In The News

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Spoiler alert: 2020 has been rough on the American psyche. Folks in the U.S. are more unhappy today than they've been in nearly 50 years. This bold — yet unsurprising — conclusion comes from the COVID... Read More

WASHINGTON -- School administrators cautioned Congress Monday about underfunding education as the COVID-19 epidemic takes a big bite out of government appropriations. They said many schoolchildren already are falling behind in their studies while they face a likelihood of fewer... Read More

WASHINGTON - Thousands of people called on the D.C. Council to defund the Metropolitan Police Department on Monday during a six-hour virtual hearing that drew an unprecedented response from local activists and community leaders. In an impressive show of unity,... Read More

WASHINGTON - Retail sales rebounded across the country in May as a growing number of states allowed stores and restaurants to reopen and consumers were finally allowed to venture out and spend federal stimulus checks and tax refunds. According to... Read More

The cancellation of the 2020 Iowa State Fair due to ongoing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus isn't just a blow to those who love carnival rides, live music, fried Twinkies and an almost unimaginable array of food items... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency authorization of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for treating COVID-19 as evidence mounts that the drugs don't work and can cause serious side effects. “We’ve made clear throughout the public health emergency... Read More

WASHINGTON - Nearly half of workers ages 45-64 say they are not in any rush to return to the office in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a new "Back-to-Normal Barometer" survey has found. Released Monday, the ongoing survey's latest... Read More

WASHINGTON - Former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign announced Monday that it raised $80.8 million in May, fueled by a daily virtual fundraising campaign the candidate and two committees associated with the Democratic Party perfected during the coronavirus pandemic.... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s bid to overturn one of California's so-called “sanctuary” laws, leaving intact rules prohibiting law enforcement from aiding federal agents in taking custody of immigrants as they are released from... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Latino voter may well determine the outcome of ballot races across the country this year, however, it’s a mistake to consider this population a single-issue constituency election strategists said at a recent virtual forum hosted by Third... Read More

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Education Betsy Devos issued a new rule on Thursday that would prevent colleges from granting coronavirus relief funds to undocumented students and non-citizens, including recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program. After weeks... Read More

WASHINGTON - In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay, lesbian and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. The 6-3 ruling was considered something of a surprise, given the supposed... Read More

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic created a global economic downturn, the U.S. faced a mounting affordable housing crisis. In March, the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimated that the U.S. needs at least 7 million more affordable units to sufficiently house extremely... Read More

A self-described street pastor is suing Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over her decision to commission a street mural that says “Black Lives Matter” in large letters on a street near the White House. The lawsuit filed by Rich Penkoski... Read More

Residents of Puerto Rico will be casting a telling vote this November -- one that could decide whether the island -- now a territory of the United States -- will seek statehood or not. While the referendum is non-binding because... Read More

New York’s Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed what he called the "most aggressive" police reform legislative package in the nation on Friday, just days after the state legislature moved to make officers more accountable. Among other things, the package of... Read More

WASHINGTON – The New Democrat Coalition Action Fund announced Friday that it is doubling down on its commitment to hold the Democratic House Majority by backing five additional challengers in their bids for Congress. These include Alyse Galvin, who is... Read More

WASHINGTON - After an accelerated, last-minute search, the Republican National Committee has selected Jacksonville, Fla., as the site of its presidential nominating convention's keynote events, including President Donald Trump's prime-time speech accepting the GOP nomination. “We are thrilled to celebrate... Read More

WASHINGTON — It was another in an unrelenting procession of Zoom fundraisers — the script familiar, the donors determined not to be deterred by technical glitches, and the candidate about to go through the motions — when Joe Biden revealed... Read More

WASHINGTON — A ghost from the old Senate that haunts the chamber’s judicial confirmation fights seems to be disappearing from the floor this year — and might be fading away for good. At about this time during presidential election years,... Read More

WASHINGTON - House Representatives Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, and Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., introduced a bill on Thursday to give District of Columbia officials new titles matching those of leaders in U.S. states. The proposed measure, dubbed the District of Columbia... Read More

A new tool developed by the RAND Corporation analyzes COVID-19 cases and air travel data to predict the spread of the coronavirus. According to the non-profit think tank, by providing estimates of the number of infected passengers, the tool can... Read More

A top member of Pennsylvania’s state Republican leadership is stepping down amid claims his party withheld information concerning a GOP representative's coronavirus diagnosis.  Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai announced Wednesday he is leaving the Legislature before his term ends in... Read More

WASHINGTON - A Senate committee voted Thursday to reopen the investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election with plans to question the investigators. The Republican-led move responds to allegations by President Trump that his top officials were targeted for... Read More

Global demand for fish has reached an all-time high despite the economic and supply challenges posed by COVID-19.  This year, the world consumed enough fish for every man, woman, and child on the planet to have about 45 pounds each.... Read More

WASHINGTON - Election season got off to a rocky start in Georgia on Tuesday with voters across the state facing long lines and technical glitches with new ballot machines during the primaries, which had been delayed twice due to the... Read More

WASHINGTON - Days after the Trump administration's use of smoke bombs and pepper spray to push demonstrators from Lafayette Park near the White House so that the entire area could be sealed off with a temporary iron fence, the barrier... Read More

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in February, Americans have struggled to find information they believe they can trust on the rate of infection, the death rate and what they should be doing to protect themselves, a new Gallup/Knight... Read More

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court heard a number of cases this term that could have major implications for reproductive rights. While each case heard by the Supreme Court is significant, the collective decisions on multiple health care-related cases could... Read More

WASHINGTON – As state governors continue to roll back restrictions on gatherings and business brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Gallup survey indicates at least two-thirds of Americans want to meet specific conditions before they are willing to... Read More