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Struggle for control of Congress intensifies as presidential contest shifts
WASHINGTON — The 2024 battle for control of Congress centers on just a handful of Senate races and about two dozen House seats, putting considerable pressure on those candidates to win over voters as party leaders and super PACs funnel millions of dollars into their campaigns. The incumbents representing those states and congressional districts will […]
USDA to take ‘additional step’ in testing beef from former dairy cattle for bird flu
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to embark on a year-long study beginning next month that will test samples for evidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza from former dairy cattle moved into meat production. Emilio Esteban, the under secretary for food safety at the USDA, told reporters on a call Tuesday the new […]
Congress limps toward the end of a disappointing session, with just 78 laws to show
WASHINGTON — Congress plans to spend just 35 days between now and the end of the year in the nation’s capital, a fitting end to one of the least productive sessions in decades. The deeply divided 118th Congress so far has placed just 78 public laws on the books, a fraction of the hundreds enacted […]
Kamala Harris will be the Democratic presidential nominee, DNC announces
WASHINGTON — Enough Democratic delegates selected Kamala Harris to make her the party’s presidential nominee by Friday, during an ongoing virtual vote that began less than two weeks after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign. The vote, which will not officially close until Monday evening, was held in advance of the Democratic National Convention, […]
Wall Street Journal reporter, former Marine, Putin critics freed in prisoner swap
WASHINGTON — The United States and Russia completed a multi-country prisoner swap Thursday that brought home several Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. The exchange included a total of 16 people from several countries who were detained by Russia, including seven of its own citizens held as […]
U.S. House leaders name members of Trump assassination attempt task force
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday announced the 13 lawmakers who will make up the bipartisan task force investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. “We have the utmost confidence in this bipartisan group of steady, highly qualified and capable Members of Congress to move quickly to […]
‘Pass the torch’: Biden addresses nation on why he won’t seek a second term
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden explained his decision not to seek reelection during a prime-time address from the Oval Office on Wednesday, saying now is the time to turn over power to the next generation. “I’ve made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point — one of those rare moments in […]
Democrats approve virtual vote by delegates to pick a presidential nominee
WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee will move forward with a virtual nomination vote for its presidential candidate as soon as Aug. 1, after its Rules Committee approved the process on Wednesday. The DNC has been moving forward with plans to hold a virtual nomination roll call since well before President Joe Biden announced his […]
DNC panel to meet in public to set ‘transparent, fair’ framework to pick presidential nominee
WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee will move forward with the process to formally nominate a presidential candidate Wednesday when one of its committees meets in public amid ongoing efforts to set up a virtual roll call vote ahead of the convention, States Newsroom has been told. The nomination process has been playing out for months as […]
California Rep. Schiff latest Democrat to call on Biden to drop out
WASHINGTON — The intraparty effort to convince President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid resurfaced Wednesday, when prominent U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff of California became the latest Democratic member of Congress to go public with his concerns. Leading Democrats also set an early August window for a virtual roll call to officially name Biden […]
Biden tests positive for COVID, will return home to Delaware
President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to statements from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the president’s doctor. “Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19,” Jean-Pierre wrote in her statement. “He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms.” Biden […]
Gun rights advocates at Republican convention spell out plans if GOP gains control in November
MILWAUKEE — Republicans speaking at a concealed carry event on Tuesday, just days after a gunman attempted to kill their presidential nominee, insisted the party won’t change its stance on Second Amendment rights. Attendees at the one-hour session, hosted by the U.S. Concealed Carry Association near the Republican National Convention, weren’t actually able to conceal […]