Author

Ariana Figueroa

Ariana Figueroa

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Federal appeals court weighs fate of DACA program

By: - October 10, 2024

WASHINGTON — After concluding oral arguments Thursday, a panel of federal judges will determine the fate of a program that has shielded from deportation more than half a million immigrants lacking permanent legal status who came into the United States as children. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a 12-year program that was meant […]

U.S. Supreme Court considers Biden administration regulation of ‘ghost guns’

By: - October 8, 2024

WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court justices Tuesday grappled with whether the Biden administration exceeded its authority when it set regulations for kits that can be assembled into untraceable firearms, and a majority of justices seemed somewhat skeptical the rule was an overreach. In Garland v. VanDerStok, the nine justices are tasked with determining whether a rule issued […]

Housing: Where do Trump and Harris stand?

By: - October 8, 2024

WASHINGTON — As the cost and supply of housing remain top issues for voters, both presidential candidates have put forth plans to tackle the crisis, in hopes of courting voters ahead of the Nov. 5 election. The coronavirus pandemic that began in 2020 exacerbated problems in the housing market, with supply chain disruptions, record-low interest […]

Harris and Trump turn to podcasts, radio and TV as campaign hurtles into final month

By: - October 7, 2024

WASHINGTON — In an interview released Sunday on a widely heard podcast geared toward young women, Vice President Kamala Harris stressed the importance of reproductive rights, a central topic in her bid for the White House. The “Call Her Daddy” host, Alex Cooper, specifically centered the 40-minute interview around issues affecting women such as domestic […]

The next big dilemma for the U.S. Senate GOP: Who should lead them in 2025 and beyond?

By: , and - October 7, 2024

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans shortly after Election Day will face a major decision for their chamber as well as the national party when they pick a new leader. Once the dust from the election clears and the balance of power in the Senate is decided, senators will gather behind closed doors to choose who […]

U.S. House ethics panel releases more details about allegations against Florida lawmaker

By: - September 26, 2024

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 […]

U.S. Senate panel probes federal government’s role in affordable housing crisis

By: - September 25, 2024

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

By: - September 25, 2024

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 […]

Harris says she’d back an elimination of the filibuster to restore abortion rights 

By: - September 24, 2024

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Tuesday during a radio interview that she supports changing a Senate procedure in order to codify the right to an abortion. Vice President Harris said she is in favor of ending the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, known as the filibuster, to advance abortion rights legislation. But […]

School shooting damage lasts for years, survivors tell panel of U.S. House Democrats

By: - September 24, 2024

WASHINGTON — The devastating effects of school shootings continue well after shootings occur, according to survivors, experts and educators who spoke at a roundtable U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee Democrats held Monday. Democrats scheduled the discussion after the recent school shooting in Georgia, where two students and two teachers were killed. Witnesses told the […]

Gunman who allegedly targeted Trump offered $150K to anyone who could ‘finish the job’

By: - September 23, 2024

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors Monday said the man accused of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his private golf club in Florida stalked the GOP presidential nominee for a month and in a note offered $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job,” according to a new court filing. Federal prosecutors detailed how […]

Health and farmworker advocates urge ban of herbicide linked to Parkinson’s

By: - September 18, 2024

WASHINGTON — Public health advocates and farmworkers called for a federal ban on a toxic herbicide they say led to their Parkinson’s disease during a Tuesday briefing for congressional staffers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will determine next year if the herbicide, paraquat dichloride, should have its license renewed for another 15 years. The herbicide […]