Top United States government News

US education chief considers new ways to discourage college admissions preference for kids of alumni

Sep. 22, 2023 01:34 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s education chief said he’s open to using “whatever levers” are available — including federal money — to discourage colleges from giving admissions preference to the children of alumni and donors. In an interview with The Associated...

Nevada Republicans brace for confusion as party eyes election rules that may favor Trump

Sep. 22, 2023 00:29 AM EDT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's push to bend state Republican parties to his will — and gain an advantage in his effort to return to the White House — is coming to a head in Nevada. The state GOP, which is led by Trump allies, is insisting on moving forward...

Zelenskyy delivers upbeat message to US lawmakers on war progress as some Republican support softens

Sep. 21, 2023 21:52 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy worked to shore up U.S. support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington on Thursday, delivering an upbeat message on the war's progress while facing new questions about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his...

Government shutdown risk spikes as House Republicans leave town in disarray amid hard-right revolt

Sep. 21, 2023 19:37 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — With House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's latest funding plan in ruins and lawmakers leaving town for the weekend, there's no endgame in sight as hard-right Republicans push dangerously closer to a disruptive federal shutdown. The White House will tell federal agencies...

911 call shows bizarre circumstances of F-35 ejection: 'Not sure where the airplane is,' pilot says

Sep. 21, 2023 22:22 PM EDT

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A military pilot whose advanced fighter jet went temporarily missing over the weekend is heard repeatedly requesting an ambulance in a perplexing 911 call from the South Carolina home where he had parachuted to safety, according to an audio recording released...

Senate confirms army, marines chiefs as senator's objection blocks other military nominations

Sep. 21, 2023 15:50 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed three top military leaders, filling the posts after monthslong delays and as a Republican senator is still holding up hundreds of other nominations and promotions for senior officers. Thursday afternoon, Gen. Randy George was confirmed as...

VP Harris, a former prosecutor, will lead new White House office of gun violence prevention

Sep. 21, 2023 19:21 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has asked Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the first-ever federal office of gun violence prevention, which will seek to find ways around congressional inaction to stem rising violence. Harris, a former prosecutor and state attorney...

US contractor originally from Ethiopia arrested on espionage charges, Justice Department says

Sep. 22, 2023 03:45 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A contractor for the U.S. government has been arrested on espionage charges, accused of providing a foreign country classified information that he downloaded and printed from his work computer system, the Justice Department said Thursday. Abraham Teklu Lemma, who...

Vivek Ramaswamy accuses Trump of making a 'false promise' in not repealing Obamacare

Sep. 21, 2023 16:47 PM EDT

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy swiped at former President Donald Trump on Thursday for failing to repeal and replace the health care overhaul championed by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama. “I am never somebody who will make a false promise,”...

Afghans who recently arrived in US get temporary legal status from Biden administration

Sep. 21, 2023 19:40 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday it was giving temporary legal status to Afghan migrants who have already been living in the country for a little over a year. The Department of Homeland Security said in the announcement that the decision to give Temporary...

Latest United States government News

US contractor originally from Ethiopia arrested on espionage charges, Justice Department says

Sep. 22, 2023 03:45 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A contractor for the U.S. government has been arrested on espionage charges, accused of providing a foreign country classified information that he downloaded and printed from his work computer system, the Justice Department said Thursday. Abraham Teklu Lemma, who...

Zelenskyy to speak before Canadian Parliament in his campaign to shore up support for Ukraine

Sep. 22, 2023 00:38 AM EDT

TORONTO (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak to the Canadian Parliament on Friday as part of his campaign to bolster support from Western allies for Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy flew into Canada's capital late Thursday after meetings...

Hollywood actor and writer strikes have broad support among Americans, AP-NORC poll shows

Sep. 22, 2023 00:06 AM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Public support for striking Hollywood actors and writers is broad, but not necessarily deep enough for most people to change their viewing habits, a new poll finds. A majority (55%) of U.S. adults sympathize with the writers and actors in the months-long dispute...

Zelenskyy visits Canada for first time since war started seeking to shore up support for Ukraine

Sep. 21, 2023 23:45 PM EDT

TORONTO (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the Canadian Parliament on Friday as he continues his efforts to shore up support from Western allies for Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy arrived at Ottawa’s airport late Thursday after...

Zelenskyy delivers upbeat message to US lawmakers on war progress as some Republican support softens

Sep. 21, 2023 21:52 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy worked to shore up U.S. support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington on Thursday, delivering an upbeat message on the war's progress while facing new questions about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his...

Afghans who recently arrived in US get temporary legal status from Biden administration

Sep. 21, 2023 19:40 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday it was giving temporary legal status to Afghan migrants who have already been living in the country for a little over a year. The Department of Homeland Security said in the announcement that the decision to give Temporary...

VP Harris, a former prosecutor, will lead new White House office of gun violence prevention

Sep. 21, 2023 19:21 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has asked Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the first-ever federal office of gun violence prevention, which will seek to find ways around congressional inaction to stem rising violence. Harris, a former prosecutor and state attorney...

Lebanon launches probe into late-night shots outside US Embassy that caused no injuries

Sep. 21, 2023 12:30 PM EDT

AUKAR, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese security agencies are investigating a late-night shooting outside the heavily fortified U.S. Embassy just north of Beirut, officials said Thursday. No one was hurt in the small-arms fire. The shots erupted near the entrance to the embassy compound in...

First private US passenger rail line in 100 years is about to link Miami and Orlando at high speed

Sep. 21, 2023 11:42 AM EDT

MIAMI (AP) — The first big test of whether privately owned high-speed passenger train service can prosper in the United States will launch Friday when Florida's Brightline begins running trains between Miami and Orlando, reaching speeds of 125 mph (200 kph). It's a $5 billion bet...

Fighting ‘through hell.’ To reclaim Bakhmut, a Ukrainian brigade must first survive the forest

Sep. 21, 2023 10:29 AM EDT

ANDRIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — The Russian bullet struck the sergeant just above the left ear. The leader of the Ukrainian platoon was down. Headquarters radioed a battlefield promotion to the private who had called him “brother” — a man known as Courier. Courier knew the...