High school graduation rate hits record high of 83.2 percent

The nation's high school graduation rate has reached a record 83.2 percent, continuing a steady increase that shows improvement across all racial and ethnic groups, according to federal data released Monday. President Barack Obama welcomed the higher rate as good news, but the gains come against a backdrop of decreasing scores on national math and reading tests.

PPTA Celebrates International Plasma Awareness Week

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association and its member companies are sponsoring the fourth annual International Plasma Awareness Week, October 9-15. -- Raise global awareness about plasma donation; -- Recognize the contributions of plasma donors in saving and improving lives; and, -- Increase understanding about lifesaving plasma protein therapies and rare diseases.

Cowboy Pastor Begins 1,000-Mile, 40-Day ‘Revival’ Trail Ride From TX to DC

Pastor John Riggs of Texoma Cowboy Church in Witchita Falls, Texas and four members of his congregation began a 40-day journey on horseback to the nation's capital on September 29th in an effort to spark a spiritual revival across the United States. "As we think about our country and the condition we find it in today, our hearts are broken over the moral slide and depravity we see in the nation," Riggs told The Baptist Standard .

White House lashes out at Congress after 9/11 bill vote

The White House lashed out at Congress on Thursday, a day after Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly overrode President Barack Obama's veto of a bill to allow families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. The White House turned to mockery as top GOP leaders expressed buyer's remorse and vowed to fix the bill.

a Versaillesa screening steams up the French Embassy

From left, actor George Blagden, co-creator/executive producer Simon Mirren, actress Noemie Schmidt, actor Alexander Vlahos and co-creator/executive producer David Wolstencroft attend the premiere of Ovation TV's "Versailles" Tuesday at the French Embassy in Washington. Replace the living room with an auditorium at the French Embassy and your parents with a crowd of well-heeled Washington folk fresh from work on Capitol Hill and Embassy Row.

Obama to meet with leaders of Congress

President Barack Obama is meeting with the top four leaders of Congress ahead of a month's-end deadline to fund the government or face a shutdown, and with money all but gone to address the worsening Zika crisis. The White House meeting Monday afternoon is likely to focus on an emerging legislative compromise to address both issues.

Obesity rates drop in four states

Four states trimmed their obesity rates, but two saw gains and the rest remained stable, according to a new report . The states that reduced their obesity rate from 2014 to 2015 were Minnesota, Montana, New York and Ohio, according to a report released Thursday by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Bair Is Honored To Receive The Very Prestigious Angels In Adoption 2016 Award

The Bair Foundation Child and Family Ministries was recently selected as a recipient of the 2016 Angels in Adoption award Online PR News 29-August-2016 New Wilmington, PA The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's Angels in AdoptionTM Program honors a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions in adoption, Permanency and child welfare. Each year, the Angels in AdoptionTM awardees travel to Washington, D.C., to both celebrate their hard work and dedication to the issues and participate in special events designed to engage them in using their personal experience to effect change on behalf of children in need of families.

DC delegate, park service to discuss monument elevator woes

The District of Columbia's delegate to Congress has scheduled a meeting with National Park Service officials to discuss the frequent breakdowns of the Washington Monument's elevator. The monument is currently closed while the park service tried to figure out what's wrong with the elevator.

‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag being investigated by the EEOC as

AUGUST 11: William Temple of Brunswick, Ga., a member of the Golden Isle Tea Party, waves a flag outside of Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University before the Republican presidential debate in Ames, Iowa, Aug. 11, 2011. The debate will feature eight Republican candidates.

In U.S., 13% of Adults Say They Smoke Marijuana

Thirteen percent of U.S. adults tell Gallup they currently smoke marijuana, nearly double the percentage who reported smoking marijuana only three years ago. Although use of the drug is still prohibited by federal law, the number of states that have legalized recreational marijuana use has grown from two in 2013, Colorado and Washington, to four today -- with the addition of Alaska and Oregon -- plus the District of Columbia.

I lost my seat in Congress because I stood up to Washington elites

Rep. Tim Huelskamp answers questions from the media after his primary election watch party held at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center on Aug. 2. After a hard-fought race, I was disappointed on Tuesday to lose the primary to represent Kansas's "Big First'"congressional district. Representing the citizens of Kansas has been a great honor.

The leader of the Congressional Black Caucus is having a huge year

In this Jan. 6, 2015 file photo, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Butterfield is at the helm of the black caucus during a critical presidential year, increasingly marked by racially-charged violence and protests, and divisive political debate over gun control and national security. House Democrats ended their more than 26-hour sit in on Thursday afternoon with demands for a vote on gun control.