Political Horizons: The inescapable political element of criminal justice reform

Almost at the very beginning of a recent speech, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards reminded his Southern University audience that they were used as a backdrop "to scare people" in an ad attacking him during the 2015 gubernatorial campaign. Against the faces at the historically black university, Republican David Vitter's commercial - the first one out of the gate during the runoff - charged that the election of Edwards would lead directly to the release of "fifty-five hundred dangerous thugs, drug dealers, back into our neighborhoods."

Dennis Kucinich in the Democratic primary for Ohio governor: endorsement editorial

For Democrats in this year's race for Ohio governor, the choice should come down to passion, vision and an ability to grasp the bully pulpit to inspire Ohioans about the need for change. Ohio's next governor must be a fighter -- a fighter for greater equity, justice and common sense; a fighter for the state's urban centers; and a fighter against the moribund thinking on education, diversity, economic opportunity and home-rule rights that's held Ohio back for too long.

If Kevin McCarthy wants to be speaker,this may be his biggest obstacle

In the race to succeed Paul Ryan as House speaker, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has one major enemy: time. RyanA s decision to not run for reelection sets up an unusually long race to choose his successor, creating a campaign that is out in the open but almost in a state of suspended animation.

Famous politicos giving commencement speeches this year

President Donald Trump told Liberty University graduates that Americans worship God, not government, and to "relish the opportunity to be an outsider." Hillary Clinton compared Trump to Richard Nixon in a fiery speech at Wellesley College.

Ted Kennedy spoke of a family curse after Chappaquiddick; he had good reason

Among the “scrambled thoughts” that came to a young Ted Kennedy as he stumbled from the water into which he had crashed his Oldsmobile, killing his passenger and crippling his political career, was a sort of existential question, if not a supernatural one. The 37-year-old U.S. senator from Massachusetts wondered that night in 1969 whether “some awful curse did actually hang over all the Kennedys.” He recalled the thought aloud one week later in a televised speech, after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of the crash and failing to notify police until morning, as Mary Jo Kopechne died in the water off Chappaquiddick Island.

In the era of Donald Trump, New England’s biggest GOP donor is funding Democrats

Boston hedge fund billionaire Seth Klarman lavished more than $7 million on Republican candidates and political committees during the Obama administration, using his fortune to help underwrite a GOP takeover of the federal government. But the rise of Donald Trump shocked and dismayed Klarman, as did the timid response from the Republican-controlled House and Senate, which have acquiesced rather than challenge the president's erratic and divisive ways.

Much Trump talk at Colorado’s whittling of governor hopefuls

From left, Rep. Perry Buck, left, and Rep. Ken Buck are on the stage of Colorado Republican State Assembly at Coors Event Center in Boulder, Colo., Saturday, April 14, 2018. Colorado's Republican and Democratic parties are holding state assemblies to help determine who gets to their respective gubernatorial primaries.

Top Idaho GOP candidates square off in debate

Dave Leroy, former attorney general and former lieutenant governor, at microphone, gives his opening remarks during the first televised GOP debate for Idaho's open 1st Congressional District seat in Meridian, Idaho, Saturday, April 14, 2018. Leroy debated against four other Republican opponents.

Craig gets rematch against Lewis in 2nd District

After narrowly losing her first bid for Congress in 2016, Democrat Angie Craig is getting a second crack at defeating first-term Republican Rep. Jason Lewis this fall. Craig, a former medical device company executive from Eagan, easily won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement on Saturday for Minnesota's south suburban 2nd Congressional District seat.

Congress to Facebook’s Zuckerberg: Huh?

Congress had an agency designed to help senators avoid the sort of embarrassment they faced when trying to understand Facebook - but lawmakers stopped funding it 23 years ago and have resisted reviving it. Now there's talk the Office of Technology Assessment could make a comeback.

Weather temporarily closes Merrimac Ferry in Sauk, Columbia Counties

The ferry, which is usually open to traffic 24-hours a day, crosses the Wisconsin River between Sauk and Columbia counties and is accessed by Wisconsin State Road 113. County highway department officials say, ordinarily, it closes for the season only until ice forms on the river.

Beloved police dog returning to cop’s family after 10 days of outcry

After days of public and political pressure, SEPTA said Friday that it would allow a police dog to retire and live with the family of the dog's former handler after the agency faced mounting criticism over a decision to separate the beloved pooch and officer . But as SEPTA tells it, the agency did not bow to the pressure.

Indiana Democrats seeking end to their legislative futility

Indiana Democrats say a jump in new candidates on the May 8 primary ballot is a sign that they could cut into large Republican state legislative majorities that have left them largely powerless over the past six years. Republican voters, meanwhile, will decide numerous contested races among the 25 state Senate and 100 House seats up for election this year.