Trump Jr. agrees to transcribed interview with Senate panel

President Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has agreed to sit down for a transcribed interview with the Senate judiciary committee, as investigators continue to dig into his attendance at a 2016 meeting where he was promised Russian dirt on the Clinton campaign. The committee and Trump Jr. have agreed on a date to be interviewed by the panel in private, according to Taylor Foy, spokesman for committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, after Trump Jr.'s lawyers have been in discussions with the panel and turned over documents.

Chicago changes course, wants police reforms with court role

The city of Chicago changed course Tuesday and said it now wants to carry out far-reaching reforms of its police under strict federal court supervision, abandoning a draft deal on reforms with the Trump administration that envisioned no court role. The new approach led to the unusual sight of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan at a joint news conference to announce that Madigan - with the mayor's full support - had just sued the city seeking court oversight of the beleaguered police force.

Josh Mandel wants churches freed to endorse, raise funds

In announcing his "Faith Outreach Team" Tuesday, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel took up a fight already declared by President Donald Trump. Mandel, who is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, said the faith team's top goal would be to get rid of the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law prohibiting churches and other non-profits from endorsing political candidates or raising money for them.

Vermont delegation calling bluff on Trump’s budget threat

All three members of Vermont 's congressional delegation are opposed to President Donald Trump's suggestion he will shut down the federal government if Congress does not include money to construct a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations committee, calls the suggestion "juvenile," saying it would cost billions of dollars every day to shut down the government.

Harvey victims urged to file insurance claims fast

Homeowners whose properties were damaged by Harvey may face another challenge: filing insurance claims before a new Texas law takes effect on Friday. The statute, House Bill 1774 , limits penalties for property-casualty insurers when policyholders sue them for being slow to settle a claim, offer a lowball payout or decline a claim altogether.

Nelson calls on HHS to oversee state’s handling of 13,000 kids removed from CMS

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson today called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services "to exercise its oversight and enforcement authority" to protect more than 13,000 Florida children with special needs who were improperly removed from the state's specialized care program, known as Children's Medical Services. Nelson's request comes on the heels of recent reports that despite a Florida judge's ruling two years ago that required the state to stop using a new screening tool that declared thousands of kids ineligible for the state's specialized care program, the state of Florida has still not yet notified all of the families who were improperly removed from the program to provide them an opportunity to reenroll.

Californians should support the Cadiz Water Project: Tony Cardenas and Paul Cook

California is home to amazing natural resources, a diverse economy and a hard-working population eager to flourish. However, we don't have sufficient water to meet the needs of all who call California home.

Houston police make 3,400 rescues as Harvey gears up for another landfall

Houston police have rescued at least 3,400 people in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey - and that number is expected to rise, Police Chief Art Acevedo tweeted Tuesday morning. More than 17,000 evacuees were being housed in shelters across Texas as of Tuesday morning, the Red Cross tweeted.

Report: ‘Anti-protester’ bills gain traction in state legislatures

GOP legislators in 20 U.S. statehouses proposed - and six legislatures approved - new restrictions on the right to assemble and protest in 2017. Report: 'Anti-protester' bills gain traction in state legislatures GOP legislators in 20 U.S. statehouses proposed - and six legislatures approved - new restrictions on the right to assemble and protest in 2017.

Trump pushes tax overhaul, says it’s ‘badly needed’

Public schools are grappling with the names, images of Confederate icons in the wake of the deaths at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia over a Robert E. Lee statue. After five days of torrential rain, the latest weather forecast predicts less than an inch of rain and perhaps even sunshine for the Houston area.

Trump pushes tax overhaul to ‘bring back Main Street’

President Donald Trump launched his fall push to overhaul the nation's tax system by pledging Wednesday that the details-to-come plan would "bring back Main Street" by reducing the crushing tax burden on middle-class Americans, making a populist appeal for a proposal expected to heavily benefit corporate America. Trump said his vision for re-writing the tax system, a key campaign pledge, would unlock stronger economic growth and benefit companies and workers alike.

Lawyers: File Harvey claims before Texas law change

Attorneys and a Texas lawmaker are urging homeowners to try and file claims for property damage inflicted by Hurricane Harvey before Friday, when a new insurance law goes into effect. The law will affect policyholders who file a lawsuit against their insurance company for failing to pay enough in claims or repaying claims too slowly.

Lawyers urge Texas homeowners to file Harvey claims before law change

Attorneys and a Texas lawmaker are urging homeowners to try and file claims for property damage inflicted by Hurricane Harvey before Friday, when a new insurance law goes into effect. The law will impact policyholders who file a lawsuit against their insurance company for failing to pay enough in claims or repaying claims too slowly.

U.S. interior secretary Zinke urges mining ban near Yellowstone

A herd of bison appears in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley in Montana on Aug. 26, 2016. U.S. officials plan to block new mining claims outside Yellowstone National Park as the Obama administration races in its last days to keep industry out of pristine and environmentally sensitive areas.

Anarchist rampage in Berkeley renews free speech debate

" Hundreds of masked, black-clad anarchists who overwhelmed a peaceful California protest and assaulted at least five perceived political enemies have reignited the debate over ensuring free speech while protecting public safety in the city where the U.S. free speech movement was born in the 1960s. After planned weekend rallies were violently disrupted or canceled, supporters of President Donald Trump and other politically conservative activists complained their free speech rights were blocked by liberal politicians who they say incited left-wing extremists.

Pelosi: DOD Spent 5 Times More on Viagra Than It Would on – Transition-Related Care’ for Transgenders

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says that the Department of Defense is spending five times more on Viagra than it would on "transition-related care" for transgenders had President Donald Trump not ordered the Pentagon to bar transgenders from the military. "A study commissioned by the Department of Defense itself found that the cost of providing medically necessary care for transgender troops would be miniscule," Pelosi said in a press release put out Friday .