Supporters praise, critics denounce Trump’s CIA nominee Source: AP

With few details about Gina Haspel's undercover career, debate over President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CIA descended Wednesday into verbal spatting between those who praise her experience and others who want her disqualified because of her role in the spy agency's harsh interrogation of terror subjects after 9/11. Haspel faces a contentious hearing in the Senate intelligence committee next week ahead of what the White House admits will be a close confirmation vote in the full Senate.

Memo: Pruitt landlord’s husband sought EPA work for client

The lobbyist whose wife rented a condo to Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt at $50 a night sought EPA committee posts for a lobbying client, according to a newly released EPA memo. J. Steven Hart's seeking those appointments from his wife's former tenant, Pruitt, shows "the extent to which the special interests providing him with gifts have sought specific favors from EPA in return," said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Lobbyist connected to Pruitt’s townhouse stay contacted EPA, despite denials

The lobbyist connected to a controversial living arrangement for Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt emailed the agency on behalf of a client last year, seemingly contradicting his earlier assertion that he did not lobby the EPA in 2017. For much of his first year in Washington Pruitt stayed in a room in a Capitol Hill townhouse co-owned by Vicki Hart, the wife of veteran D.C. lobbyist J. Steven Hart, paying $50 for each night he used it.

Gillibrand urges Congress to pass military sexual assault legislation

U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-New York, is again criticizing the military's handling of sexual assault victims following the latest Department of Defense report that showed more cases are ending without convictions. The senator on Tuesday released a statement on the DoD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office report , saying that not enough is being done to convict accused sexual offenders in the military.

Carr: Fight back against disgraced statie

SUSPENDED: Trooper Leigha Genduso, right, was placed on paid administrative leave after state police opened an internal affairs probe last month. Were you ever arrested or given a ticket by MSP trooper Leigha Genduso before her own sordid criminal career came to light in February? If so, we'd love to hear from you - or your lawyer.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin talks about late mother’s opioid addiction

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is running for re-election this year in Wisconsin, opened up Tuesday about her mother's mental illness and prescription drug addiction, in a moment of candor Baldwin hoped would empower others with similar experiences to come forward. "This epidemic hits close to home for me and for so many others," Baldwin said, sitting across the table from a Milwaukee woman who also told her story of her father's struggles with addiction.

Senate candidate Mike Braun speaks during the Indiana Republican…

Senate candidate Mike Braun speaks during the Indiana Republican Senate Primary Debate among Braun, Luke Messer and Todd Rokita, Monday, April 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. Senate candidate Mike Braun speaks during the Indiana Republican Senate Primary Debate among Braun, Luke Messer and Todd Rokita, Monday, April 30, 2018, in Indianapolis.

Maple, honey producers not sweet on added sugars label Source: AP

Producers of pure maple syrup and honey aren't sweet on a plan to label their pure natural products as containing added sugars. They say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's upcoming requirement to update nutrition labels to tell consumers that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars is misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.

Maple, honey producers not sweet on added sugars label

Producers of pure maple syrup and honey aren't sweet on a plan to label their pure natural products as containing added sugars. They say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's upcoming requirement to update nutrition labels to tell consumers that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars is misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.

US senators oppose closing federal labor relations offices

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is leading a bipartisan group of senators calling on the Federal Labor Relations Authority to end efforts to close its Boston regional office until Congress can weigh in. The group said that by closing it seven regional offices, the authority would place staff farther away from those who rely on them to safeguard the rights of federal employees.

US Sen. Baldwin talks about late mother’s opioid addiction

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, left, tells for the first time publicly the story of her mother's mental illness and addiction to prescription narcotics during a conversation with Morgan Thomas, of Milwaukee, as she runs for re-election, on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Milwaukee. Thomas's father struggles with addiction and Baldwin had never previously told the story of her mother's problems which led to her being raised by her grandparents.

Dem Rep signs on as chief-co of anti-prog tax rez

Calls to protect Illinoisans from a progressive income tax are now coming from both sides of the aisle in Springfield. State Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Smithton, signed on as chief co-sponsor to House Resolution 891 on April 27. The resolution was filed in March by state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and states that Illinois should not scrap its constitutionally protected flat income tax.