Jeffrey Zarrillo and his partner Paul Katami and Sandy Stier and her partner Kristin Perry enter the federal courthouse in San Francisco, California in this July 2, 2009 file photo.
The Senate cleared its year-end plate of some must-do work Saturday as it passed a critical budget bill that blends money for the Pentagon with additional help for the jobless.
After months of denials, Iran acknowledged Saturday that at least three people detained in the country's postelection turmoil were beaten to death by their jailers.