White House: Trump wona t seek to block Comey testimony

President Donald Trump will not assert executive privilege to block fired FBI Director James Comey from testifying on Capitol Hill, the White House said Monday, setting the stage for a dramatic public airing of the former top law enforcement official's dealings with the commander in chief.

President Trump cries obstruction, but has nominated few ambassadors

President Trump is blasting Congressional Democrats for obstructing his nominations, but his administration has not nominated candidates for the vast majority of positions that require Senate approval. In fact, the administration has only nominated 10 ambassador-level positions, including the cabinet-level position of ambassador to the United Nations, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.

John Barrasso: Russia hearings could reveal Obama administration actions as well

Sen. John Barrasso said Monday that the Senate and House hearings on Russia could reveal actions taken by the Obama administration on the issue as well. "These hearings I think are going to be so informative because they may find things that the Obama administration had done, that candidate Clinton had done - so Americans want answers to this, but it cannot be all consuming," the Wyoming Republican said on Fox News, Mr. Barrasso emphasized the other items Congress needs to address while these investigations continue, something he said constituents informed him of during the recess.

Senate, House negotiators blend K-12 reform, $1 billion tax hike

Negotiators in the Kansas Legislature working on a new school-finance formula moved Sunday to finalize complexities of that court-ordered funding revamp and wedged a controversial $1 billion tax increase into the bill in hopes of bringing the session to an abrupt end. TOPEKA - Negotiators in the Kansas Legislature working on a new school-finance formula moved Sunday to finalize complexities of that court-ordered funding revamp and wedged a controversial $1 billion tax increase into the bill in hopes of bringing the session to an abrupt end.

Chris Kennedy: J.B. Pritzker does not ‘deserve’ to be governor, and other Chicago news

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy slammed opponent J.B. Pritzker Sunday, saying that the billionaire businessman doesn't "deserve" to be governor. Kennedy's comments came in response to a Tribune report that Pritzker expressed interest in the post of state treasurer in response to then-governor Rod Blagojevich's efforts to get him to bite on the Senate seat made available by the election of Barack Obama.

Comey-mania about to take over Washington

The Russia maelstrom raging around Donald Trump's presidency reaches a momentous plot twist this week with a quintessential Washington drama set to unfold when ex-FBI Director James Comey testifies before the Senate. Comey will appear before the Senate intelligence committee on Thursday, with lawmakers seeking answers as to whether he believes the President sought to obstruct his Russia probe or demanded his loyalty before he fired Comey.

Russia probe tops massive to-do list for Congress in critical week

The Republican-led Congress returns to work this week, and once again, the Russia investigation will overshadow the ambitious legislative agenda that includes major overhauls of the health care system and tax code. Former FBI Director James Comey is slated to testify publicly Thursday and is expected to discuss President Donald Trump's request that he end his probe of a top aide's ties to Russia Against the backdrop of the highly anticipated hearing, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will tackle a critical summer list of high-priority issues and bills that GOP leaders are anxious to complete - or at least make significant progress on - before the long August recess.

‘Fake news’, screams Trump over Kushner’s Russian links

The new wrinkles? A Washington Post story that came out Friday citing USA officials briefed on intelligence reports who said that President Trump's confidant and son-in-law Jared Kushner tried to set up a secret "back channel" communication line with the Kremlin using Russian facilities. Trump started by lashing out against the coverage of the probe, tweeting, "It is my opinion that numerous leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media".

On Board the ‘Onrust,’ Famed Re-creation of Adriaen…

It was "a momentous occasion," according to Connecticut River Museum Executive Director Chris Dobbs when a group of dignitaries and invited guests gathered to board the re-creation of Adriaen Block's boat Onrust last Thursday. Dobbs pointed out that it was, "400 years ago - 403 to be precise" since the original Onrust commenced its exploration of the Connecticut River ultimately exploring it upstream to just a little further north than present-day Hartford - a distance of approximately 60 miles from Long Island Sound.

Putin Interview: Did Russia Interfere in the US Election?

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that he had limited personal interaction with former U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn , when asked by NBC's Megyn Kelly in an exclusive interview about the nature of their relationship - and a widely circulated December, 2015 photo that shows the two sitting next to each other at dinner during an event to celebrate Russian TV network RT . Putin suggested that skilled hackers anywhere, including the USA, could shift the blame for hacking onto Russian Federation.

Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court to Weigh Veterans’ vs. Employers’ Rights in Workplace

Nineteen lawmakers are testing their luck at the Supreme Court, asking the justices to take up a case on whether military reservists' unfair dismissal claims can be forced into arbitration by their civilian bosses. Because the case involves veterans' rights, the legislators say they are hopeful the Supreme Court of John Roberts will temper its usual affinity for agreements waiving employees' right to sue.

The Latest: Putin dismisses US claims about Trump, election

The Latest on President Donald Trump and the investigation into possible ties between his campaign and the Russian government : Russian President Vladimir Putin is dismissing as "a load of nonsense" the idea that Russia has damaging information on President Donald Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia meddled in the presidential election.

Peyton Manning joins Trump at golf club

Former NFL star Peyton Manning and Republican Sen. Bob Corker were spotted at the White House on Sunday, joining President Donald Trump in his motorcade on a trip to Trump National Golf Club. The White House did not comment on what Trump was doing at his property, but reporters saw golf clubs being unloaded from the motorcade after the President's arrival back to the White House.

Ireland feels the Bern as Sanders blasts Trump over ‘lies’

US Senator Bernie Sanders lambasted the record of US President Donald Trump when he told an Irish audience that the US president "lies all the time". US Senator Bernie Sanders lambasted the record of US President Donald Trump when he told an Irish audience that the US president "lies all the time".

Lindsey Graham: ‘I’ve Been Told by People in the…

Senator Lindsey Graham said in an interview with Fox News that he has evidence he was part of 'incidental collection' by intelligence agencies and possibly was unmasked. Fox News' Shannon Bream brought up the unmasking scandal by former Obama admin officials which is going virtually unreported by the mainstream media.

Western Kansas program will help immigrants navigate driving exams

Kansas is launching a project to help immigrants in one meatpacking town get driver's licenses, by offering them free translators when they take their exams. Meatpacking plants, the largest employers in western Kansas, have drawn a diverse population to the region, but the state offers exams only in English or Spanish.

40,000 people show support for Israel at Manhattan parade

New York governor declares first Sunday in June as Shimon Peres Day in honor of 'one of Israel's founding fathers' Some 40,000 people from over 250 organizations took part in a parade along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue on Sunday to show their support for Israel. The "Celebrate Israel" parade was held under the banner of "Celebrate Israel All Together."