Posted incrime-courts, National, Syndicated

Jury in Donald Trump’s hush money case asks to rehear testimony as deliberations get underway

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JENNIFER PELTZ, ERIC TUCKER and MICHELLE L. PRICE The jury in Donald Trump’s hush money trial asked to rehear testimony Wednesday less than four hours after beginning deliberations in the first criminal case against a former American president. The four requests included testimony related to a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower where a […]

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, National, Syndicated

Memorial Day travelers cope with higher prices in rush to kick off summer fun

By DAVID KOENIG / ASSOCIATED PRESS Widespread flight delays across the U.S. tested the patience of travelers who tried to get a jump start on Memorial Day weekend, but the relatively few canceled flights raised hopes that airlines would be able to handle the bigger crowds expected Friday. The Transportation Security Administration predicted that Friday will be […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., National, Syndicated

Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access

BY JENNIFER SHUTT / Source NM WASHINGTON — U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception — a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a […]

Posted inNational, Syndicated

Spain, Ireland and Norway say they will recognize a Palestinian state. Why does that matter?

By The Associated Press Spain, Ireland and Norway said Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, a step toward a long-held Palestinian aspiration that came amid international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s offensive. The almost simultaneous decisions by two European Union countries, and Norway, […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., National, Syndicated

Top U.S. drug agency a notable holdout in Biden’s push to loosen federal marijuana restrictions

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and JIM MUSTIAN / Associated Press In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor “bubble,” chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes. Over the next half hour, she […]

Posted inNational, Syndicated

US border arrests fall in April, bucking usual spring increase as Mexico steps up enforcement

ASSOCIATED PRESS Arrests for illegally crossing the U.S. border from Mexico fell more than 6% in April to the fourth lowest month of the Biden administration, authorities said Wednesday, bucking the usual spring increase. U.S. officials have largely attributed the decline to more enforcement in Mexico, including in yards where migrants are known to board […]

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, National

Biden hiking tariffs on Chinese EVs, solar cells, steel, aluminum — adding to tensions with Beijing

By JOSH BOAK, FATIMA HUSSEIN, PAUL WISEMAN and DIDI TANG / Associated Press The Biden administration announced plans to slap new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment — an election year move that’s increasing friction between the world’s two largest economies. The tariffs come in the middle of a heated […]

Posted inNational, Politics & Elections

Pro-Palestinian protests dwindle on campuses as some US college graduations marked by defiant acts

By MORIAH BALINGIT Associated Press A tiny contingent of Duke University graduates opposed pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld speaking at their commencement in North Carolina Sunday, with about 30 of the 7,000 students leaving their seats and chanting “free Palestine” amid a mix of boos and cheers. Some waved the red, green, black and white Palestinian […]

Posted inNational, Syndicated

Biden administration will seek partial end to special court oversight of child migrants

By ELLIOT SPAGAT / Associated Press The Biden administration will seek to partially end the 27-year-old court supervision of how the federal government cares for child migrants traveling alone, shortly after producing its own list of safeguards against mistreatment, an attorney involved in the case says. The Justice Department has told opposing attorneys it will […]