Back in South Carolina, Democrat Martin O’Malley says “I just might” run for president

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley answers questions at a town hall event Saturday at the College of Charleston. The event was hosted by the Charleston Democratic Party, the College of Charleston Democrats and Indivisible Charleston.

US a prepared to do morea in Syria if chemical weapons used again

After launching air strikes against a Syrian air base on Thursday, the U.S. indicated that while it had no plans for any further escalation against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, it could not be totally ruled out either. "We are prepared to do more, but we hope that will not be necessary," Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday.

new Republicans hope Trump amenable to food stamp restrictions

Maine resident Zak McCutcheon says he likes soda but acknowledges he'd drink less of it if his governor convinced Republican President Donald Trump to put restrictions on the approximately $200 a month he receives in food stamps. He thinks it may even make recipients healthier and less overweight.

Gorsuch OK’d as new justice

The Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to become the newest associate justice on the Supreme Court Friday, elevating Donald Trump's nominee following a corrosive partisan confrontation that could have lasting impacts for the Senate and the court. Vice President Mike Pence was presiding as the Senate voted 54-45 in favor of Gorsuch, a 49-year-old veteran of the 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Denver whose conservative rulings make him an intellectual heir to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat he will fill.

The Latest: No action on Medicaid fraud due process bill

Some Senate leaders and behavioral health advocates are voicing frustration that Gov. Susana Martinez did not sign legislation that would have addressed the handling of fraud accusation leveled against providers. Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen sponsored the bill in response to a shake-up within the behavioral health care system that started in 2013 when the state froze payments to 15 nonprofits that provided services to the state's most needy residents.

The Nuclear Option: Senate confirms Trump pick to Supreme Court

The Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to become the newest associate justice on the Supreme Court Friday, elevating Donald Trump's nominee following a corrosive partisan confrontation that could have lasting impacts for the Senate and the court. Vice President Mike Pence was presiding as the Senate voted 54-45 in favor of Gorsuch, a 49-year-old veteran of the 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Denver whose conservative rulings make him an intellectual heir to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat he will fill.

After 11 months without a buyer, Topeka’s St. Francis Health Center could close

Members of Topeka's medical community say St. Francis Health Center's Denver owners could close the hospital after failing to secure a deal with potential buyers. SCL Health, which has reported financial losses in recent years, placed St. Francis on the market 11 months ago, leaving 1,600 employees increasingly anxious about its future.

Senate shoots down flat tax proposal with nearly unanimous – no’ vote

During Senate debate Thursday on a bill to turn Kansas into a flat-tax state, Sen. Tom Holland, D- Baldwin City, said said the flat tax would be nothing more than a policy win for Brownback, with no solutions for Kansas' budget. Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker speaking during debate on a bill to turn Kansas into a flat-tax state, described the proposal as the "closest thing I've seen to a fair tax code in the state of Kansas."

Flat tax proposal unpopular with think tanks, interest groups

Think tanks and interest groups across the political spectrum denounced a flat tax bill that failed in the Senate on Thursday and had been endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback and Senate leaders. TOPEKA - Think tanks and interest groups across the political spectrum denounced a flat tax bill that failed in the Senate on Thursday and had been endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback and Senate leaders.

Trump aides differ over Assada s future after Syria attack

Top aides to President Donald Trump demurred on Sunday over where U.S. policy on Syria was headed after last week's retaliatory missile strike, leaving open questions about whether removing Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad from power was now one of Trump's goals. After the United States launched cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base alleged to have launched a deadly poison gas attack on Syrian civilians, Trump administration officials said they were prepared to take further actions if necessary.

What to watch: Texas isn’t alone in rainy day fund fight

The rainy day fund contains $10-plus billion at a time when slumping oil prices have left the state facing a potential $6 billion shortfall just to maintain current spending levels in the 2018-2019 budget the Legislature is now devising. Democrats and Republicans in the House want to spend some of that to forego widespread cuts.

Stand against migrant ban a hot issue in Inslee’s inbox

Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to the media at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 28, where he joined protesters in blasting President Donald Trump's executive order banning entry of refugees from seven Muslim-majority nations. The order was blocked from going into effect by a federal judge in Seattle.

Here’s how Louisiana plans to revamp nation’s highest, most convoluted sales tax

Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, has served as chairwoman of the Sales Tax Streamlining and Modernization Commission since 2015. The commission has been trying to come up with ways to make Louisiana's sales tax less convoluted as the Legislature prepares for a crucial fiscal session that begins April 10. Here, Stokes answers questions about one of her bills during a 2015 special legislative session.

Trump, GOP pull health bill

President Donald Trump and GOP leaders pulled their bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act off the House floor Friday when it became clear that the bill would fail. President Donald Trump, flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Vice President Mike Pence, speaks Friday in the Oval Offic... House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, with Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., behind her, said Friday that "Today is a great day for our country, what happened o... Thwarted by two factions of fellow Republicans, from the center and far right, House Speaker Paul Ryan said former President Barack Obama's health care law, the GOP's No.

Many governors welcome demise of GOP health care bill

In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 file photo, Gov. Brian Sandoval receives a standing ovation at the conclusion of his state of the state address at the Legislative Building in Carson City, Nev. Failure of the Republican bill to overhaul Obama's health care law is welcomed by many governors, primarily in states that had expanded Medicaid.