Cleanup of abandoned mines could get boost, relieving rivers

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Thousands of abandoned coal mines in the U.S. have been polluting rivers and streams for decades, in some cases harming fish and contaminating drinking water. Now efforts to finally clean up the sites could soon get a big boost. Tucked into the...

Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Dems' immigration push

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs for their plan to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, the Senate’s parliamentarian said, a crushing blow to what was the party’s clearest pathway in years to...

Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Dems' immigration push

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs for their plan to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, the Senate’s parliamentarian said late Sunday, a crushing blow to what was the party’s clearest pathway...

AP source: Senate parliamentarian says $3.5T bill can’t include citizenship path for immigrants, big blow to Biden, Dems

Bill to scrap MCAS test is subject of virtual public hearing

BOSTON (AP) — A bill that would scrap the MCAS test as a graduation requirement in Massachusetts is the subject of a virtual public hearing at the Statehouse on Monday. The bill would replace the standardized test with what supporters describe as “a broader and...

One stunning afternoon: Setbacks imperil Biden's reset

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was an hour President Joe Biden would no doubt like to forget. On Friday, the Pentagon acknowledged that a drone strike in Afghanistan killed 10 civilians, including seven children, not terrorists. A panel advising the Food and Drug Administration...

Democrats tackling flash points of taxes, health, climate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Revamp the tax code and important federal health care and environment programs. Spend $3.5 trillion over 10 years, but maybe a lot less. Ensure that no more than three Democrats in all of Congress vote “no” because Republicans will be unanimously opposed. ...

California enacts 2 laws to slice through local zoning rules

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday approved two measures to slice through local zoning ordinances as the most populous state struggles with soaring home prices, an affordable housing shortage and stubborn homelessness. He signed the most...

Bipartisan election bill introduced in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Bipartisan legislation to try to fix disputed or gray areas of Pennsylvania's election law was introduced Friday in the state Senate, after more than a year of lawsuits, partisan bickering and legislative stalemates inflamed by last year's presidential election. ...

Budget bill reopens moderate vs. progressive divide for Dems

WASHINGTON (AP) — One side is energized by the prospect of the greatest expansion of government support since the New Deal nearly a century ago. The other is fearful about dramatically expanding Washington's reach at an enormous cost. They're all Democrats. Yet each...