The Latest: 3 longtime Pence aides named to White House jobs

Three longtime aides to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will join him in Washington as he becomes vice president, including one who kept a lucrative state lobbying contract while he also had a paid position with the Republican presidential campaign. Josh Pitcock was announced Wednesday as Pence's chief of staff and an assistant to the president in the Trump White House.

Obamacare repeal date set for February 20th

For almost seven years the Republicans have wanted to see the Affordable Care Act, as known as Obamacare gone. President Barack Obama's signature piece of legislation has been the GOP's prime target and on February 20, 2017 it will be officially repealed when the bill hits President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.

Republicans target Obama rules on methane, coal

House Republican leaders say their top regulatory targets will be President Barack Obama's rules to reduce methane emissions and to lessen the environmental impact of coal mining on the nation's streams From left, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La. meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, following a closed-door meeting with the GOP caucus to disucss repeal of President Obama's health care law now that the GOP is in charge of White House and Congress.

Ap Fact Check: Trump’s hit-and-miss ‘Obamacare’ tweet

AP FACT CHECK: Taking a swipe at "Obamacare" on Twitter, President-elect Donald Trump correctly identified two of its most pressing problems _ a spike in premiums and high deductibles Vice President-elect Mike Pence leaves a closed-door meeting with the House Republican caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Pence promised repeal of President Obama's health care law now that the GOP is in charge of White House and Congress.

Top StoryTrump questions US intelligence as governing challenges loom

His inauguration less than three weeks away, President-elect Donald Trump is raising new doubts about the nation's intelligence community, tweeting fresh criticism at the same people who will help inform his most sensitive decisions once he takes office. Trump charged Tuesday on Twitter, without evidence, that the timing of an upcoming intelligence briefing on suspected Russian interference in the 2016 election had been delayed.

With options limited, Obama to rally Dems on health care

President Barack Obama, anxious to preserve elements of his signature health law, travels to Capitol Hill Wednesday in a bid to fend off Republican efforts to repeal the measure outright. During his morning huddle with congressional Democrats, Obama plans to argue that a robust defense of the Affordable Care Act by lawmakers could help deter the promised GOP effort to scrap it as soon as Donald Trump takes office.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence speaks during a rally in Hershey, Pa., on Dec. 15, 2016.

President Obama is traveling to the Capitol to give congressional Democrats advice on how to combat the Republican drive to dismantle his health care overhaul. Vice President-elect Mike Pence is meeting with GOP lawmakers to discuss the best way to send Obama's cherished law to its graveyard and replace it with - well, something.

Trump questions US intelligence as governing challenges loom

His inauguration less than three weeks away, President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday raised new doubts about the nation's intelligence community, tweeting fresh criticism at the same officials who will help inform his most sensitive decisions once he takes office. Trump charged on Twitter without evidence that the timing of an upcoming intelligence briefing on Russian interference in the 2016 election had been delayed.

Trump talks tough on trade, Dems, business listen

President-electTrump's message that he intends to get tough on trade and companies that ship American jobs overseas seems to be getting through to two constituencies: Democrats and the business community. Employers are following in the footsteps of Carrier, the HVAC company that announced it wouldn't be moving 1,000 Indiana jobs to Mexico after all after the president-elect and Vice President-elect Mike Pence reached out with some carrots and sticks to entice them.

Area’s new congressmen get sworn in

Associated Press Rep. Jim Banks, R-3rd, joined by his wife, Amanda, and their three daughters, is sworn in Tuesday as a member of the House of Representatives by Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington.

House GOP guts ethics office, starts on conservative agenda

House Republicans voted to rein in the power of the independent ethics office that was initiated in 2008 after Congress members went to jail for corruption. The decision to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics was made on late Monday, without any notice or debate on the subject.

Zoeller leaves to improve addiction crisis

In one of his last acts as governor, Vice President-elect Mike Pence bestowed the honorary title of Sagamore of the Wabash to Attorney General Greg Zoeller for his eight years as Indiana's chief legal officer. It may have been as fitting for Zoeller to have been honored for his role as a public health advocate.

Mike Pence May Be Damaged Goods Before Stepping Into White House

Since our corporate media has become sitting ducks feeble in the lobby of Trump Tower, you probably have no idea there's another lead crisis happening in the Midwest. East Chicago, Indiana, a low-income neighborhood predominately made up of Hispanics and African Americans, received notice in July, 2016 that the West Calumet apartment complex had 218 times the "allowable" limit of lead in its ground soil and air.

Justice, retirement systems among Daugaard’s top priorities

Gov. Dennis Daugaard enters his final two years in office aiming to tackle issues ranging from rising methamphetamine use to the solvency of the state retirement system. During the legislative session that starts Jan. 10, the Republican governor will likely be the final word on reshaping a voter-approved government ethics overhaul and deciding whether to restrict the bathrooms that transgender students use.

Indiana Covering Up Details Of Trump/Carrier Bribery Deal

The government in the state of Indiana is covering up the details of the deal announced by Donald Trump to have Carrier keep jobs there. The Washington Post reports that in response to an open records request filed by the paper, details of the so-called Carrier "deal" are being kept under lock and key.

Governor-Elect Eric Holcomb Announces Deputy General Counsel, Inspector General

Cynthia Carrasco, Deputy General Counsel, Office of the Governor: "Cynthia is a trusted leader who has served Indiana with diligence as Inspector General," said Governor-elect Eric Holcomb. "I look forward to her playing an important role in my administration as Deputy General Counsel."