In The News

ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. elections have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. At least 13 states have postponed voting and more delays are possible as health officials warn that social distancing and other measures to contain the virus might be in place... Read More

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — First, Oklahoma lawmakers excluded the public from the Capitol because of coronavirus concerns. Then with the public gone, lawmakers made an emergency change to the state's open-meetings law to let all governmental entities meet via... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can prevent criminal defendants from pleading insanity without violating their constitutional rights. The justices' 6-3 decision came in the case Kahler v. Kansas. As recounted in the decision, James Kraig Kahler... Read More

As a labor leader with more than two decades of experience in the turbulent airline industry, I urge our government leaders to move with speed to provide immediate grants to keep this vital national industry alive.  The U.S. government has... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Canada-U.S. border will close to all non-essential travel in both directions Friday night, and officials are set to impose similar restrictions at the U.S. border with Mexico later today. It was only two months ago President Donald... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, facing a national outcry over the lack of available coronavirus testing and an imminent spike in positive cases, tried to inject some optimism into the situation Thursday, suggesting that two existing drugs may be effective... Read More

The emerging $1 trillion aid package intended to help weather the COVID-19 economic storm appears likely to deliver $1,000 to every U.S. adult, plus $500 per child, according to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and a GOP senator involved in the drafting.... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the three weeks since his blowout win in the South Carolina primary, Joe Biden has emerged as the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting. But, amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, put the emphasis on waiting. Biden holds... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — No more rallies. No more door-knocking. And no more in-person fundraisers, raking in dollars from dozens of millionaires at once. The coronavirus has disrupted American life, and the 2020 presidential campaign is no exception. Amid calls for social distancing to stop the... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of President Donald Trump's economic team convene Friday on Capitol Hill to launch negotiations with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak. It's the biggest effort yet... Read More

The leaders of Wisconsin's Republican-controlled legislature told a federal judge Thursday they are opposed to a request by Democrats to amend absentee and online primary rules in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The state Democratic Party and the Democratic... Read More

WASHINGTON - The House appears close to adopting new voting procedures on bills in the wake of two members testing positive for the coronavirus this week. Though the situation is evolving rapidly, as of Thursday afternoon, House Rules Committee Chairman... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Kurt Schrader doesn't miss a chance to reach across the aisle if it will benefit his constituents. Among the most recent of multiple examples is the Oregon representative’s introduction of H.R. 4455, the Bolstering Innovative Options to... Read More

WASHINGTON - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits surged to its highest level in more than two years last week, causing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to vow the government will do "everything necessary" to help... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, and former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld have ended their 2020 election bids. Gabbard, who endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, left the race after poor showings in every primary and caucus but one --... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., is no stranger to fighting to create jobs and a stronger economy for all Americans. His latest effort in this area is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to foster workforce training for transitioning military personnel in... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., knew it would be a crippling blow to her constituents and the local economy. It had been bad enough when the Republican Tax Cut and Jobs Act enacted in 2017 capped the deduction middle... Read More

WASHINGTON - Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., is one of the leaders in a bipartisan effort to address an oft-overlooked area of jobs development -- the dramatic shortage of support professionals to work with the disabled. Rice, along with Reps. Peter... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Democratic Party sued the state of Wisconsin Wednesday in a bid to expand access to voting in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The filing of the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District... Read More

WASHINGTON - Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., have written a letter to the Congressional leadership, urging them to temporarily suspend tariffs imposed by the White House as part of Congress’ upcoming coronavirus response bill. Both Murphy, a... Read More

WASHINGTON  - Rep. Ben McAdams, a Utah Democrat and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, both said Wednesday they had tested positive for coronavirus. In a statement, Diaz-Balart, the first to announce his condition, said he first developed symptoms, including... Read More

WASHINGTON — The White House’s top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said the administration may consider asking for an equity stake in corporations that want coronavirus aid from taxpayers. “One of the ideas is, if we provide assistance, we might take... Read More

WASHINGTON — This year’s census has pulled up all boots on the ground, for now, as the Census Bureau announced Wednesday it had suspended field operations for the rest of the month due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.... Read More

WASHINGTON — Senators on both sides of the aisle said this week that the chamber is exploring the possibility of voting remotely on a third legislative package responding to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that would upend tradition and require... Read More

WASHINGTON - Federal Communications Commissioners spoke about the nation’s race to 5G at a New America Open Technology Institute discussion held virtually on Tuesday afternoon. Panelists offered thoughts on heading off a 5G digital divide with affordable connectivity for all.... Read More

WASHINGTON - The head of the Democratic party asked the remaining primary states on Tuesday to embrace alternatives like voting by mail during the coronavirus crisis, rather than entertain last-minute cancellations of the vote that would only bread "more chaos... Read More

COLUMBUS, Ohio — State government leaders were preparing for a legal battle and they got it over the last-minute decision late Monday to postpone Ohio’s primary election over concerns about the spread of COVID-19. The Ohio Democratic Party and Kiara... Read More

BALTIMORE — Maryland is postponing its April 28 primary to June 2 and shifting the special Baltimore-area congressional election to mail-in ballots only — all part of an effort to allow citizens to vote without jeopardizing their health during the... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday proposed a $1 trillion economic stimulus package to counter the effects of the coronavirus, including relief for small businesses and the airline industry, and sizable checks for Americans in the next two weeks.... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration announced Tuesday that individuals and businesses will be allowed to delay paying their 2019 tax bills for 90 days past the usual April 15 deadline to July 15. The extension is an effort to inject... Read More