Senate defeats resolutions on amendments to prohibit same-sex marriage and ban abortion

The Arkansas Senat e fell a vote short today of approving resolution calling on Congress to propose a constitutional convention to ban same-sex marriage and then followed with a similar vote on an amendment aimed at banning abortion. The vote was 17-7 on the marriage resolution and 17-6 on the abortion measure.

Veterans injured by service wait years for compensation hearings

"If I sit down with the VA [secretary] nominee, I'm going to ask him about technology, personnel and managing the system," Sen. Tim Kaine said. Vietnam veteran Thomas Hundley displays letters he sent to his wife in 1966 from Vietnam He had to prove to the VA that he served in the war.

Behind Team Trump’s bogus claims of “voter fraud”…

We all know by now that President Donald Trump, along with one of his closest aides, Stephen Miller, has been repeating factually vacant conspiracy theories about massive voter fraud. Regarding Trump's falsehoods on this topic, we know that he most likely received his information about 3 million "illegals" voting for Hillary Clinton from radio conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Senate easily confirms Trump pick of Shulkin as VA secretary

The Senate on Monday easily confirmed physician David Shulkin to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, charged with delivering on President Donald Trump's campaign promises to fix long-standing problems at the department. Senators voted 100-0 to approve the former Obama administration official, who was the VA's top health official since 2015, in a rare show of bipartisanship amid partisan rancor over Trump's other nominees.

Airport tenants seek relief from Trump visits

From fears of losing customers, to laying off employees, or even closing shop, business owners based at the Lantana Airport laid out their concerns during a meeting with U.S. Representative Lois Frankel Monday. The U.S. Secret Service and Federal Aviation Administration place restrictions on the Lantana Airport when President Donald Trump visits his Palm Beach estate and club, Mar-a-Lago.

New Study Suggests Eating Whole Grains Can Aid Weight Loss

Switching from a diet of refined to whole grains may help to achieve weight loss goals and bolster health, according to a new study published Wednesday. The findings, released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , suggest that eating whole grains is connected with an increase in calorie loss because it boosts metabolism and reduces the amount of calories that are retained during digestion.

Trump’s attacks on the press – and how the “liberal …

"It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported," said Trump, who seems incapable of making a speech without mentioning the "dishonest press" and touting the latest conspiracy theory he read on InfoWars.com. "And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it.

Rep. Stivers promoted to brigadier general

In a ceremony at the Beightler Armory in Columbus attended by friends, family members and his fellow members of the military, Stivers, 51, a fourth-term congressman serving central Ohio, was promoted from a colonel to a brigadier general of the Ohio National Guard. In his new position, Stivers will oversee a joint staff of Army and Air Guardsmen tasked with creating better contingency plans for no-notice deployments, such as natural disasters.

GOP, allies launch defense of Puzder, Trump’s Labor pick

Rattled by bitter fights over President Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, Republicans and their allies have launched a fresh campaign to defend fast food executive Andrew Puzder's nomination to lead the Labor Department. From a social media push, including the Twitter hashtag #confirmpuzder, to old-fashioned letter-writing to senators, the CEO's supporters are pushing back against months of Democratic and labor-led efforts to cast him as favoring business interests over those of U.S. workers.

ICYMI: Two Additions Confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet of Horrors

This week Betsy DeVos was confirmed as our new Education Secretary and Jeff Sessions as the next Attorney General. There is no sugar coating this: both are disastrous for women, sexual assault survivors, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and the LGBT community.

Labor secretary nominee addresses conflicts of interest

President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of labor has proposed avoiding conflicts of interest by resigning as CEO of his fast food empire, selling off hundreds of holdings and recusing himself from government decisions in which he has a financial interest, according to his ethics filings with the government. "I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter in which I know that I have a financial interest directly and predictably affected by the matter" without a waiver from government ethics officials, Andrew Puzder wrote in the nine-page filing, dated Tuesday and obtained by The Associated Press.

Puzder to quit CKE and may give up bonus if confirmed as Labor chief

Andrew Puzder, President Trump's nominee to lead the Labor Department, says he will step down as chief executive of CKE Restaurants and might give up his 2016 bonus if the Senate confirms his nomination. The fast food exec, who currently runs Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants, explained how he would avoid financial conflicts of interest in a letter to government ethics officials.

So, You Want to Make Paul Ryan’s Meatloaf? an hour ago

In these odd times, it's hard to imagine a topic of conversation on Capitol Hill that would surprise people. Paul Ryan, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Maine Senator Susan Collins all have opinions on the classic American dish, captured by New York Times 's Op-Ed columnist Frank Bruni and Washington reporter Jennifer Steinhauer in their brand new book,  A Meatloaf in Every Oven .  Even President Trump has opinions.

Intel drones form US flag for Lady Gaga’s halftime show

Remember when quadcopter drones juggled balls and formed up into a Star Trek logo ? That seems downright quaint compared to what we just saw at Lady Gaga's elaborately produced Super Bowl halftime show. During her first number, 300 Intel drones formed the shape of an American flag, punctuating the singer's wire-assisted fall to the stage below.

Veterans still angry at Trumpa s treatment of Iraqis who served U.S. war effort

Akmal, an Iraqi and Scott's friend, wanted to visit America some day and connect with his friends from the U.S. Marine Corps on their home territory, said Cooper, a former lieutenant colonel. But, now, President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring U.S. entry to travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, Akmal's dream seems impossible.

Trump pledges to end political limits on churches

Declaring that religious freedom is "under threat," President Donald Trump vowed Thursday to repeal a rarely enforced IRS rule that says pastors who endorse candidates from the pulpit risk losing their tax-exempt status.  "I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution," Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast, a high-profile event bringing together faith leaders, politicians and dignitaries.  Trump's pledge was a nod to his evangelical Christian supporters, who helped power his White House win. So far he has not detailed his plans for doing away with the rule, which he has previously promised to rescind.

The Latest: California at heaviest snowpack in 22 years

Authorities say inmates used "sharp objects" to take over a Delaware prison and hold three prison guards and a counselor hostage A former death row inmate at the Delaware prison where inmates took employees hostage says the prisoners were protesting what he called "inhumane" conditions at the facility Roaring storms that brought California almost a year's worth of snow and rain in a single month should make state water manager's Sierra snowpack survey Thursday a celebration, marking this winter's dramatic... California water managers say Sierra Nevada snow drifts are at a drought-busting 173 percent of average, with the most snow recorded since 1995 A group of Yemeni business owners plan to shut down their delis, grocery stores and bodegas around New York City in protest of President Donald Trump's travel ban on people hailing from seven Muslim-majority... Many Yemeni business owners ... (more)