Trump Is Scrambling To Avoid A Special Election Defeat In This Rust Belt District

Conor Lamb, the Democrat running to represent this district in Congress, was wrapping up an interview with a reporter last week when Ted Skowvron, a 93-year-old veteran in a World War II cap, walked over to shake his hand. Skowvron informed Lamb that was he was a ball gunner on a B-17 in the European theater.

Federal responsibility in nuclear attack alerts is unclear

A timeline shows Hawaii officials botched efforts to immediately correct a false missile alert over the weekend, taking more than 20 minutes to contact federal authorities for approval they didn't need and then taking another 15 minutes to cancel the alert that was sent to mobile devices statewide. The astonishing error and dismal response has prompted both state and federal investigations and left one of the state's U.S. senators wondering aloud if top brass at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency should be replaced.

Republicans move ahead with vote to avoid a government shutdown

House Republican leaders are moving toward a vote Thursday to avoid a shutdown, but as a new day dawns in Washington, it's still unclear if GOP leaders have enough support to keep the government open. House Speaker Paul Ryan and his lieutenants were up against the clock and their own ranks as they scrambled to lock down votes.

Hawaii’s False Alarm Exposes U.S. Civil Defense Gaps

Three days after Hawaii's false ballistic-missile alert triggered panic across the islands, causing people to run for cover and family members to issue tearful goodbyes, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK texted out a news alert instructing citizens to seek shelter from an incoming North Korean attack. It too was false.

Republicans in Congress push for vote to avoid shutdown

Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress stepped up their efforts to pass a temporary extension in funding and prevent the federal government from shutting down, scheduling a vote on the measure for later on Thursday. For months, the Republican-controlled Congress has been struggling to fund the government, which is now operating on its third temporary funding extension since the 2018 fiscal year began on Oct. 1. Democrats insist that a long-term spending bill include protection for "Dreamers" - adults brought to the country illegally as children, who were protected from deportation by former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

Russia probes come up against claims of executive privilege

Steve Bannon's attorney relayed questions, in real time, to the White House during a House Intelligence Committee interview of the former Trump chief strategist, people familiar with the closed-door session told The Associated Press. The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee is accusing President Donald Trump's White House of placing a "gag order" on former chief strategist Steve Bannon, barring him from answering many questions as part of the panel's investigation into Russian election interference.

Trump to Pennsylvania, but Don’t Call it a Campaign Trip

President Donald Trump is tiptoeing around the first congressional election of the new year as he heads to southwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday to hail the Republican tax cuts he signed last year. Trump will appear with the Republican nominee for a Pittsburgh-area House seat.

Democrats dig in on immigration, shutdown risk or no

Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division, Edward O'Callaghan, took questions at Wednesday's press briefing. He supported President Donald Trump's immigration reforms saying they will improve security and make the US safer.

On a oeThe View,a Sen. Dick Durbin defends his account of Trumpa s alleged a oesa “holea remark

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin appeared on ABC's The View Wednesday to defend his account that President Trump called African nations "s - hole countries" at a White House meeting last week on immigration. "I stand by my words," Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, told the co-hosts.

WH claiming sweeping a executive privilegea in Russia probes

President Donald Trump's White House is relying on a sweeping interpretation of executive privilege that is rankling members of Congress on both sides of the aisle as current and former advisers parade to Capitol Hill for questioning about possible connections with Russia. The argument was laid bare this week during former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's interview with the House Intelligence Committee.

EDITORIAL: Tax reform, designed to create jobs, jobs, jobs, yields its first results

The announcement on Wednesday that Apple Inc. will bring $350 billion in cash parked overseas - that's billion with a B - home to the United States, to invest here and create as many as 20,000 new jobs, is likely to be the economic story of the year. Donald Trump , who made his boast that he would "make America great again" the centerpiece of his campaign for president, couldn't have designed this play better on a blackboard.

Lawmakers see path to bringing back earmarks

Lawmakers from both parties expressed support on Wednesday for reversing the House's ban on earmarks, despite skepticism from key conservatives who originally pushed to end the practice nearly a decade ago. The overwhelming consensus at a House Rules Committee hearing on Wednesday was that allowing members of Congress to authorize pet projects back in their districts makes them more effective at their jobs.

How California leaders are fighting back against Sessions’ marijuana…

California legislators are fighting back against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' attempt to crack down on state cannabis programs, launching letter-writing campaigns, proposing new laws and discussing federal lawsuits to safeguard legal marijuana. "The genie is out of the bottle, so to speak," said Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, who's calling for federal legislators to block Department of Justice appointments until the Trump administration changes its stance on marijuana.

Bills intend to advance I-5 Bridge replacement

Members of Clark County's legislative delegation have introduced a pair of bills meant to advance the replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge. Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill intended to restart the process for planning the replacement of the antiquated and congested I-5 Bridge.

Senate spent $269,000 on investigating, settling sexual harassment complaints

The Michigan Senate spent $269,000 on investigating and settling sexual harassment complaints between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2006, according to the Senate Business Office. In response to a request from MLive, Senate Business Office Director Jordan Hankwitz said the Michigan Senate spent $269,000 on investigating and settling sexual harassment complaints during that time frame.

Abuse prevention a focus for disability agency

State officials whose agencies serve people with disabilities outlined for lawmakers Wednesday their efforts to prevent and respond to abuse against that population, particularly highlighting efforts to address sexual assault. Speaking at an oversight hearing held by the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Jane Ryder, the acting commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, described a training program she called a "national model."

Lawmakers ask if states or feds should alert about missiles

Nearly 40 terrifying minutes passed between the time Hawaii officials fired off a bogus alert about an incoming missile over the weekend and the moment the notice was canceled. The state was slow to contain the situation, waiting 23 minutes to call officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get unnecessary approval to send a retraction.

White House official: Trump immigration views have evolved Source: AP

President Donald Trump's views on immigration and building a wall along the Mexico border have evolved since his presidential campaign, the White House chief of staff said Wednesday. Those changes are giving some people hope that a compromise with Congress on the thorny issue is possible.