Author
FDA greenlights new COVID vaccine after a summer of rising numbers of cases
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine intended to address severe symptoms of the virus ahead of the cold and flu season. The new booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer follow a summer of increasing COVID-19 cases and are designed to better address the variants that are […]
Democrats celebrate with boisterous state-by-state roll call vote for Harris
The Democratic National Convention held a ceremonial roll call of the states Tuesday, giving delegates on the floor of the United Center in Chicago a chance to show their support for Kamala Harris complete with corncob hats, DJ’d music, a surprise appearance from Atlanta rapper Lil Jon and enthusiastic cheers. The tradition, which has long […]
Struggle for control of Congress intensifies as presidential contest shifts
WASHINGTON — The 2024 battle for control of Congress centers on just a handful of Senate races and about two dozen House seats, putting considerable pressure on those candidates to win over voters as party leaders and super PACs funnel millions of dollars into their campaigns. The incumbents representing those states and congressional districts will […]
USDA to take ‘additional step’ in testing beef from former dairy cattle for bird flu
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to embark on a year-long study beginning next month that will test samples for evidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza from former dairy cattle moved into meat production. Emilio Esteban, the under secretary for food safety at the USDA, told reporters on a call Tuesday the new […]
More than 1 million veterans receiving benefits via PACT Act ahead of anniversary
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday celebrated the number of veterans enrolled in VA health care and benefits as part of a law he signed nearly two years ago, though he said more work must be done for troops who were stationed at a base in Uzbekistan in the early 2000s. “Two years ago, […]
Walz’s U.S. House tenure: Bipartisan bills and a focus on vets and farms
WASHINGTON — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, spent 12 years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives before winning election to his home state’s highest office. That tenure on Capitol Hill gives him insider knowledge about many of the lawmakers who will be instrumental in advancing or blocking […]
Congress limps toward the end of a disappointing session, with just 78 laws to show
WASHINGTON — Congress plans to spend just 35 days between now and the end of the year in the nation’s capital, a fitting end to one of the least productive sessions in decades. The deeply divided 118th Congress so far has placed just 78 public laws on the books, a fraction of the hundreds enacted […]
Kamala Harris officially becomes the Democratic presidential nominee
WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee announced late Monday that Vice President Kamala Harris had secured the support of 99% of delegates to formally become the party’s presidential nominee, following the conclusion of a five-day virtual vote. The results, which included a state-by-state breakdown, followed the DNC announcing Friday that Harris had surpassed the number of […]
Kamala Harris will be the Democratic presidential nominee, DNC announces
WASHINGTON — Enough Democratic delegates selected Kamala Harris to make her the party’s presidential nominee by Friday, during an ongoing virtual vote that began less than two weeks after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign. The vote, which will not officially close until Monday evening, was held in advance of the Democratic National Convention, […]
Wall Street Journal reporter, former Marine, Putin critics freed in prisoner swap
WASHINGTON — The United States and Russia completed a multi-country prisoner swap Thursday that brought home several Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. The exchange included a total of 16 people from several countries who were detained by Russia, including seven of its own citizens held as […]
U.S. House leaders name members of Trump assassination attempt task force
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday announced the 13 lawmakers who will make up the bipartisan task force investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. “We have the utmost confidence in this bipartisan group of steady, highly qualified and capable Members of Congress to move quickly to […]
‘Pass the torch’: Biden addresses nation on why he won’t seek a second term
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden explained his decision not to seek reelection during a prime-time address from the Oval Office on Wednesday, saying now is the time to turn over power to the next generation. “I’ve made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point — one of those rare moments in […]