Georgia Legislature passes budget with boost for K-12 education

Georgia lawmakers agreed to a budget that fully funds the state's K-12 education formula and passed a measure that cracks down on distracted driving before the gavel fell on this year's legislative session early Friday. A number of bills, including a controversial immigration enforcement measure and a proposal to move away from electronic voting machines failed to be taken up as lawmakers rushed to pass dozens of other bills throughout the final hours of the legislative session.

Who is John Huber, the man appointed to investigate GOP concerns…

In a letter to congressional leaders released on Thursday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions revealed that the United States attorney for Utah has been investigating whether the Justice Department and the FBI abused its authority in surveilling an adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign. In addition to an investigation into the request for a warrant to surveil Carter Page, U.S. Attorney John Huber has been looking into whether the Justice Department ignored allegations of Hillary Clinton's ties to the sale of U.S. uranium rights to Uranium One , whose parent company is Rosatom, a Russian nuclear energy company.

Trump’s topics many in Ohio talk

President Donald Trump pitched a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan on Thursday, using the occasion to also give a campaign-style rally in which he, among other things, touted economic gains and warned his political supporters against complacency in the fall midterm elections. "There's never been an economy like this," he said.

Could enemies sabotage undersea cables linking the world?

Russian ships are skulking around underwater communications cables, causing the U.S. and its allies to worry the Kremlin might be taking information warfare to new depths. Is Moscow interested in cutting or tapping the cables? Does it want the West to worry it might? Is there a more innocent explanation? Unsurprisingly, Russia isn't saying.

Chris Evans to Laura Ingraham: – What is wrong with you?’

Perhaps because advertisers were beginning to pull their ads, Fox News host Laura Ingraham has apologized for calling teenager David Hogg , a survivor of the Parkland, Fla., shooting, a "whiny" high schooler. Ingraham tweeted the apology Thursday after Hogg's call for a boycott of companies that advertise on Ingraham's show seemed to be gaining momentum.

Trump sells infrastructure plan in wide-ranging speech in Ohio

In a nearly hourlong speech, President Donald Trump talked about everything from his planned border wall with Mexico to the TV ratings success of the "Roseanne" reboot. In between, and along the way Thursday afternoon, he touted the virtues of his $1.5 trillion plan to build new infrastructure and fix what's in need of repair.

Congresswoman says sorry for not protecting female employees Source: AP

Connecticut U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty issued an apology Thursday for failing to protect female employees who say they were harassed by her former chief of staff, including one woman who said she was punched in the back and received death threats. The three-term Democratic congresswoman on Thursday also personally repaid the federal government $5,000 in severance issued to now-fired Tony Baker, according to her current chief of staff, Timothy Daly.

Prepaid property taxes will be deductible

Local news, prep sports, Chicago sports, local and regional entertainment, business, home and lifestyle, food, classified and more! News you use every day! Daily, Daily including the e-Edition or e-Edition only. Choose your news! Select the text alerts you want to receive: breaking news, prep sports scores, school closings, weather, and more.

Gowdy, Goodlatte: AG Sessions’ Prosecutor Appointment ‘Step in the Right Direction’

Praising U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' announcement of a special prosecutor to investigate Republican complaints in the FBI and DOJ, two House GOP leaders called the move a "step in the right direction," The Hill reported. Reps.

Redistricting advocates lobbying Illinois lawmakers for constitutional amendment

Some advocates are pushing for an Illinois constitutional amendment to change how legislative districts are created in the state. Redistricting advocates have asked lawmakers to consider their proposed Fair Maps Amendment that would form a 16-member independent commission to draw new districts, the Daily Herald reported .

Democrat governor hopefuls back AR-15 ban

All three Democrats running for New Mexico governor say they support a statewide ban on the sale of AR-15s, while the lone GOP candidate disagrees. Democratic candidates for New Mexico governor back AR-15 ban All three Democrats running for New Mexico governor say they support a statewide ban on the sale of AR-15s, while the lone GOP candidate disagrees.

New Jersey Hit Hardest By New Tax Law, Report Says

New Jersey will have the highest percentage of taxpayers facing a tax hike this year as a result of the Republican rewrite of the federal tax code, according to a new report. The Tax Policy Center, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., said in a report Wednesday that 10.2 percent of New Jersey taxpayers will see their tax bills rise.

Odds Of Being Audited By IRS Lowest In 15 Years, Report Says

KXNT News/Talk Radio 840 AM Welcome to KXNT News/Talk 840 AM KXNT NewsRadio 840 AM is dedicated to being the dominant information and talk source for Las Vegas and all of southern Nevada. Additional alliances with Channel 13 Action News, Metro Networks, and the Associated Press ensure that KXNT listeners have the most credible, timely and in-depth information.

Fallin on Thursday signs tax hikes, pay raise

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has signed into law the largest teacher pay raise in the state's history and a massive package of tax hikes to pay for the plan. Flanked by educators and GOP leaders, Fallin on Thursday signed a bill to give public school teachers raises of between 15 and 18 percent, an average boost of about $6,100 a year.

Congress pours money into fight against Louisiana’s wetland pest

The fight against an insect invasion that's killing coastal wetlands is receiving long sought-after help from the federal government. Congress plans to contribute $500,000 to help control or eradicate the tiny Asian insect, known as a scale, that's been destroying roseau cane, a sturdy, erosion-resistant reed that holds much of the lower Mississippi River Delta together.

Speaker Ryan is expected to seek re-election; will he stay?

In this March 20,2018, file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., pauses as he speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan's political future as House speaker has been such a topic of speculation that even the simple question of whether he will seek re-election to his Wisconsin seat remains secret.

President Trump emerging from seclusion to promote infrastructure plan

Attempting a policy reset, President Donald Trump will push for upgrades to the nation's aging roads and bridges Thursday in his first public appearance since an adult-film actress claimed on national TV that they had sex months after his wife gave birth to his fifth child. Trump is visiting Richfield, Ohio, to sell the public on his plan to use $200 billion in federal money to spur at least $1.5 trillion in spending over a decade to repair or replace highways, bridges, ports, airports and other infrastructure.

Student’s Columbus Pride Festival gaining national attention

A Columbus high school student's senior project to host the first gay pride festival in the hometown of Vice President Mike Pence has turned heads nationally and internationally. Publicity over the April 14 event, heavily linked to the politician's conservative views, has left 18-year-old Erin Bailey of Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School both excited and stunned.