Dems press for Tillerson’s tax returns

Democrats are accusing Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to become secretary of state, of reneging on a pledge to hand over three years worth of tax returns. A standard questionnaire sent jointly by Democrats and Republicans asks whether the nominee would be willing to provide prior tax returns for himself and his spouse “if asked.”

Hillary Clinton emails search warrant documents made public

The FBI told a federal court it needed a search warrant to look at thousands of Hillary Clinton’s emails on the laptop of former US congressman Anthony Weiner because they had potential to cause “grave damage to national security” if disclosed. The wording was contained in a redacted search warrant and other court papers that were previously under seal until Tuesday in the investigation of an online relationship between Mr Weiner, the estranged husband of top Clinton aide Huma Abedin, and a teenage girl in North Carolina.

Court to unseal Clinton email search warrant

A federal court in New York is scheduled to release redacted copies Tuesday of the search warrant that allowed the FBI to dig into a trove of Hillary Clinton emails days before the presidential election. The emails were found on a computer belonging to former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of a top Clinton aide.

Coal mine rule draws GOP’s ire

The Obama administration Monday unveiled a new rule designed to protect streams and groundwater from coal mining, but the threat of a Republican-led challenge of the measure looms large after President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The Interior Department said in a news release that the rule “updates 33-year-old regulations and establishes clear requirements for responsible surface coal mining that will protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests over the next two decades, preserving community health and economic opportunities while meeting the nation’s energy needs.”

Warrant Related to Clinton Emails to Be Unsealed Tuesday

A federal judge in New York has ordered that a search warrant and supporting documents that authorized the FBI in the final days before the election to examine a laptop computer in connection with Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server be unsealed Tuesday at noon. The laptop’s hard drive, which sources say was discovered in an unrelated investigation into alleged sexting by former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, had been used by Weiner and his estranged wife, top Clinton adviser Huma Abedin.

it’s Official: The Electoral College makes Trump the…

Donald Trump secured the necessary 270 electoral votes on Monday to formally be elected as the 45th president of the United States. Trump won the popular vote in 30 states and one of Maine’s districts – which, along with Nebraska, splits up its electors by district – giving him 306 electoral votes.

Washington Electoral College makes their choice

Opening the 32nd Washington Electoral College Dec 19th Secretary of State Kim Wyman explains the history and process of the state Electoral College as 12 electors choose the state’s President and Vice-President choices. The Thurston County Commission voted on a new ordinance on Nov. 29 that will restrict the county’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds.

Blumenthal joins Simmons to call for improved safety at Stonington rail crossings

To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and First Selectman Rob Simmons discuss safety improvements they say are urgently needed at two rail crossings in town during a meeting in Stonington Town Hall Monday afternoon. Stonington — Twice this fall First Selectman Rob Simmons wrote letters to Amtrak President Charles W. Moorman IV urging him to make safety improvements at the Elihu Island and Walker’s Dock rail crossings before someone is injured or killed.

Obama sets rule to protect streams near coal mines

The Obama administration on Monday set final rules designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining on the nation’s streams, a long-anticipated move that met quick resistance from Republicans who vowed to overturn it under President-elect Donald Trump. The Interior Department said the new rule will protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests, preventing debris from coal mining from being dumped into nearby waters.

Slideshow: Most sinful cities

The meeting of Presidential Electors will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Capitol in Mississippi. The electors will case their electoral votes in the 2016 General Election or President and Vice President of the United States.

House Republicans shut down investigation into Flint water crisis, blame EPA instead

As President Obama signed a bill Friday authorizing $170 million to address lead in the drinking water in Flint , Michigan, Republicans in the House quietly closed a nearly yearlong investigation into the disaster before receiving crucial information from Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a pair of letters late Friday afternoon offering no new information and essentially summarizing what was already revealed about the crisis during several high-profile hearings earlier this year to announce the end of his investigation.

Trump aides ask of Russian meddling: Does it matter?

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, second from right, attends a meeting Friday with former White House Chiefs of Staff in the office of current White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough at the White House in Washington, D.C. From left are, Andrew Card, Bill Daley, Samuel Skinner, Priebus and Rahm … (more)

Endorsements, election results reveal policy sentiment of Kansas voters

House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs took the unconventional step during the Kansas Democratic Party convention in Topeka of publicly identifying 15 Republican House members considered most vulnerable to defeat in the 2016 election cycle. The veteran lawmaker representing the Democratic stronghold in Kansas City, Kan., said during the April gathering limited resources would require emphasis on nine conservative GOP incumbents with ties to Gov. Sam Brownback or serving districts in which Democratic gubernatorial candidate Paul Davis did well in 2014.

Trump’s pick for budget director has urged big spending cuts

Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice as his budget director, is a fierce deficit hawk with a record of pushing deep spending cuts across the federal government to balance the budget. The 49-year-old from South Carolina, just re-elected to a fourth term, is a co-founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus that pushed former Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, from power.

Trump camp pushes back on Russian election-meddling claim, calls it a ‘spin job’

Stephen Bannon , senior advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and Reince Priebus stand as Trump speaks at the USA Thank You Tour event at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis, Wisconsin, Dec. 13. Donald Trump’s top aides on Sunday said the president-elect isn’t ready to accept the finding by intelligence agencies that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate Trump. And that even if it’s true, they said, Trump still won the White House fair and square.

Trump action on health care could cost Planned Parenthood

One of President-elect Donald Trump’s first, and defining, acts next year could come on Republican legislation to cut off taxpayer money from Planned Parenthood. Trump sent mixed signals during the campaign about the 100-year-old organization which provides birth control, abortions and various women’s health services.

Biden, mourners pay tribute to John Glenn, American hero

The nation’s vice president and a retired Marine Corps general were among the dignitaries, family members and other mourners who choked up Saturday during a memorial tribute to the late space hero John Glenn. Roughly 2,500 people gathered at Mershon Auditorium on the Ohio State University campus for “a celebration of life” for the former fighter pilot, history-making astronaut and longtime Democratic U.S. senator from small-town Ohio.

Action needed to guide US regional priorities

In this April 2009 photo, President of the United States Barack Obama speaks with then Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper , and then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding , at the Summmit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The US has passed a new law in December 2016 that will form the basis for its foreign policy with the Caribbean.

Biden, other mourners choke up in tribute to John Glenn

The nation’s vice president and a retired Marine Corps general were among the dignitaries, family members and other mourners who choked up Saturday during a memorial tribute to the late space hero John Glenn. for the former fighter pilot, history-making astronaut and longtime Democratic U.S. senator from small-town Ohio.

Indianaa s electors expected to cast ballots for Trump

Indiana’s eleven representatives to the Electoral College will gather at the Statehouse on Monday to formally cast votes to make Donald Trump president. Anti-Trump activists across the country have encouraged citizen electors to reject the Republican, who won a majority of Electoral College votes during the election, but lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Vice President-Elect Governor Mike Pence Issues Statement Regarding…

The state of Indiana urges motorists to avoid unnecessary travel as freezing rain, snow, and other winter weather continues to affect Hoosiers across the state. As the threat of winter weather continues, Vice President-elect Governor Mike Pence issued the following statement: “We cannot underestimate the hazards presented by freezing rain and frigid temperatures.

Outsiders selected by Trump aim to unnerve Washington

President-elect Donald Trump wishes supporters a Merry Christmas to kick off his “thank you” rally in Hershey, Pa., on Thursday. Seven men and one woman named by Trump to run vast government agencies share a common trait: once confirmed, their presence is meant to unnerve – and maybe even outright undermine – the bureaucracies they are about to lead.

Mourners pack auditorium for John Glenna s life celebration

Mourners who braved cold and icy roads packed an Ohio State University auditorium Saturday for a memorial service for space pioneer John Glenn as his casket advanced through the center of the his home state’s capital city in a somber processional. Roughly 2,500 people gathered at Mershon Auditorium for a memorial service called “a celebration of life” for the former fighter pilot, astronaut and longtime Democratic U.S. senator from small-town Ohio.

Rohrabacher sees his out-of-mainstream Russia views taking hold under Trump

From left, Congressmen Steve Cohen , Dana Rohrabacher , William R. Keating and Steve King lay a wreath at the site of a terrorist attack in 2000 in Moscow’s Pushkin Square. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is finding himself newly relevant, after nearly three decades in Washington, as Donald Trump’s presidential win provides his out-of-the-mainstream views on Russia a new foothold.