Big cases, retirement rumors as Supreme Court nears finish

The Supreme Court enters its final week of work before a long summer hiatus with action expected on the Trump administration's travel ban and a decision due in a separation of church and state case that arises from a Missouri church playground. The biggest news of all, though, would be if Justice Anthony Kennedy were to use the court's last public session on Monday to announce his retirement.

Anthony Kennedy retirement watch at a fever pitch

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy is seen during a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House April 10, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Earlier in the day Gorsuch, 49, was sworn in as the 113th associate justice in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court. WASHINGTON - Justice Anthony Kennedy, the man who so often determines the outcome of the most controversial Supreme Court cases, is himself the center of brewing speculation.

SNL Bids Farewell to the Trump Administration

The cast of 'Saturday Night Live' ended its record-breaking 42nd season with another rendition of the late Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." On November 12th, just a few days after Hillary Clinton lost the U.S. presidential election to Donald Trump-and in the wake of legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen's passing- Saturday Night Live aired a sketch wherein Kate McKinnon, without question the most gifted cast member of SNL, performed a heartrending rendition of "Hallelujah" on the piano .

JFK home renovation castoffs are transformed into art

Floorboards, window panes, shingles, electrical fixtures, faded wallpaper, rusted nails and even a metal hook that once held a porch swing are among the ordinary items salvaged during an overhaul of JFK's Cape Cod home and transformed by local artists into mixed media artwork inspired by the assassinated former president who was born 100 years ago this month. When not in Washington, JFK, Jacqueline Kennedy and their two young children resided in the nine bedroom clapboard home with stunning ocean views from 1958 until his death in 1963.

Letter: When Trey Gowdy goes silent

Not since Simon & Garfunkel has there been such a deafening "sound of silence" as U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy and his Republican colleagues in responding to Russia's assault on American freedom and democracy. Gowdy's only interest, if any, seems to be government leaks, when most folks with half a brain know that Washington, D.C., leaks as badly as Pa Kettle's roof in a rainstorm.

Barack Obama named recipient of JFK Profile in Courage Award

Former President Barack Obama was named the 2017 winner of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Thursday for carrying on his fellow Democrat's legacy. "President Kennedy called on a new generation of Americans to give their talents to the service of the country," Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, said in a statement.

From Bowie to Prince, America lost some great musicians in 2016

From Bowie to Prince, America lost some great musicians in 2016 It wasn't the year the music died, but we lost many of those who made it. Check out this story on northjersey.com: http://usat.ly/2ibTjsl Bowie, the innovative and iconic singer whose illustrious career lasted five decades, died Jan. 10, 2016, after battling cancer for 18 months.

Trump Effect: Louisiana Republican John Kennedy Wins U.S. Senate Runoff Election

Republican John Kennedy has been declared the winner of Louisiana's runoff election for the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat Foster Campbell and thwarting one of the last opportunities in 2016 for Democrats to gain a seat in the upper chamber. Kennedy's win on Saturday night, the first GOP win since Trump's election, gives Republicans a 52 seat majority in the U.S. Senate, making it that much harder for Democrats to make any headway in Washington.

More Essential Than Ever: Leonard Cohen Stands Before “The Lord of Song”

A famous singer songwriter dies, someone you never found time to appreciate, so you go back and start listening and recognize the distant music you heard long ago walking through the fairgrounds of rock, a snatch of song coming from over there, not far, just a whisper away if you'd taken another turn somewhere between Van Morrison and David Bowie.

Federal court strikes down Republican-drawn maps in Wisconsin

Two weeks after a stunning election defeat, Wisconsin Democrats won an equally surprising legal victory Monday as a federal court struck down legislative maps drawn by Republicans in 2011. A panel of federal judges ruled 2-1 that the redistricting maps were "intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters throughout the [10-year] period by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats."

Cast of Will & Grace reunite to debate Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump

The mystery behind the long-rumoured Will & Grace reunion has been solved as the cast have released a special skit tackling the American presidential election. Ten years after the show ended, fans were teased with days of cryptic tweets and photos before former co-stars Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally unveiled the new scene.

FLASHBACK: Hillary Clinton Remark on Kennedy’s Killing Stirs…

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton defended staying in the Democratic nominating contest on Friday by pointing out that her husband had not wrapped up the nomination until June 1992, adding, "We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California." Her remarks were met with quick criticism from the campaign of Senator Barack Obama, and within hours of making them Mrs. Clinton expressed regret, saying, "The Kennedys have been much on my mind the last days because of Senator Kennedy," referring to the recent diagnosis of Senator Edward M. Kennedy's brain tumor.

The Fray: Jacobson sees Democrats ‘unified’ by convention

Former Orange County Democratic Chairman Jonathan Jacobson gushed about the Democratic National Convention on Friday as he returned from it, calling it the most successful of the 11 presidential conventions he's attended in spite of the sharp party split that carried from the primary season into the four-day gala in Philadelphia. Jacobson, who was a delegate for Hillary Clinton, praised the acceptance speech she had given the previous night, saying Clinton had laid out a positive message while establishing a “clear contrast” with Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

Demi Lovato gets personal at the Democratic convention

Comic Sarah Silverman joined Sen. Al Franken Monday night to urge Democratic National Convention delegates to unite - then stirred up Bernie Sanders die-hards with some choice words: "To the Bernie or bust people, you're being ridiculous." As a Sanders supporter herself, Silverman said she would now vote for Hillary Clinton "with gusto" as she continues to be "inspired and moved to action by the ideals set forth by Bernie, who will never stop fighting for us."