Quick release of gun data called trailblazing and troubling Source: AP

Gun control advocates are hailing New Jersey's release of near-real-time firearms trafficking data as a trailblazing use of federal information, but Second Amendment advocates and skeptical Republicans question whether the report amounts to a way around a federal limitation on the release of some data. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled the data Tuesday as part of a campaign promise to strengthen New Jersey's already-tight gun laws.

Paul Ryan warns a blue wavea could wipe out Trump accomplishments

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Saturday he thinks President Donald Trump will be an asset to GOP candidates this fall in states like Wisconsin that he narrowly won, even as he warned fellow Republicans that a "blue wave" could wipe out advancements made during his presidency. Ryan addressed about 600 people at the Wisconsin Republican convention, his final one after 20 years in office.

Ex-student files sexual-abuse lawsuit against NH prep school

A former New Hampshire boarding school student says in a lawsuit the school violated her civil rights by failing to protect her from sexual assault in a "hypersexualized environment" where older students scored points for having sex with younger ones. The lawsuit , filed Friday in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire, claims officials at St. Paul's School failed to report the sexual assault of a freshman during the 2012-13 school year.

Connie Schultz: You, too, would do this to save your child

Three years ago, on the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights, I sat in an Alabama church pew with then-Sen. Jeff Sessions. He wore the flushed, impatient face of someone who had to be there.

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.

Amid a swirl of investigations, Devin Nunes takes on the Justice Department

Since Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee declared they had found no evidence of coordination between Russia's election interference and the Trump campaign, its chairman has decisively turned the panel's attention from investigation to investigators. The chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., has issued increasingly bold demands for access to some of the Justice Department's most sensitive case files.

Second Democrat announces support for CIA nominee Haspel

Gina Haspel's nomination to be CIA director received a crucial boost Saturday when Sen. Joe Donnelly became the second Democrat to support President Donald Trump's choice despite questions about her role in the previous decade's controversial interrogation program. The senator from Indiana, who met with Haspel on Thursday, said in a statement that he had ''a tough, frank, and extensive discussion'' with her that covered both her vision for the agency and its past use of ''enhanced'' interrogations against terrorist captives, including methods such as waterboarding that are widely considered torture.

North Korea to dismantle nuclear site ahead of Trump-Kim summit

North Korea has announced it will hold a ceremony in late May for the dismantling of its nuclear test site. The country's central news agency said tunnels will be collapsed with explosions, blocking entrances, while observation facilities, research buildings and security posts will be closed.

Second Democratic senator publicly backing Trump’s CIA pick

Joe Donnelly of Indiana says he made his decision after a "tough, frank and extensive discussion" with Gina Haspel, the spy agency's acting director. So far two Republicans have announced their opposition: Kentucky's Rand Paul and Arizona's John McCain, who's battling cancer and isn't expected to be present for the voting.

Pennsylvania’s sleepy Senate race could still play key role

This Oct. 14, 2016 photo shows Rep. Jim Christiana in Beaver, Pa, Pennsylvania's thus-far sleepy U.S. Senate race could nonetheless help determine whether Republicans maintain control of the chamber.

In new book, ailing John McCain makes final plea for immigration reform

In his forthcoming memoir, U.S. Sen. John McCain makes one more argument for immigration reform while taking swings at border hard-liners such as as President Trump, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Rep. Steve King of Iowa. McCain, the 81-year-old Arizona Republican who is fighting a deadly form of brain cancer, restates his case for overhauling the immigration system in The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations .

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.