Government & Politics
Feds accuse Sen. Menendez of taking gold, car and cash for favors
Federal authorities indicted U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez for the second time Friday, charging him with conspiracy to commit bribery and related offenses over his alleged aid to a North Jersey businessman and an attempt to disrupt criminal probes into allies. Menendez, a Democrat and New Jersey’s senior senator, was charged with one count each of conspiracy […]
Menendez steps down temporarily as U.S. Senate committee chairman amid federal charges
WASHINGTON — New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez will temporarily step aside as chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee following a federal indictment for conspiracy to commit bribery and other charges. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying in a written statement that “Senator Menendez has rightly decided to […]
Workers at 38 GM and Stellantis auto suppliers called to join UAW strike
Workers at a total of 38 auto parts plants will join the United Auto Workers strike against Detroit Three auto manufacturers – Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. All the parts distribution facilities for General Motors and Stellantis across the country are called to the stand up and strike at noon Friday. The UAW declared the […]
‘Get ready’: Texas Attorney General promises retribution after impeachment trial
Newly reinstated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton went on a tour of conservative talk radio Thursday morning, revealing new details about his impeachment trial and political ambitions. Among other things, Paxton discussed how much the trial cost him — over $4 million — and vowed to get involved in primary challenges to House Republicans who […]
Clarence Thomas secretly participated in Koch Network donor events
This story was produced and originally published by ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ decadeslong friendship with real estate tycoon Harlan Crow and Samuel Alito’s luxury travel with billionaire Paul Singer have raised questions about influence and ethics at the nation’s highest court. On Jan. 25, 2018, dozens of private […]
Biden administration to create new gun violence prevention office
WASHINGTON — The White House Thursday announced the formation of an Office of Gun Violence Prevention that will help states and local governments as they implement a gun safety legislative package President Joe Biden signed into law last year. Lacking additional action in Congress to curb gun violence, “the Office of Gun Violence Prevention along […]
U.S. House passes Wounded Knee memorial bill
The U.S. House approved by voice vote Wednesday a bill that would help protect land at the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota, where an estimated 350 Lakota were killed by U.S. soldiers. The site is within the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River […]
Montana to apply for federal money for children’s meals for summer 2024
Montana’s health department director said last week the state is applying in January for the next round of federal money that helps pay for meals for children in the summer. Educators and others in the state who work with schools and raise money to feed hungry kids said this week they hope the state follows […]
Former state health department employee admitted stealing nearly $90,000 in federal assistance
A former employee with the state health department admitted to stealing nearly $90,000 from federal assistance programs by submitting false information on applications. According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release, Heather Marie Bugni, 34, of Butte, was a client services coordinator for six years and processed applications and approved benefits for multiple programs including […]
‘If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war’: Zelenskyy asks Congress to help Ukraine
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers to reiterate the need for continued aid to support his country’s fight against the Russian invasion, even as the U.S. faces a partial government shutdown as soon as the end of the month. “If we don’t get the aid, […]
Shutdown inches closer as U.S. House GOP fails to pass defense bill, lawmakers exit D.C.
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans were unable for a third time Thursday to begin debate on the Defense funding bill, throwing another wrench into Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s leadership tenure. The 212-216 vote that rejected the rule for the $826 billion Defense spending measure was unexpected, coming less than a day after House GOP lawmakers gathered in a […]
Biden administration offers temporary protection to Venezuelan migrants
WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced late Wednesday that the agency will expand protected status to nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals, allowing them to live and work in the United States. The move comes after multiple requests from cities that have struggled to house asylum seekers and calls from […]