Top United States government News
‘Clear the Capitol,’ Pence pleaded, timeline of riot shows
WASHINGTON (AP) — From a secure room in the Capitol on Jan. 6, as rioters pummeled police and vandalized the building, Vice President Mike Pence tried to assert control. In an urgent phone call to the acting defense secretary, he issued a startling demand. “Clear the...
In GOP strongholds, a big push on 'culture war' legislation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An ardent abortion foe who once opposed allowing gay couples to be foster parents, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is the unlikeliest figure to complain about bills on the “culture wars" reaching his desk. But by vetoing a ban on gender...
High court halts Calif. virus rules limiting home worship
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t enforce coronavirus-related restrictions that have limited home-based religious worship including Bible studies and prayer meetings. The order from the court late Friday is the latest in a recent...
Trump addresses GOP as power to shape national debate wanes
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump insists he's enjoying his life off Twitter. The press releases his aides fire off on an increasingly frequent basis are more “elegant,” he says. Plus there's no risk of backlash for retweeting unsavory accounts. But...
Gaetz faces House ethics probe; federal investigation widens
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as federal prosecutors probing sex trafficking allegations against him are also scrutinizing the actions of some of his political allies and fellow Florida Republicans as part of a broader...
Bowing to Trump? GOP brings leaders, donors to his backyard
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — There will be no reckoning at the Republican National Committee. Three months after former President Donald Trump helped incite a violent attack against Congress, the GOP is bringing hundreds of donors and several future presidential prospects to...
Biden's ambitious expansion of long-term care sparks debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is proposing a major expansion of the government’s role in long-term care, but questions are being raised over his using the low-income Medicaid program and piggybacking the whole idea on an infrastructure bill. The White House...
Biden budget seeks more for schools, health care and housing
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden released a $1.5 trillion wish list for his first federal budget, asking for substantial gains for Democratic priorities including education, health care, housing and environmental protection. The request by the White House budget...
Texas Rep. Crenshaw temporarily blinded after eye surgery
HOUSTON (AP) — Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, said Saturday that he has undergone eye surgery and will be virtually sightless for a month. Crenshaw, 37, is a Navy veteran who lost his right eye and suffered damage to his left eye in 2012 when a homemade bomb...
Positive atmosphere, little progress in Iran nuclear talks
BERLIN (AP) — Nascent talks aimed at bringing the United States back into the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran broke Friday without any immediate signs of progress on the thorny issues dividing Washington and Tehran, but with delegates talking of a constructive atmosphere and resolving to...
Latest United States government News
The Latest: Lawmakers aim to limit state emergency powers
NEW YORK — State lawmakers across the U.S. are taking actions to limit the emergency powers of governors — not just in the current coronavirus pandemic, but for any future emergencies. The pushback is coming primarily from Republican lawmakers but is not entirely...
West Virginia lawmakers weigh needle exchange regulations
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia bill that would regulate needle exchange programs is poised to gain final approval in the Republican-controlled legislature. Critics have said more stringent requirements for the programs will constrain the number of providers who give clean syringes...
High court halts Calif. virus rules limiting home worship
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t enforce coronavirus-related restrictions that have limited home-based religious worship including Bible studies and prayer meetings. The order from the court late Friday is the latest in a recent...
Oklahoman charged with threatening federal officials
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma man has been charged with 10 counts of threatening former President George W. Bush, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and and six members of Congress. Court documents dated Thursday allege Michael Brandon Houck made the...
‘Clear the Capitol,’ Pence pleaded, timeline of riot shows
WASHINGTON (AP) — From a secure room in the Capitol on Jan. 6, as rioters pummeled police and vandalized the building, Vice President Mike Pence tried to assert control. In an urgent phone call to the acting defense secretary, he issued a startling demand. “Clear the...
Lee Hart, wife of 1984 presidential hopeful Gary Hart, dies
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Lee Hart, the wife of former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado, has died. She was 85. Lee Hart died Friday at a hospital in Lakewood, Colorado, after a brief illness. She campaigned for her husband during his runs for the Senate and the White House....
Beachgoer finds body of man whose truck plunged off bridge
MANTEO, N.C. (AP) — The body of a Maryland man whose truck plunged off the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in December was found Friday on a beach in North Carolina, according to his relatives. Erik Mezick’s family posted on Facebook that they were notified...
Gaetz faces House ethics probe; federal investigation widens
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation Friday into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as federal prosecutors probing sex trafficking allegations against him are also scrutinizing the actions of some of his political allies and fellow Florida Republicans as part of a...
Cities win immigration policing dispute with US government
BOSTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped its challenge to a court decision that said the federal government could not force two Rhode Island cities to turn local police into federal immigration agents. Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Central Falls...
Gaetz faces House ethics probe; federal investigation widens
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as federal prosecutors probing sex trafficking allegations against him are also scrutinizing the actions of some of his political allies and fellow Florida Republicans as part of a broader...
