Foreign leaders seek fresh ties with US governors, mayors

Foreign leaders are looking to cultivate stronger ties with US governors and mayors, an interest that will be on display at this weekend's meeting of governors FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2018, file photo, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives at Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official residence for a meeting in Tokyo. When Turnbull arrives in Washington this week for consultations with President Donald Trump, he won't be traveling solo.

Ethics Committee confirms review of Tennessee lawmaker

In a Jan. 4, 2006 file photo, U.S. Rep. John "Jimmy" Duncan, R-Tenn., addresses a business development news conference in Knoxville, Tenn. The House Ethics Committee confirmed Tuesday,, Feb. 20, 2018, that it's investigating Republican Rep. John Duncan Jr., who is serving his 16th term in the House and had previously announced he won't seek re-election.

Voices from the Arab Press: A war with no instigators

SECURITY PERSONNEL examine the remains of an Israel Air Force F-16 fighter plane near Kibbutz Harduf on February 10, 2018. . A WAR WITH NO INSTIGATORS Asharq al-Awsat, London, February 12 There has been a dramatic turn of events in Syria.

Cramer set to launch Senate campaign at evening rally

In this May 26, 2016, file photo, North Dakota Republican state Rep. Kevin Cramer speaks in Bismarck, N.D. Cramer will announce Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, he is entering North Dakota's Senate race, a move that would give Republicans the candidate they hoped would take on Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp. less FILE - In this May 26, 2016, file photo, North Dakota Republican state Rep. Kevin Cramer speaks in Bismarck, N.D. Cramer will announce Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, he is entering North Dakota's Senate race, a move ... more BISMARCK, N.D. - Rep. Kevin Cramer is lined up to launch his U.S. Senate campaign at an evening rally in Bismarck.

Trying to keep up with the ‘Dreamers’ debate? Here are 6 essential reads

The future remains uncertain for a group of young people who were brought to the U.S. as children without legal authorization. Some of these so-called "Dreamers" were temporarily shielded from deportation through an Obama-era program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

Trump wants to fund veterans cemetery in Queens

Tucked into President Trump's budget is funding to construct a cemetery in Queens for at least 50,000 veterans as part of a new effort to expand burial options in densely populated cities for families of service members. Unlike a traditional cemetery, the site in St. Albans would be an outdoor columbarium only for the cremated remains of New York City area service members and their spouses.

Hard driving and smooth sailing in Coastal Connecticut

Because there are no city-sized theme parks in Southern Connecticut, you must find your thrills there in real life. I had just come from helping to herd a crew of second-graders through the Visitor Center at the PEZ factory in the town of Orange-a fragrant, colorful diversion for the nation's devoted army of "Pez Heads" and for civilians like us, who just like popping dispenser heads and downing twelve-packs of chewy PEZ bricks.

Which American ‘then’ does ‘now’ look like? How about the Gilded Age?

In an impromptu speech to a crowd that gathered outside the White House on George Washington's Birthday in 1866, President Andrew Johnson rambled on for more than an hour, referred to himself 210 times , and said Republican lawmakers Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens were at least as treasonous as the leaders of the just-defeated Confederacy. A few days earlier, when a delegation of black leaders led by Frederick Douglass came to visit, Johnson had told them that poor whites, not blacks, had been the real victims of slavery in the South.

California officials pledge to reject offshore drilling

California commissions that oversee coastal lands and water pushed the Trump administration Wednesday to leave the state out of plans to expand offshore drilling, warning the state would block pipelines to get oil back to land. The agencies weighed in ahead of a public hearing Thursday in Sacramento, the only opportunity for people to register their opinions in person in California.

White House aide denies abuse allegations but resigns

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with White House Secretary Rob Porter and Sen. Mike Lee as they return to the White House December 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with White House Secretary Rob Porter and Sen. Mike Lee as they return to the White House December 4, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Pence’s approach to troubles in White House: He wasn’t there

In this Feb. 1, 2018, photo, Vice President Mike Pence addresses the Republican National Committee Winter Meeting in Washington. Credit Pence with good timing when it comes to trying to avoid political messes.

Hundreds of N.J.’s heavily traveled bridges badly need repair. Will Trump help?

Work on those spans -- the parkway's Mill River and Third River bridges -- has been completed and they won't be showing up on any bad list any time soon. But hundreds of other Jersey bridges remain structurally deficient, according to Federal Highway Administration data analyzed by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, a Washington-based industry group.

Uber enlists its drivers in the fight against sex trafficking Read Story Marco della Cava, Usa Today

Uber wants its drivers to help stop sex trafficking, an enduring problem that has prompted activists to press workers on the front lines of the travel industry to alert authorities if they see it happening. Over the past few years, Uber has enlisted its drivers in local and regional efforts to help fight human trafficking of adults and minors.