Diane Black defends campaign checks, trucking emissions loophole

Rep. Diane Black is defending efforts to extend an emissions loophole benefiting a Tennessee-based trucking company whose entities, executives and family gave her gubernatorial campaign $225,000, as The New York Times reported. Campaign spokesman Chris Hartline said Thursday the congresswoman fights to support the few companies trying to keep rural Tennessee manufacturing jobs.

Former Zeigler, IL treasurer will be back in court for change of plea

The former Treasurer for the city of Zeigler, Illinois who pleaded not guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and embezzlement appeared back in court on Feb. 15, 2018. Four months after federal embezzlement charges are leveled against the former treasurer in Zeigler, it looked like he would face a judge and take responsibility for the crime.

Critics blast EPA for lowering Syngenta pesticide fine Source: AP

Critics are blasting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for dramatically lowering a fine on agribusiness company Syngenta for violations of pesticide regulations. Syngenta, under a settlement announced this week, will pay $150,000 for improperly using the pesticide chlorpyrifos at a seed corn field in Hawaii in 2016 and 2017.

Drug smuggler dumps 1800lbs of cocaine worth A 16.5m in sea

'Drug smugglers' desperately dump 1,800 lbs of cocaine worth A 16.5m off the side of a speedboat during a high-speed chase with the US Coast Guard A Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton apprehended the smugglers as part of an operation that seized seven tons of cocaine This is the shocking moment a suspected drug smuggler dumped millions of pounds worth of cocaine in the sea during a US Coast Guard chase. A person was caught on camera dumping 1,800lbs of cocaine into the waters, with an approximate street value of A 16.5 million.

Trump at last denounces abuse; Kelly’s future in doubt NEW

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., meets with reporters following a GOP strategy session at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. Ryan confirmed that Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the House Oversight Committee, updated him that the watchdog panel has decided to launch a probe related to the background investigation and security clearance for White House aide Rob Porter who has resigned due to domestic abuse allegations against him.

House panel opens investigation of ex-Trump aide Rob Porter

White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, right, talked with White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, left, as they waited for the arrival of President Donald Trump and began a moment of silence to remember the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Oct. 2. WASHINGTON>> Lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to know how former presidential aide Rob Porter was allowed to work at the White House under an interim security clearance - despite allegations of spousal abuse. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent letters to the FBI and White House today as his panel opened an investigation into the matter.

GOP women frustrated by Trumpa s approach to abuse charges

The Trump White House's handling of abuse charges against men in its midst is frustrating prominent Republican women as the party's yearslong struggle to attract female voters stretches into the 2018 midterm elections. "It's the mixed signals.

House panel investigation over former Trump aide Rob Porter

FBI Director Christopher Wray is providing new details that call into question the White House timeline leading up to the departure of former staff secretary Rob Porter. President Donald Trump is looking for advice from a range of lawmakers as he considers whether to issue trade sanctions on aluminum and steel imports.

It’s up to us to protect Earth

President Donald Trump's first year in office seemed to be dedicated to undoing key legislation ensuring clean air and water, and his proposed budget aligns with his anti-environment agenda. It includes a 31 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is largely responsible for protecting human health and the environment.

GOP steers deficit talk to focus on tax cut

The White House budget director went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to sell President Donald Trump's budget, but the administration's allies in the Senate preferred to talk about last year's tax cut rather than the trillion-dollar deficits contained in the new spending plan. The president's budget for the first time acknowledges that the Republican tax overhaul would add billions to the deficit and not "pay for itself" with economic growth and higher revenue.

Porter timeline skewed

The FBI director, Christopher Wray, said Tuesday that the bureau's background investigation into Rob Porter, the White House staff secretary who resigned after spousal-abuse allegations, was formally closed in January. But the White House allowed Porter to continue serving in his post until the accusations surfaced publicly in news reports last week.

FBI sweep in NorCal nabs crime organization who sold meth, heroin on social media

Law enforcement officials including agents with the FBI stand outside a home on Rice Lane in rural Vacaville after an early morning raid at the home. Law enforcement officials confirmed that it was part of an FBI investigation that was conducted at multiple locations in Northern California.