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U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments that […]
Feds order new eviction ban in counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates
WASHINGTON — Federal health officials on Tuesday announced a new, narrower moratorium on evictions through Oct. 3, which would protect struggling renters in areas of the U.S. that have been hit hardest by soaring COVID-19 infection rates. The targeted eviction ban comes days after a federal moratorium in place since September expired on Saturday. The […]
Capitol Hill update: Senate Republicans slow infrastructure plan, House passes PFAS bill
U.S. Senate Republicans block advance of bipartisan infrastructure plan, but talks continue WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats’ attempt to start debate on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan was blocked by Republicans on a party-line vote Wednesday, as lawmakers hustle to wrap up negotiations over drafting that legislation.
DC update: Debates over race, discrimination and history take center stage on Capitol Hill
U.S. House votes to scuttle statues of Confederate leaders and slavery defenders, including NC's Vance WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to remove from the Capitol a bust of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, a Marylander who wrote the despised Dred Scott decision—as well as evict statues and busts of men who fought for the Confederacy or served in its government.
DC update: Senate examines Colonial Pipeline meltdown; millions for NC included in House transportation bill
Colonial Pipeline CEO: ‘One of the toughest decisions I have had to make’ to pay a $4.4M ransom WASHINGTON—The CEO of Colonial Pipeline, which underwent a ransomware attack in early May that led to massive shutdowns of gas stations across the Southeast, said during a U.S. Senate hearing on Tuesday that it was his decision to pay a ransom to restore the company’s operations.
U.S. House members from N.C. asking for $278 million to fund 50 transportation projects
At least seven U.S. House members from North Carolina are among the lawmakers seeking more than $278 million for transportation projects in their districts. According to the House Transportation Committee website, the 50 projects range in size from a request of $180,000 from Rep. Madison Cawthorn for a North Carolina Department of Transportation project in […]
DC update: New developments on voting rights, minimum wage, gun violence
Georgia voting law pummeled at U.S. Senate hearing on ‘Jim Crow 2021’ WASHINGTON—Georgia’s new voting law was at the center of Tuesday's U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where senators discussed restoration of a key section in the Voting Rights Act that would prevent states, mostly in the South, from changing their election laws without federal approval.
Special Report: Dozens of members of Congress are vaccinated against COVID-19, but some still hesitate
Most members of NC delegation vaccinated, but not all WASHINGTON — Members of Congress were among the first people in the U.S. to have access to the sought-after COVID-19 vaccine when the initial doses became available in December. Three months later, a States Newsroom survey across 22 states—making up a large swath of Congress— found […]
U.S. House votes to again impeach Trump, as a ‘clear and present danger’
Ten Republicans join with Democrats to impeach President for “incitement of insurrection” WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, charging him with inciting violent rioters last week who rampaged through the U.S. Capitol, temporarily derailing the tally of presidential votes and leading to at least five […]
Congress certifies Biden as president after rioting mob is driven from the Capitol
WASHINGTON — After a day of insurrection and deadly violence at the U.S. Capitol, lawmakers early Thursday certified Electoral College votes declaring Joe Biden the winner of the November presidential election. But as they moved toward the certain outcome of victory for Biden, some Republicans backed away from their earlier objections to the certification. That […]
BREAKING: U.S. Capitol on lockdown after pro-Trump demonstrators storm inside
WASHINGTON — Protesters derailed the typically routine process of Congress certifying the presidential election results on Wednesday, with both chambers abruptly recessing after President Donald Trump’s supporters clashed with police and forced their way into the U.S. Capitol. A House office building was evacuated, and the Capitol and surrounding office buildings were locked down as […]
What’s in the $900B emergency relief bill—and what’s out
WASHINGTON—Congress is set to pass a massive bipartisan emergency relief bill that’s intended to aid Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Summaries from House Democratic appropriators say it includes: DIRECT CHECKS —$166 billion in another round of economic impact payments that will go directly to Americans. —$600 stimulus checks for individuals that begin phasing out […]