Obama turns focus on Pennsylvania, hopes to boost Democrats

The former president campaigned in Philadelphia with two leading Democrats running for re-election, Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. At a campaign rally at the Dell Music Center in Philadelphia, Obama implored Pennsylvanians to vote in November because the election was more consequential than any he could remember.

Ted Cruz, Beto O’Rourke meet Friday evening for first of three debates

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke will have their first meeting on the debate stage Friday evening in Dallas. The debate begins at 6 p.m. at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is the first of three hour-long debates between the two Texas candidates.

Rep. Nunes faulted by rival for photo with hand symbol

Republican U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes of California is being criticized by his Democratic rival in the November election after a photograph on social media showed the congressman next to a supporter making a hand gesture that some consider racist. In a photo taken at a Tuesday event, a man standing beside the congressman is making an A-OK sign with his hand, a gesture the Southern Poverty Law Center says is used by white supremacists to signal their beliefs.

Beto O’Rourke, Closing in on Ted Cruz, Faces Off With Him in First Texas Debate

Sen. Ted Cruz faced off against Rep. Beto O'Rourke , the El Paso Democrat running a spirited campaign against him, in their first of three debates on Friday. The moment arrived as recent polls have shown a too-close-for-comfort contest and Republicans in Washington D.C. have been concerned that O'Rourke's massive fundraising prowess and personal appeal could lead to an upset.

Hillary Clinton to Colbert: Would Be ‘Very Easy’ for FBI to Investigate Kavanaugh Allegation

When Hillary Clinton sat down for an interview with Stephen Colbert set to air on Friday night's Late Show , it was still up in the air whether or not Christine Blasey Ford would agree to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week about her sexual-assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Cancelling Georgia nuclear plant could cost owners billions

The federal government is warning the owners of a troubled nuclear power plant in Georgia that any move to cancel a planned expansion would lead to demands for quick repayment of nearly $6 billion in federal loans. In a letter to the plant's three owners, the Department of Energy said late Friday that if the construction project is cancelled, the government is "prepared to move swiftly to fully enforce its rights under terms of the loan guarantee agreements, including the repayment provisions."

US agency endorses plan to block new mining near Yellowstone

U.S. officials recommended approval on Friday of a plan to block new mining claims for 20 years on the forested public lands that make up Yellowstone National Park's mountainous northern boundary. Regional Forester Leanne Marten submitted a letter to the Bureau of Land Management endorsing the plan to withdraw 30,000 acres in Montana's Paradise Valley and the Gardiner Basin from new claims for gold, silver, platinum and other minerals, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Marna Daley said.

Lawmakers question Google over kids’ privacy on YouTube

Google says YouTube isn't for children under 13, which is why it created a separate app for them, YouTube Kids. Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican, sent a letter this week to Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai asking for more details about how the service collects data.

Obama turns focus on Pennsylvania, hopes to boost Democrats Source: AP

Barack Obama was turning his political attention Friday to a state that Donald Trump won as the former president prepared to campaign Friday in Philadelphia with two leading Pennsylvania Democrats running for re-election, Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. In the Nov. 6 contests, Democrats are trying to oust Republicans in four U.S. House districts and more than a dozen state legislative seats in the Philadelphia area alone.

Sen. Whitehouse: Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Will Not End Investigations

Putting Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court will not end the investigation into Christine Braley Ford's accusations, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said on Thursday. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said when Democrats retake the House and Senate, he's "confident" they will investigate not only Ford's claims -- but "why the FBI stood down its background investigation" when Ford dropped her bombshell.

Donald Trump delays FBI document release after objections from Justice Department, U.S. allies

Donald Trump delays FBI document release after objections from Justice Department, U.S. allies President Donald Trump said Justice Department and foreign allies raised concerns about release of FBI documents Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2zmwihM WASHINGTON - Reversing course, President Donald Trump delayed the release of classified FBI documents on Friday after the Justice Department and foreign allies objected amid concerns that their publication may damage the investigation of Russian election interference. The Department of Justice Inspector General "has been asked to review these documents on an expedited basis," Trump tweeted.

Expansion of Alabama lumber company to add dozens of jobs

Officials say an Alabama lumber company will add dozens of new jobs following the approval of a tax abatement package. The Tuscaloosa News reports the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority approved the tax abatement package as part of a $28.2 million capital investment at KyKenKee Inc. during its Thursday meeting.

This Supreme Court fight will only deepen our divisions

The political maneuvering required to get Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to the Supreme Court is probably the most important and consequential since the Florida recount in 2000, so deftly navigated by the old Republican hand Baker on behalf of George W. Bush. I tip my hat to the Democrats for how they have played a lousy hand.

Corey challenges Murphy to wash windows for him

Republican Matthew Corey, a window-washer who is challenging Chris Murphy for his U.S. Senate seat hangs over the side of a Trumbull Street building in Hartford, Conn, Wednesday, June 27, 2018. Republican Matthew Corey, a window-washer who is challenging Chris Murphy for his U.S. Senate seat hangs over the side of a Trumbull Street building in Hartford, Conn, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

12-year-old girl from Honduras reunited with her family in NH

A girl from Honduras has been reunited with her family in New Hampshire after she was separated from them by the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy on illegal border crossings. Twelve-year-old Nathalia Guzman travelled from Yoro, Honduras with her aunt Francia Guzman, her uncle, Henrry Cruz-Amaya, and her cousin, Fernando Cruz-Guzman.