First lady Melania Trump hosts International Women’s Day luncheon

She arrived to a standing round of applause in the State Dining room in the afternoon, wearing a sleeveless black dress and walking toward a small podium under a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln. First daughter Ivanka Trump, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, GOP Sen. Susan Collins, second lady Karen Pence and her daughter, Charlotte Pence, were also present for the luncheon.

Women march across the US to fight for equal rights

"A Day Without a Woman" protest, one of the many demonstrations taking place in American cities, was organized by the same group that sparked the women's marches held following Trump's inauguration. Wednesday morning, President Trump addressed the protests on Twitter, writing, "I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy."

Trump making us all conspiracy theorists

Last weekend, President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama - without any evidence - of ordering Trump's phones to be wiretapped during last year's presidential campaign. It was only the most recent in a bewildering number of conspiracy theories the president and his circle have embraced over the past year.

VA secretary wants Congress to extend Choice program

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin says Congress needs to act quickly to extend a program aimed at widening veterans' access to private-sector health care, pointing to a growing demand for medical treatment outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. Shulkin also pledged additional efforts by his agency to combat suicide, saying he wanted to expand mental health care to former service members who receive "other than honorable discharges" from the military, typically for behavior problems such as violence or use of illegal drugs.

Backyard gardening makes comeback –

The Union Times Brussel Sprouts and Collard Greens like these growing in the Piedmont Physic Garden are among the many types of fruit and vegetables that can be grown in a backyard garden. Backyard gardening is making a comeback in South Carolina in response to the expansion of food deserts in communities across the state.

DA Food Skyway program offers new market for Zambo Peninsula fisher folks

Fishermen in Zamboanga Peninsula will soon have a larger market for their fish catch, especially during this month's peak season, as the Department of Agriculture will launch the so-called Philippine Food Skyway program later this month, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources . BFAR Regional Director Isidro Velayo Jr. on Thursday said that they are currently preparing the mechanisms to collect the surplus catch that cannot be absorbed by the local market and the fish processing industries in the region.

Grand marshal named for W-B St. Patrick’s Day parade

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Hangry in the school caf: Sharing some food is off the table

School officials in a Connecticut town are criticizing new restrictions on lunchroom "share tables," which encourage students to donate uneaten food for any classmates who may be hungry. The concept has been promoted by the U.S. Agriculture Department as a way to reduce waste, but it is up to local governments to determine what health codes will allow.

Illinois senator, veteran criticizes Trump military comments

Sen. Tammy Duckworth , an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs in combat, criticized President Donald Trump 's comments that Americans "don't fight to win" wars, saying the remarks show he isn't fit to be commander in chief. Trump made the comments to U.S. governors at the White House on Monday.

Most offensive Cuba stunt of the year: PETA goes slumming

Don't they know that it would be impossible for Cubans to follow a vegan diet, due to the scarcity of certain food items? Don't they know that street dogs in Castrogonia need much more than "dog treats", or that these dogs could be someone's next meal? Why would they be any better informed than the rest of the American people as a whole, or less attracted to the thrill of slumming in a repressive hell-hole and gazing at the ill-fed primitive natives with utter contempt? Why, Mildred, just last night I heard a very highly-placed world-class American scholar talking about the great Porterhouse steak he ate at a "private" restaurant in Castrogonia. He had no clue that such a meal is totally inaccessible to Cubans.

Firing the ‘diversity’ bullet at the Marines

Dying in foreign lands in the service of a nation that enshrines freedom of religion in its Constitution doesn't cut any mustard with the irreligious Left. Alarmed by the presence of a crche complete with three Wise Men last Christmas on the grounds of the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, the American Civil Liberties Union has joined forces with the oxymoronically-named Military Religious Freedom Foundation to put the camp's commanders in hot water.

Ethanol-infused fuel can cause problems, but don’t expect it to disappear

It's a topic that generates a huge amount of feedback and interest, and we want to publish every credible point of view on the issue. First, if you think that the new administration has plans to get the alcohol out of your gas, think again.

FBI app puts 10 Most Wanted in your pocket

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Australians doubt Trump’s commitment to its traditional ally

Some Australians foresee trouble in their country's traditionally strong alliance with the United States because of what they see as "unpresidential" behavior from President Donald Trump, while others think outspoken businessman-turned-Australian-leader Malcolm Turnbull is a good match for him. Australians have long had an affinity with the United States and absorb American popular culture like blotting paper.

US, China diplomats discussed North Korea following coal ban

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi affirmed the importance of a constructive bilateral relationship during a phone call, a statement from the US State Department said on Tuesday . A day before the announcement of the coal import suspension, Tillerson urged China to "use all available tools to moderate North Korea's destabilizing behavior" during his first talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi since taking office.

Ivanka Trump and daughter go to the Supreme Court

The first daughter is there as an invited guest as Justice Anthony Kennedy, whom she met at the inaugural lunch at the Capitol last month just after her father's swearing-in ceremony. Supreme Court justices often host guests for arguments, and there is a gallery above the courtroom where visitors are able to observe the judicial branch in action.