Trump court appointee did not clear Wisconsin vetting

President Donald Trump's pick to fill a long-standing federal appellate court vacancy never cleared a state vetting commission, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin's office said Friday. Trump's administration announced Friday morning that he had chosen Milwaukee attorney Michael Brennan to fill the opening on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

Senator Heller Introduces Bill to Help Prevent Wild Fires in Nevada

U.S. Senator Dean Heller introduces the Emergency Fuel Reduction Act, S.1752 along with the support of Senators Jeff Flake , Orrin Hatch , and James Risch . The Emergency Fuel Reduction Act hopes to help prevent wildfires by speeding up the review process for fire prevention projects on public lands.

Western desert communities mop up after summer storms

The Southern California desert community is cleaning up on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 after thunderstor... . In this Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 photo provided by Jim Phipps shows children playing in a flooded street with a fallen tree after a storm passed through in Tempe, Ariz.

The Latest: Attorney general vows to slow government leaks

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he will consider paying for economic damages from a 2015 mine waste spill triggered by agency crews. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the city will sue the federal government in defense of its status as a so-called sanctuary city.

Chicago to sue US Justice Department over funding threat

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday said the city will sue the federal government in defense of its status as a so-called sanctuary city and against threats to withhold U.S. grant funds. Emanuel told "Connected to Chicago" on WLS-AM the city will be in federal court Monday arguing grants can't be withheld from cities the administration says aren't cooperating enough with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Congressman Mo Brooks has lunch with Trussville citizens while on tour

Today, Trussville residents were able to come meet Rep. Mo Brooks from the fifth district of Alabama at Jim 'N Nick's BBQ where the congressman had lunch while on his "Drain the Swamp" tour across the state. "I feel good about Mo meeting the people," said Cameron Mixon, a member of College Republicans, "Unlike the others, he's going out to meet the voters, try to earn their vote and not try to buy their vote."

Under Trump, anglers feel tide turning on reda

The sought-after game fish has been at the center of a years-long debate between environmentalists and recreational anglers. Under Trump, recreational anglers feel tide turning in their favor on red snapper The sought-after game fish has been at the center of a years-long debate between environmentalists and recreational anglers.

White House cana t count on Senate GOP, so ita s wooing Democrats

Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., left, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., arrive for news conference on the east lawn of the Capitol to unveil a new economic agenda titled "A Better Deal on Trade and Jobs" on August 2, 2017. Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., left, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., arrive for news conference on the east lawn of the Capitol to unveil a new economic agenda titled "A Better Deal on Trade and Jobs" on August 2, 2017.

Springfield native Sam Pfister is new Director of Federal Affairs

A Springfield man has been named Director of Federal Affairs in Washington D.C. Sam Pfister will be working closely with Congress and the Executive Branch to ensure Illinois' interests are being represented. Pfister will also work with the Governor's office to achieve desired goals.

Workers at Mississippi Nissan plant casting ballots on union

In this Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017 photo, a United Auto Workers member encourages employees to vote for the union at an entrance to the Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton, Miss. Voting started Thursday in Mississippi among 3,700 employees who are deciding whether the UAW union should bargain for them with Nissan Motor Co.

Surveillance drone to fly at Trump golf course during visit

Golfers and neighbors of Donald Trump's New Jersey course will have something more than just the president to look out for over the next few weeks. A tethered unmanned surveillance aircraft will be flying over the Bedminster area as part of a test while Trump is staying at his home on the golf course on a 17-day vacation that starts Friday, the Secret Service said in a privacy notice issued this week.

Pence hands over AOL emails from time as Indiana’s governor

Vice President Mike Pence has turned over emails from a private AOL.com account he used to conduct official business while he was Indiana's governor. A spokeswoman for current Gov. Eric Holcomb says Pence's attorneys last month handed over an electronic database containing the emails, which are public records.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz defends not firing controversial IT worker

The Florida congresswoman is standing by her decision to not fire a worker of hers who was arrested last month Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., defended herself amidst controversy over her decision to continue using the services of an IT worker who was accused of stealing computers and data systems. Last month the IT worker, Imran Awan, was arrested by the FBI and Capitol Hill Police while boarding a plane to Pakistan.

West Virginia governor, a Democrat, to switch to Republican

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday he's switching parties to join Republicans as President Donald Trump visited the increasingly conservative state. Justice told about 9,000 Trump supporters at a rally in Huntington that he will be changing his registration Friday.

Trump on Russia: ‘We won. Move on’

Trump, who has grown increasingly angry over the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller of Russian interference in last year's election, is using his Twitter account to argue that the probe is unwarranted and should be terminated. Mueller, a former FBI director, is looking into potential links between Russia and the Trump campaign in the presidential election.

Chicago sues over sanctuary city threat; Sessions fires back

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has taken his fight against President Donald Trump's immigration policies to court, with Chicago becoming one of the first cities Monday to sue over what many U.S. cities argue are illegal bids to withhold public safety grants from so-called sanctuary cities. Hours later, Attorney General Jeff Sessions hit back at Chicago, saying the Trump administration "will not simply give away grant dollars to city governments that proudly violate the rule of law and protect criminal aliens at the expense of public safety."

Congress recessing, leaving much undone, tensions with Trump

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, joined by, from left, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., speaks to re... WASHINGTON - Lawmakers scattered for their summer recess Thursday, leaving behind a slim record of achievements and a steaming President Donald Trump. The president is angry about what the Republican-led Congress couldn't do - repeal Obamacare - as well as one of the few things it did: approve a Russia sanctions bill he detests.