Briefs
Harris pitches an ‘opportunity economy’ in debut one-on-one TV interview
The Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, laid out more of her economic vision Wednesday during her first one-on-one cable TV interview. Harris and former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, are laying out dueling economic agendas this week as the two vie for the Oval Office in an extremely close race. “I […]
Trump floats theory Iran was responsible for assassination attempts
Former President Donald Trump suggested without evidence Wednesday that Iran could be responsible for two apparent assassination attempts he has faced this year, saying foreign leaders objected to his position on tariffs. Authorities have made no public statements to support the claim that either would-be assassin — in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July and near Trump’s […]
U.S. House ethics panel releases more details about allegations against Florida lawmaker
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee Wednesday said it will continue reviewing allegations that Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick violated campaign finance laws, and the panel released more details about the inquiry. The original recommendation for committee review came from the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics, which is an independent entity that reviews […]
Missouri pledges to disperse summer food aid by end of year
Missouri has begun distributing summer food benefits for children and aims to finish by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told The Independent this week. The aid was intended to be distributed during summer break, to help vulnerable kids avoid a drop-off in nutrition while they were out […]
Louisiana Republican’s ‘overtly racist’ tweet sparks calls for censure in U.S. House
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford of Nevada took to the U.S. House floor Wednesday night to condemn an “overtly racist” tweet against Haitians and Haitian Americans by Louisiana Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins. Hours before members were scheduled to depart for a recess through the November elections, Higgins posted to X a comment that […]
Idaho AG accuses pediatrics academy of possible consumer violations over gender care policies
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador – along with attorneys general and other officials from 20 U.S. states including Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey – has accused the American Academy of Pediatrics of possible “violations of state consumer protection statutes” over its standards and recommendations for gender dysphoria care for children. In a letter sent by […]
Trump to hold rally at Pennsylvania site where he survived assassination attempt
Former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, is slated to speak in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 5 at the site of the first assassination attempt against him, his campaign announced Wednesday. Trump will return to the Butler Farm Show, where law enforcement officials say 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks killed one rallygoer, injured two others and shot […]
U.S. Senate panel probes federal government’s role in affordable housing crisis
WASHINGTON — The speaker of the Rhode Island House described how his state has tackled affordable housing and how it could be a model for local and state governments across the country in a Wednesday hearing before members of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. “My mantra has been: production, production and more production,” Rhode Island […]
Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination in Trump golf course case
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that the man who allegedly stalked former President Donald Trump for a month before aiming his rifle through a fence at Trump’s private golf course on Sept. 15 was indicted on the charge of an attempted assassination of a political candidate. The Justice Department said a federal grand jury […]
Marcellus Williams executed after U.S. Supreme Court rejects final appeal
Just a few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, Missouri officials executed Marcellus Williams Tuesday at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. Williams, who was backed in his appeals for clemency by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, left only a single sentence — “All praise […]
Trump immunity decision splits U.S. Senate panel along partisan lines
WASHINGTON — Stark polarization was on display Tuesday as U.S. senators argued whether the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision effectively crowns the president “a king” or aligns with the history of the office. In the first congressional hearing on the court’s July decision, lawmakers on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary debated and […]
Gaps in FAFSA rollout are closing, watchdog tells U.S. House panel
WASHINGTON — Months after the rollout of the streamlined form to apply for federal financial student aid faced a series of highly publicized hiccups that prompted processing delays and frustrated students and families, a government watchdog offered some additional explanation Tuesday of what went wrong and recommendations for the U.S. Education Department going forward. Members […]