North Carolina GOP lawmakers enact a law eroding the incoming Democratic governor's powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a law over the governor's veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections. In a 72-46 vote, the Republican-dominated House overrode...

House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly...

Slovakia's parliament passes legislation that could ban doctors from protesting low pay

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s parliament on Wednesday approved legislation drafted by the government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico that could effectively ban doctors from protesting against low pay and force them to continue working. Lawmakers in the 150-seat...

House passes $895 billion defense policy bill with pay raise for troops, sending measure to Senate

Editorial Roundup: United States

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ Dec. 6 The Washington Post on the Senate and a shrinking window to protect press freedom In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland established new, but long-needed, press...

Gambling companies spent big to defeat three California lawmakers. ‘We want to be respected’

California’s card rooms lost a costly legislative fight this year as they sought to kill a bill that would allow their competitors, tribal casinos, to sue them. But that didn’t stop the gambling halls from punishing a handful of lawmakers for their votes after Gov. Gavin Newsom...

Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans teed up a vote this week on bipartisan legislation to gradually expand by 66 the number of federal judgeships across the country. Democrats, though, are having second thoughts now that President-elect Donald Trump has won a second term. The...

Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump's mass deportation effort

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his administration, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are already rolling out proposals that could help him carry out his pledge to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. Lawmakers...

Russian lawmakers advance a bill removing the terrorist designation for the Taliban

MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of the Russian parliament gave initial approval Tuesday to a long-discussed bill that would set the stage for Moscow to remove the designation of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a terrorist group. Under the bill passed by the State Duma in the first of...

Missouri companies sue to stop a law that raises minimum wage and requires paid sick leave

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri business groups announced Monday that they have filed a lawsuit to try to stop a voter-approved law that will raise the state's minimum wage and require employers to give workers paid sick leave. The powerful Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry,...