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U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not reveal talks with Russian ambassador in 2016

Then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., spoke twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Justice Department officials said, encounters he did not disclose when asked about possible contacts between members of President Donald Trump’s campaign and representatives of Moscow during Sessions’s confirmation hearing to become attorney general. One of the meetings was a private conversation between Sessions and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that took place in September in the senator’s office, at the height of what U.S. intelligence officials say was a Russian cyber campaign to upend the U.S. presidential race.

Sen. Graham Calls for Special Prosecutor on Trump’s Russian Ties

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday if Attorney General Jeff Sessions talked with a Russian diplomat before taking office last month – without telling Congress during his confirmation hearings – “then, for sure, you need a special prosecutor.” “If there is something there, and it goes up the chain of investigation, and it’s clear to me that Jeff Sessions, who is my dear friend, cannot make this decision about Trump,” the South Carolina Republican said at a town hall meeting hosted by CNN.

Tarrant County Leaders Lobby Lawmakers in Austin

Mayors and elected officials from Tarrant County descended on the State Capitol in Austin Wednesday to lobby lawmakers on property tax reform and other issues. “We’re learning more as we kick off our Fort Worth literacy partnership how critical early learning is for the kids,” she said.

We thought Gen X was a bunch of slackers; now they’re the suits

The Great Ideological Wars of 2017 have pitted grey-hairs against snowflakes, the we-liked-it-the-old-way boomers, more than half of whom cast their ballots for Donald Trump, vs. the idealistic millennials, who would prefer it if Grandpa kept his paws off their rights. Their very name conjures images of underemployed slackers, of flannels and Kurt Cobain and Elizabeth Wurtzel, the medicated and nihilistic symbol of the Prozac Nation.

Fully cooked breaded chicken bites shipped to Food Lion stores being recalled

Wayne Farms, LLC of Alabama is recalling approximately 12,610 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with bacterial pathogens due to a potential processing defect, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service . The USDA said cases of 2 clear plastic 5-pound bags of “Waffle Breaded Bites: Fully Cooked Breaded White Meat Chicken Bites” that were packaged on Dec. 1, 13 and 30, 2016 are being recalled.

The Latest: WH says Conway promo of Ivanka line inadvertent

The top White House ethics attorney says counsellor Kellyanne Conway “acted inadvertently” and “without nefarious motive” when she promoted Ivanka Trump’s fashion line during a television interview at the White House. Stefan Passantino, deputy counsel to the president on compliance and ethics, wrote in a letter to the Office of Government Ethics that he met with Conway and resolved the matter.

Trump’s opportunity to do the right thing on immigration reform

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events MORE THAN once, President Trump has enticed Democrats and some moderate Republicans – and risked infuriating hard-liners in his base – by expressing an openness to overhauling the nation’s dysfunctional immigration system. He did so again in a session at the White House with television news anchors Tuesday, saying he’d consider a compromise that included legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants, and then wondering aloud whether he should float the idea to Congress in his speech that night.

Pompe drug lauded by Trump costs $300,000 a year

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses Joint Session of Congress – Washington, U.S. – 28/02/17 – Megan Crowley listens as U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the U.S. Congress. President Donald Trump told Congress on Tuesday that more needs to be done to bring down “artificially high” prices for prescription drugs, while at the same time praising a drug that turns out to cost $300,000 per year.

Ridiculous attack ad blasts congressional candidate dressed as Han Solo

The United States of America just elected an aging reality TV star to the presidency, yet a Republican-backed super PAC believes constituents in Georgia will be startled by a Democratic congressional candidate who dressed up as Han Solo in college. Former Capitol Hill staffer Jon Ossoff is barely out of his 20s, which appears to be the main point of this attack ad just released against him.

Was Trump tribute to fallen soldier fitting or calculated?

Carryn Owens, widow of widow of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, is applauded on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress. less Carryn Owens, widow of widow of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, is applauded on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump … more An emotional Carryn Owens, widow of widow of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as she was acknowledged by President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress.

More than 47 million watched Trumpa s address to Congress

That was lower than the roughly 53 million viewers who tuned in for Obama’s first joint address in 2009, but was higher than Obama’s last State of the Union which drew 31 million viewers last year. Tuesday night’s figure is calculated from the ratings of the ten networks that aired the speech – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, Univision, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business, and MSNBC.

D.C. Buzz: Esty gets bills signed by Trump

Democratic Governors Association Vice Chairman Jay Inslee, left, Chairman Dannel Malloy, center, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, center, and Hawaii Gov. David Ige, right, share a laugh during a DGA news confernce at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. less Democratic Governors Association Vice Chairman Jay Inslee, left, Chairman Dannel Malloy, center, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, center, and Hawaii Gov. David Ige, right, share a laugh during a DGA news confernce … more Reporters wait to try and get access to an off camera briefing with White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer instead of the normal on camera briefing at the White House on February 24, 2017, in Washington, DC.

Canada’s ‘merit-based’ immigration system wins Trump’s praise

Canada’s ‘merit-based’ immigration system wins Trump’s praise Trump pointed to Canada’s legal immigration system as a model for the U.S. to emulate Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2manKnP President Donald Trump is making the case for his tougher immigration rules during his speech. “The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers,” Trump said.

Maine court told to reconsider police role in deadly 2015 rampage

A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday ordered a Maine federal court to reconsider whether state police violated a woman’s rights when they notified her ex-boyfriend by voicemail that he had been accused of sexually assaulting her, sparking a violent rampage . The case revolves around a July 2015 incident when a woman called police to report that a former boyfriend, Anthony Lord, had abducted her and sexually assaulted her .

Bill aims to prevent Casco Bay oil spills

A Portland lawmaker wants to stop ships from transferring heavy fuel in Maine waters without protective devices meant to block the spread of oil in the case of a spill. the practice, Rep. Ben Chipman, a Democrat, has proposed a bill to bring regulatory oversight to ship-to-ship fueling.

Massachusetts AG urges US House chairman to pull subpoena

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is urging Republican Congressman Lamar Smith to withdraw his committee’s subpoena for documents related to her Exxon Mobil investigation. Healey sent a 10-page letter to Smith Wednesday arguing the House Committee on Science , Space and Technology has no authority over her probe into whether Exxon Mobil misled Massachusetts consumers and investors about the impact of burning fossil fuels on the environment and the impact of climate change on the company’s business.

High court ruling could reshape Virginia political map

A U.S. Supreme Court decision reviving a challenge to several Virginia legislative districts could send lawmakers back to the drawing board, but Republicans say they are confident the state’s current electoral map will withstand further scrutiny. The justices on Wednesday tossed out a ruling that upheld 11 districts in which African-Americans made up at least 55 percent of eligible voters and ordered the lower court to re-examine the boundaries.

Nielsen: Nearly 48 million watch Trump’s address to nation

President Donald Trump’s first major address to the Congress and the nation was seen by an estimated 47.4 million people. The Nielsen company said Wednesday that Trump’s audience couldn’t quite match the first such speech by predecessor Barack Obama, who drew an audience of 52.4 million in 2009.

Feds: Criminal officers stole from the innocent in Baltimore

U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, right, speaks at a news conference in Baltimore, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to announce that seven Baltimore police officers who worked on a firearms crime task f… . Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Kevin Davis, center, shakes hands with U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein after a news conference in Baltimore, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to announce that s… .

Deputy: 4 children dead, 3 people injured in Oregon fire

Republican legislative leaders in Indiana are warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act could unravel a program for poor residents that Vice President Mike Pence implemented as governor. Republican legislative leaders in Indiana are warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act could unravel a program for poor residents that Vice President Mike Pence implemented as governor.

A Closer Look at Gillum’s History in Tallahassee

“As governor of Florida, I can’t wait to invest the kind of resources to build the infrastructure of this state that makes us a 21st century state,” said Gillum. The mayor’s office said Gillum was unavailable for comment today, but his campaign team said a rally for Gillum is already set for Saturday.

Former Montana Rep. Zinke takes helm of Interior Department

In his first address to a joint session of Congress, Trump said largely what GOP leaders were hoping to hear Tuesday night, staying on-message and talking in optimistic tones In his first address to a joint session of Congress, Trump said largely what GOP leaders were hoping to hear Tuesday night, staying on-message and talking in optimistic tones The initial reaction signaled that Trump faces a fight with the GOP on the $1 trillion-plus portion of the federal budget that is passed each year by Congress. The initial reaction signaled that Trump faces a fight with the GOP on the $1 trillion-plus portion of the federal budget that is passed each year by Congress.

White House said to kick off infrastructure planning Thursday

President Donald Trump’s administration will convene a meeting of at least 15 federal agencies Thursday as a first government-wide step toward crafting the president’s $1 trillion infrastructure initiative, a senior White House official said. Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, will lead the meeting, which will focus on identifying new projects that would boost the economy; finding existing projects, such as the Keystone XL pipeline, that could be expedited; targeting policies, outdated rules and laws that could delay projects; and developing funding and financing options, the official said.

GOPa s Obamacare replacement plans provide less financial help, analyses show

As congressional Republicans move to solidify their Obamacare repeal-and-replace legislation, concern is mounting that their strategies will leave millions of Americans with less financial assistance and more expensive coverage. A new analysis on Wednesday from the Kaiser Family Foundation projects that the HealthCare.gov insurance marketplace’s average premium subsidy – which people use to help purchase coverage – would shrink by at least 36 percent in 2020 under GOP proposals being considered.

Rubenstein Sees – Bullish’ Private Equity as Trump Takes Office

The private equity industry is as excited about its prospects as it’s been in decades, Carlyle Group LP’s David Rubenstein said. Most attendees at this week’s SuperReturn International conference in Berlin think U.S. President Donald Trump is good for business, according to a show of hands by hundreds of dealmakers at a presentation by Rubenstein on Wednesday.

Texas court hears case that could dent gay marriage right

The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a Houston case that top Republicans hope will provide an opening to chip away at the landmark 2015 ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide. A coalition of religious and social conservatives sued America’s fourth-largest city in 2013, challenging its decision to offer same-sex spousal benefits to municipal employees.

Question of the Day

“To what degree is climate change caused by human activity? . . . Is it 100 percent, is it 74.3 percent? If it’s settled science, please tell us to what degree human activity is responsible.”

Luntz Group: Even Clinton Voters Thought Trump Did Better Than Expected

GOP pollster Frank Luntz had one of his signature focus groups, this time consisting of 21 people, to watch President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, where 19 felt the president did better than expected, nine of those people were Clinton voters. . @FrankLuntz asks focus group: “How many of you thought this speech was better than what you expected?” “Okay, so he did well.”

Geisinger to hire 2,000 new employees

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Coroner: Death of woman pushed in Lackawanna River a homicide

A Scranton Times-Tribune All Access subscription gets you complete access to both our print and digital publications, delivered to your home, desktop and mobile devices 7 days a week Digital Only Subscription Read the digital SMART Edition of The Times-Tribune on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at thetimes-tribune.com or on our mobile apps. Digital Services Have news alerts sent to your mobile device, read the Smart Edition sign up for daily newsletters, activate your all access, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

War Machine trailer shows Brad Pitt as grey-haired US general

Brad Pitt sports grey hair and a military swagger as US General Stanley McChrystal in the first trailer for new satire War Machine. Brad stars in the provocative new film as the four-star general when he was the commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, before he was brought down by a journalist’s expose in which he mocked civilian government officials, including then-vice president Joe Biden, and indirectly expressed disappointment in Barack Obama.