Ap Fact Check: Epa chief sees good in warming, experts don’t

In this Jan. 30, 2018, file photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt testifies before the Senate Environment Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Pruitt is once again understating the threat posed by climate change, this time by suggesting that global warming may be a good thing for humanity.

California officials pledge to reject offshore drilling

California commissions that oversee coastal lands and water pushed the Trump administration Wednesday to leave the state out of plans to expand offshore drilling, warning the state would block pipelines to get oil back to land. The agencies weighed in ahead of a public hearing Thursday in Sacramento, the only opportunity for people to register their opinions in person in California.

Military leaders want Congress to approve budget deal

The Pentagon says it should be able to get more planes into the air, more ships on the seas and more equipment to troops in the field if Congress approves the major budget agreement struck by Senate leaders on Wednesday. Military leaders have said they're confronting a readiness crisis, punctuated by a series of deadly accidents, that they attributed to funding shortages stemming from the "sequester" budget cuts earlier this decade.

Pelosi makes a marathon plea to help Dreamers

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi started speaking around 10 a.m. and yielded the floor at 6:11 p.m., setting a record. - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi staged a record-breaking, eight-hour speech Wednesday in an attempt to force a House vote on protections for the Dreamer immigrants - and to prove to an increasingly angry wing of progressives and activists that she has done all she could.

A new Senate document on Russia probe spying explained

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., talks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley of Iowa and Graham released a criminal referral they had sent to the Justice Department earlier this year asking for an investigation into the former spy, Christopher Steele.

Drivers take their eyes for two miles each hour

'He can go from being the sweetest person to a complete abusive monster': Woman who was living with Trump aide Rob Porter at the time he began dating Hope Hicks confided to his ex-wives about living in fear 'He just asked me if he could live with me... I told him I had been feeling the same': Teacher, 24, ends up adopting troublesome student, 12, and his baby brother despite nearly making her quit her profession Senate leaders reach 'genuine BREAKTHROUGH' in bipartisan two-year budget deal to lift caps and provide billions in new government spending California baker who refused to make a wedding cake for same-sex couple for religious reasons IS allowed to turn away customers because it is 'artistic expression', judge rules EXCLUSIVE: Aly Raisman condemns organizations that allowed pedophile Larry Nassar to prey on gymnasts for so long, accusing them of 'putting medals and money ahead of ... (more)

The doctor’s in, but jury is out on new LA Times owner

Dutch lender Rabobank's California subsidiary is scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday in a long-running investigation that led to allegations the bank was used to launder millions of dollars in Mexican drug money. Dutch lender Rabobank's California subsidiary is scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday in a long-running investigation that led to allegations the bank was used to launder millions of dollars in Mexican drug money.

The FBI Says There Is No Evidence of an Attack in a Border Patrol Agent’s Death

FBI officials said Wednesday that the investigation into the November death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent has yielded no evidence that there was a "scuffle, altercation or attack" more than two months after President Donald Trump and others used the suggestion of an attack to promote the building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Investigators have conducted more than 650 interviews and involved 37 field offices in their probe, but have not found definitive evidence of an attack, the FBI said in a statement.

Two-year budget deal leaves conservative Republicans fuming over deficits Source: Cox Media Group

A two year budget agreement announced Wednesday by Congressional leaders was met with scorn from many more conservative Republicans on Capitol Hill, as the combination of big increases in military and domestic spending left some GOP lawmakers frustrated over a lack of budget discipline, while outside groups quickly predicted the plan could swiftly bring back $1 trillion yearly deficits. "It's almost a quarter trillion dollar increase in spending," said Rep. Jim Jordan , who told reporters it reminded him of the Obama Stimulus law.

Boosted by PACs, incumbents running for Texas House outraise rivals

State Rep. Matt Schaefer speaks during his campaign kick-off and fundraiser in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. Representatives of Grassroots America, Texas Right to Life, Texas Eagle Forum, Empower Texans, Texas Home School Coalition, Gun Owners of America, and Texans for Vaccine Choice were in attendance.

Several immigration activists hold sit-in at Michael Bennet’s…

Seven activists have been holding a sit-in inside Sen. Michael Bennet's Denver office Wednesday, demanding his immediate help on passing legislation to help immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. The protesters were demanding that the Democrat set up a meeting with other senators to discuss the program that helps such immigrants - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals - issue a public statement about the meeting and set up a separate meeting with constituents in Colorado.

“Intraparty war”: What happens to Pelosi after a 2018 failure?

The wonder of this question is that it's being asked at all - and especially, as Politico reports , by Democrats themselves. Wait , some readers may think, won't Democrats win big in the first-term midterm against an unpopular president ? Until very recently, that had been the conventional wisdom and Democrats had absolutely convinced themselves of it.

Justice Department official who helped oversee Clinton, Russia probes steps down

A Justice Department official who helped oversee the controversial probes of Hillary Clinton 's use of a private email server and Russian interference in the 2016 election stepped down this week. David Laufman, an experienced federal prosecutor who in 2014 became chief of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, said farewell to colleagues Wednesday.

White House aide denies abuse allegations but resigns

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with White House Secretary Rob Porter and Sen. Mike Lee as they return to the White House December 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with White House Secretary Rob Porter and Sen. Mike Lee as they return to the White House December 4, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Pelosi surpasses four hours in immigration speech on House floor

Tyler recently shar... - Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took to the floor Wednesday morning to address the emerging bipartisan federal spending deal in the Senate, pointing to several "Democrat priorities" included in the deal but drawing the line over the lack of a solution for so-called Dreamers whose status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy is in jeopardy after March 5. Pelosi announced she and a "large number" of House Democrats will oppose any deal unless Speaker Paul Ryan commits to a future open immigration debate, complaining House Democrats are second-class members of Congress without a commitment from Ryan.

Legislators hope to fix uncertainty plaguing school budgets this session

Rep. Paul Seaton said he hopes the Legislature will pass House Bill 287 to avoid budget uncertainty for Alaska school districts. This session, some state legislators hope to put an end to the uncertainty school districts across the state face when it comes to their budgets.

Pelosi’s DACA floor speech nears six-hour mark

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took to the House floor and spoke for more than five hours to oppose the spending deal to lift spending caps and avert a government shutdown -- because the plan does not address immigration issues. The deal, which was proposed by Senate leaders on Wednesday, will require Democratic support to pass the House, so the House Democratic leader's comments make the plan's future unclear.