Eastern Washington flooding reaches emergency levels

Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency Saturday for counties in the eastern part of the state that are experiencing severe flooding. Flooding is impacting communities in Ferry, Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties and could get worse next week.

Second US Democrat to support Haspel as new CIA chief

A second Democratic senator said Saturday he would support Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CIA despite her past role overseeing the torture of terror suspects, likely assuring her confirmation. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana said that after "a tough, frank and extensive discussion" with nominee Gina Haspel, he believes she "has learned from the past... and can help our country confront serious international threats and challenges."

Paul Ryan warns of ‘blue wave’ at Wisconsin GOP convention

House Speaker Paul Ryan is warning fellow Republicans in his farewell speech at the Wisconsin state party convention that a "blue wave" could wipe out GOP advancements made since Donald Trump became president. Fellow Republican Gov. Scott Walker presented Ryan with a personalized Green Bay Packers jersey with a number "1" on the back.

Polls close across Iraq in first vote since victory over IS

Four years in office, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has racked up a list of achievements t... . In this Monday, April 23, 2018 photo, campaign poster of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is displayed in Baghdad, Iraq.

Second Democratic senator publicly backing Trumpa s CIA pick

Joe Donnelly of Indiana says in a statement Saturday that he made his decision after "a tough, frank and extensive discussion" with Gina Haspel, the spy agency's acting director. The other Democrat who's come out for Haspel is West Virginia's Joe Manchin.

Monitor: 42 killed by Israeli strikes in Syria this week

Thousa... Teachers hoping to sustain their momentum from spring protests face an early test in Kentucky as scores of educators are running for seats in the state legislature. . File-This Feb. 25, 2018, file photo shows Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin speaking during the panel Caring for our Veterans at the National Governor Association 2018 winter meeting in Washington.

Trump Capitalizes On Events, Elections In Elkhart

Amid numerous red "Make America Great Again" hats, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill introduces Vice President Mike Pence Thursday night in Elkhart. Pence spoke briefly before introducing President Donald Trump.

Brown faces California budget fight as surplus grows

California Gov. Jerry Brown faces a bruising fight with the Legislature over funding for welfare, health care and higher education after producing a revised budget proposal that shows a lot more money but not a lot more spending. The state's budget surplus has ballooned to nearly $9 billion, the largest in at least 18 years, at a time when California is facing serious challenges like rising homelessness and growing inequality.

Race For Governor Still Tight

With three months to go before Tennessee's Republican primary for governor, none of the big four candidates seems ready to throw in the towel. If the well-financed quartet of U.S. Rep. Diane Black, businessman Randy Boyd, state House Speaker Beth Harwell and businessman Bill Lee hang in until Aug. 2 in the hopes of replacing term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, the eventual winner may have as little as 25 percent of the vote before taking on the Democrat primary winner - who will have had to spend considerably less time and money - in November.

Oklahoma governor signs adoption law opposed by LGBT groups

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has signed a law that gay rights advocates say will allow religious-based adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, single people and non-Christians in placing children. The bill signed late Friday gives legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes because of religious or moral convictions or policies.

Inslee: Washington should base mental health facilities in…

Washington may shift many of its mental health services from aging state hospitals in Spokane and Pierce counties to smaller facilities across the state. Gov. Jay Inslee called Friday for a five-year "major transformation" of the state system, in order that patients who are committed involuntarily for treatment by the courts can get those services closer to home.

John McCain’s former top strategist demands White House fire Kelly Sadler – today

Michael Murphy is a Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, JFK School of Government at Harvard University. The Republican political strategist behind Sen. John McCain's " Straight Talk Express " campaign against then-Gov. George W. Bush for the 2000 presidential nomination, on Friday called for the GOP White House to fire Kelly Sadler by the end of the day.

Facing anti-Washington winds, Senate Democrats point to home

Feeling no relief from anti-incumbent Republican primaries, Democratic senators in GOP-leaning states are working to convince voters they're free of Washington's stigma. The Democrats seeking re-election this fall in states Republican Donald Trump carried - the battlefront in the fight for Senate control -are portraying themselves as independent actors and known entities in hopes of inoculating themselves against Republican accusations that they are lockstep obstructionists to Trump's agenda.