Sessions may crack down on legal pot

By SADIE GURMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON - The Trump administration threw the burgeoning movement to legalize marijuana into uncertainty Thursday as it lifted an Obama-era policy that kept federal authorities from cracking down on the pot trade in states where the drug is legal.

Sessions terminates US policy that let legal pot flourish

The Trump administration threw the burgeoning movement to legalize marijuana into uncertainty Thursday as it lifted an Obama-era leniency policy that kept federal authorities from cracking down on the pot trade in states where the drug is legal. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will now leave it up to federal prosecutors to decide what to do when state rules collide with federal drug law.

Sessions ending federal policy that let legal pot flourish

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded an Obama-era policy that paved the way for legalized marijuana to flourish in states across the country, creating new confusion about enforcement and use just three days after a new legalization law went into effect in California. President Donald Trump's top law enforcement official announced the change Thursday.

Trump administration rule would let more people drop Obamacare

Cathey Park of Cambridge, Massachusetts wears a cast for her broken wrist with "I Love Obamacare" written upon it prior to U.S. President Barack Obama's arrival to speak about health insurance at Faneuil Hall in Boston October 30, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque The Trump administration proposed a rule on Thursday to allow Americans who are self-employed or work for small businesses to buy health insurance that does not comply with all Obamacare requirements in an effort to unwind the 2010 healthcare law.

ICE is increasing presence in California because of ‘sanctuary…

Taking a jab at Gov. Jerry Brown, President Trump's top immigration chief on Wednesday said he was preparing to "significantly increase" his agency's enforcement presence in California because of last year's passage of a landmark "sanctuary state" law. "California better hold on tight," Thomas Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said on Fox News.

Trump administration eases penalties against negligent nursing homes

Reversing guidelines put in place under former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration is scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury. The shift in the Medicare program's penalty protocols was requested by the nursing home industry.

Doug Jones joins the Senate: How will he vote?

When Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones went before his cheering supporters the night of his improbable election in deeply Republican Alabama last month, he smiled widely and then hesitated. "I have been waiting my whole life and now I don't know what the hell to say," he said with a laugh.

Donald Trump, Paul Ryan to push for major welfare system reforms in 2018

President Trump has sided with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan to push for sweeping welfare reforms this year but they will have to persuade a skeptical Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell when the three huddle at Camp David over the weekend to set the GOP's legislative agenda for 2018. Mr. McConnell, Kentucky Republican, is expressing grave reservations about tackling the hot-button issue without bipartisan support that the effort almost certainly will lack.

Officials: Del. set to sue EPA over relief for out-of-state air pollution

On Tuesday, Delaware officials announced their plans to sue a United States government agency, after they reportedly filed four petitions in 2016 to request relief from air pollution from upwind states. The State of Delaware says on Tuesday, that it will send four Notice of Intent to Sue letters tot he United Sates Environmental Protection Agency regarding air pollution that comes into the state for other states.

As U.S. budget fight looms, Republicans flip their fiscal script

The head of a conservative Republican faction in the U.S. Congress, who voted this month for a huge expansion of the national debt to pay for tax cuts, called himself a "fiscal conservative" on Sunday and urged budget restraint in 2018. In keeping with a sharp pivot under way among Republicans, U.S. Representative Mark Meadows, speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," drew a hard line on federal spending, which lawmakers are bracing to do battle over in January.

Trump administration relaxes financial penalties against nursing homes

The Trump administration - reversing guidelines put in place under President Barack Obama - is scaling back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury. The shift in the Medicare program's penalty protocols was requested by the nursing home industry.

Improving state’s image is a worthwhile goal

Alabamians are hopeful the ringing in of a new year brings a measure of sanity to politics in the Heart of Dixie. The waning hours of 2017 offered a touch of closure to another year of embarrassing shenanigans that kept the state under the glare of the national limelight.

Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Grows Holdings in…

Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of ProShares UltraShort Lehman 20+ Yr by 77.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,358 shares of the exchange traded fund's stock after buying an additional 1,906 shares during the period.

Long list of priorities for President Trump and Congress in 2018 new

There are frigid temperatures outside, but inside the walls of the U.S. Capitol, the heat is on, with an ambitious legislative agenda in the House and Senate. The first order of business will be to pass a spending bill by Jan. 19 to prevent a government shutdown after the issue was delayed in 2017 to much criticism.