Senate confirms Jeff Sessions to be next attorney general

The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama as the next attorney general, surviving a vocal push by Democrats to derail his nomination. The 52-47 vote was mostly along party lines, though one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin, joined the Republicans to back their Alabama colleague.

California is getting soaked right now, but farmland is still sinking due to lack of water.

A NASA report released Wednesday found that land in one of California's most productive agricultural regions continues to subside rapidly because of heavy groundwater pumping. For decades, and especially during the last five years of drought, growers have relied on pumping water from the ground when surface water wasn't available.

This May 23, 2016, file photo, shows the northernmost

The maker of Patagonia has a message for Utah government officials: If you want big outdoor business, act like it. Patagonia pulls out of Utah outdoor show amid Bears Ears National Monument battle The maker of Patagonia has a message for Utah government officials: If you want big outdoor business, act like it.

Most Americans don’t want “religious freedom” laws…

A majority of Americans oppose denying services to LGBT individuals in the name of religion, according to a new poll from the . Sixty-one percent of respondents were against giving faith-based groups or private individuals the religious exemption to, say, refuse to cater a lesbian wedding, or to refuse to sign the marriage certificates of same-sex couples, as Kim Davis, a clerk in Rowan County, Ky., made national headlines for doing in 2015.

As Trump fears fraud, GOP eliminates election commission

A House committee voted on Tuesday to eliminate an independent election commission charged with helping states improve their voting systems as President Donald Trump erroneously claims widespread voter fraud cost him the popular vote. The party-line vote came less than two days after Trump vowed to set up a White House commission helmed by Vice President Mike Pence to pursue his accusations of election fraud.

The Latest: DeVos sworn in as education secretary

Betsy DeVos has been sworn in as the U.S. education secretary, hours after her nomination was approved by the Senate in a vote that required Vice President Mike Pence to break the tie. DeVos was sworn in by Pence in a ceremony at the vice president's ceremonial office.

Lawsuit: Trump Cabinet nominee has not turned over records

Attorney Blake Lawrence, left, answers a question about a lawsuit against Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt over public access to official emails, in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Looking on are Brady Henderson, center, and Ryan Kiesel, both of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma.

Federal judges express skepticism about Trump’s Muslim nation travel ban

To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: Jayne Novak, left, smiles as she stands with her husband, Allen Novak, newly-arrived from Iran, and their daughter Nikta, as they stand with a flag and pose for cameras Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Allen Novak joined his family, of Silverdale, Wash., on a conditional resident visa.

DeVos ekes out confirmation win as Pence casts historic vote

Charter school advocate Betsy DeVos won confirmation as U.S. Education secretary Tuesday by the slimmest of margins, pushed to approval only by the historic tie-breaking vote of Vice President Mike Pence. Two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined Democrats in a marathon effort to derail the nomination of the wealthy Republican donor.

DeVos Confirmed In History Making Style

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as Education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie in a historic vote. DeVos, became the first cabinet member in history to need the President of the Senate , to cast the deciding vote.

Betsy DeVos confirmed as Education secretary

Democrats said she had no experience as an educator, administrator or even as a parent or student in public schools. Betsy DeVos confirmed Education secretary; Pence casts deciding vote Democrats said she had no experience as an educator, administrator or even as a parent or student in public schools.

Lawyer asks Indiana Supreme Court to order release of Pence emails

Then-Vice President-elect Gov. Mike Pence appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016 INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis lawyer is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to order the release of emails sent to Vice President Mike Pence when he was governor. William Groth's appeal asks for access to emails sent to Pence in 2014 in which a staffer for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott outlined a legal strategy for challenging then-President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration.

Dems focus fire on DeVos, vulnerable Trump picks

Democrats are mounting a 24-hour blitz to try and sink at least one nomination from President Donald Trump's Cabinet, attacking education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos a day before her confirmation vote. Democratic senators promised to stay up all night debating DeVos early into Tuesday morning and also took to Twitter to urge residents to light up Senate phonelines.