Before the gunfire in Virginia, a volatile home life in Illinois

An undated handout photo from the FBI of James Hodgkinson, who wounded four after he opened fire on a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va. In the days since the shooting, much has been made of Hodgkinson's strong left-leaning political views, but another aspect of his personality may have also presaged the shooting: his troubled home life.

Gehrke: The showdown between the governor and Legislature over the…

Gov. Gary Herbert and the Legislature are waging a high-power, high-stakes battle after Herbert blocked the attorney general's office from issuing a legal opinion to lawmakers on whether the governor overstepped his authority when he set the rules for the special election to replace Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz. Herbert had spurned legislators who overwhelmingly wanted the governor to call a special session so lawmakers could clarify the vague law on how to convene special elections.

Rep. Steve Scalise’s condition upgraded to ‘serious’

Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise's condition has been upgraded to "serious" after he underwent surgery Saturday for injuries sustained in a shooting at a Republican congressional baseball practice earlier this week, the hospital treating him said in a release. Scalise, the third-ranking GOP leader in the House, "continues to show signs of improvement," MedStar Washington Hospital Center said in a statement released on behalf of his family.

Utah GOP faithful backs ex-legislator for Chaffetz’s seat

Former Utah lawmaker Chris Herrod speaks during a special convention Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Provo, Utah. Herrod won the vote of about 800 state Republican delegates in a race to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz in Congress, advancing to an August primary election.

Family: Alexandria shooting victim to make ‘full recovery’

Alexandria shooting victim Matt Mika is showing "positive results" after undergoing additional surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, his family said in a statement Saturday. "While we know there will be difficult and challenging days ahead for Matt and our family, the physicians and specialists at Matt's side expect a full recovery," the statement said.

Lawmakers consider boosting security after Virginia attack

Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, met last week with House Speaker Paul Ryan to express concern about security for members. The meeting, along with a letter to leadership, came after Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, started receiving death threats after calling for President Trump's impeachment on the House floor.

Trump Cabinet officers urge on Republicans in Georgia race on Tuesday

Trying to stave off a major upset ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, two of President Donald Trump's Cabinet officers returned to Atlanta's traditionally conservative suburbs and urged Republican voters to maintain the GOP's monopoly control in Washington. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a former two-term Georgia governor, took sharp aim at Republican Karen Handel's opponent in Tuesday's congressional runoff election, 30-year-old Democrat Jon Ossoff, who has raised more than $23 million from people around the country hoping for a victory that could turn the tide on Trump.

Indiana forking over $100,000 to search through Pence’s private …

The personal AOL email account that Vice President Mike Pence used to conduct official state business as governor is costing the State of Indiana $100,000 to clear a backlog of public records requests. The Associated Press obtained 'documents' from Indiana that show Pence's handpicked successor, Governor Eric Holcomb, contracted with Shelbyville law firm McNeely Stephenson to handle fifty pending public requests.

Gowdy Confident With ‘Quintessential Straight Arrow’ Mueller

Rep. Trey Gowdy, who has replaced outgoing Rep. Jason Chaffetz as head of the House Oversight Committee said this week that he has confidence in former FBI Director Robert Mueller and the team he has assembled to investigate Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential race. "[He is] your quintessential straight arrow," the Tennessee Republican said during an interview with The Wall Street Journal .

Hamlin edges Byron in thrilling Xfinity finish at Michigan

Nippon Yusen K.K., the Japanese shipping company that operates the container ship that collided with a U.S. Navy destroyer, says its 20-member crew all safe. Nippon Yusen K.K., the Japanese shipping company that operates the container ship that collided with a U.S. Navy destroyer, says its 20-member crew all safe.

GOP rep: We’d ‘love’ for Trump to tweet about what we’re doing

Rep. Marsha Blackburn: "We would love for the President to be tweeting about the work we are doing" https://t.co/ex4sM1J30c Marsha Blackburn GOP rep: We'd 'love' for Trump to tweet about what we're doing Overnight Tech: Patent chief stepping down on Saturday urged President Trump to start tweeting more about his agenda and the work that House Republicans are doing, and less about the Russia investigation. Speaking on CNN, Blackburn said that she was thrilled to see the White House highlight workforce development this week, and hopes the Trump administration will stay focused on governing.

Utah GOP to trim packed field running for Chaffetz seat

About 1,000 Utah Republicans will gather for a special convention Saturday to cut down a field 12 candidates vying to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz and advance one candidate to an August primary election. Chaffetz announced earlier this year he's resigning at the end of June, leaving an enticing open seat for Republicans in what's considered one of the most conservative congressional districts in the country.

McAuliffe makes fool of himself with knee-jerk call for gun control

For a frightening instant, it sounded as if Barack Obama, through some twisted stroke of cosmic freakiness, were back in the saddle, but it was only Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe making a fool of himself - and, in emblematic Democratic fashion, crassly refusing to let a crisis go to waste. It should have come as no surprise.

Shooter went to GOP baseball practice with list of names

The man who shot House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and others at a congressional baseball practice earlier this week had with him a piece of paper with doodles and the names of three lawmakers, according to a person familiar with the case. The person told The Associated Press on Saturday that investigators aren't sure of the significance of the names and don't know if it was a list of people he was targeting.

Afghan soldier attacks foreign soldiers, wounding 4

The acquittal of an officer in the death of a Minnesota motorist who volunteered that he had a gun during a traffic stop adds to the worries of African-American gun owners. The acquittal of an officer in the death of a Minnesota motorist who volunteered that he had a gun during a traffic stop adds to the worries of African-American gun owners.