geospatial information.

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Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama turned his attention to the ongoing fight against government waste Thursday, signing a bill requiring federal agencies to spend at least $1 million annually on audits targeting improper payments and fraud.

Among other things, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act provides new financial incentives for auditors to track down government waste and requires the administration to report to Congress each fiscal year on steps taken to cut down on inappropriate expenditures.

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Washington (CNN) — Can the man who President Obama has tapped to formulate a long-term Gulf Coast restoration plan work only part-time on such a monumental effort?

Some environmental groups say no way and are suggesting that Ray Mabus should give up his post of Navy secretary to focus on the Gulf full-time.

The criticism comes after White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mabus, a former governor of Mississippi, will be splitting his time between the two jobs.

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Los Angeles, California (CNN) — California Republicans nominated two women Tuesday to lead their political ticket in November, bringing an end to two bruising GOP primary battles for governor and Senate.

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman easily defeated state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. She faces state Attorney General Jerry Brown, a former governor, in the general election.

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WASHINGTON – Democrats in the Senate won an initial skirmish Monday to restore unemployment benefits to hundreds of thousands of jobless people despite Republican criticism that it would add $9 billion to the nation’s debt.

The 60-34 vote killed a GOP filibuster against debating the measure, which would extend jobless benefits through May 5 along with short-term extensions of several other lapsed programs.

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t. Charles, Missouri (CNN) — President Obama took his increasingly populist health care overhaul pitch to the political battleground state of Missouri Wednesday, turning up the heat on private health insurers in a speech.

“What we’re proposing is a common-sense approach to protecting you from insurance company abuses, and saving you money,” said Obama, his shirtsleeves rolled up in the 75-degree heat. “That’s the proposal and it’s paid for. I believe Congress owes the American people a final up-or-down vote on health care reform.”

He added, “The time for talk is over. It’s time to vote.”

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Most people would probably find it flattering to be called the brains behind the president of the United States. But not Karl Rove, the former senior adviser to President George W. Bush who has been called “Bush’s brain.”

The nickname, bestowed on Rove by Bush critics, isn’t a compliment to him but rather an insult to his former boss, Rove told TODAY’s Matt Lauer during an extensive interview he granted in conjunction with the publication of his book, “Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight.”

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(CNN) — President Obama recently encouraged Americans to “take about 10 minutes to answer 10 questions” and fill out their 2010 census form.

This year’s questionnaire is one of the shortest in history, but the results of the survey have long-term effects.

The census, taken every 10 years, is used to determine how to allocate more than $400 billion in federal funds and seats House of Representatives and determine the boundaries of representatives’ districts.

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Oslo, Norway (CNN) — President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Thursday by talking about war and the limits of non-violence.

But he also praised the peacemakers of the past, and said the world can and should still strive for peace.

“Let us reach for the world that ought to be,” he told the 1,000-member audience at Oslo City Hall. “Clear-eyed, we can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace.”

The Nobel committee’s choice of Obama as this year’s laureate sparked controversy, in part because he is a president waging two wars abroad. Obama said force is sometimes necessary, but said that is simply “a recognition of history, the imperfections of man, and the limits of reason.”

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ASHINGTON – Former President Bill Clinton told anxious Senate Democrats on Tuesday to pass a health care bill soon because the U.S. economy can’t resist the toxic combination of exorbitant medical costs and nearly 50 million uninsured for much longer.

“My argument was that this is an economic imperative,” Clinton said after the closed-door meeting.

Addressing Democrats’ insecurities about the complex legislation, Clinton said he told the senators “there is no perfect bill — you’ll always have unintended consequences. There will be amendments to this next year. But the worst thing to do is nothing.”