Washington — Lawmakers disputed characterization of the Nov. 26 killing of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the shooting a terrorist attack, while Rep. Bennie Thompson described it as an "unfortunate accident" and later said he misspoke. Testimony...
Boston — A federal court on Thursday ordered restoration of FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, ruling the administration unlawfully terminated its funding. Judge Richard Stearns sided with a coalition of state attorneys general, finding the executive branch lacked authority to divert Congress-appropriated funds. The order requires FEMA...
Washington — President Donald Trump on December 12 signed an executive order directing the federal government to preempt state artificial intelligence regulations and establish a unified national framework. The order instructs the attorney general to form an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state laws, directs the Commerce Department to...
Little Rock, Arkansas—The Arkansas Educational Television Commission voted this week to disaffiliate from PBS, effective July 1, 2026, citing roughly $2.5 million annual PBS membership dues and an equivalent loss in federal Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding. The network will rebrand as Arkansas TV and plans expanded local programming while...
Alexandria, Va. — A federal grand jury on Thursday declined to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James in a mortgage-related case after prosecutors sought to refile charges following a November dismissal. A judge had thrown out the original indictment, finding the presenting prosecutor was unlawfully appointed, and a separate...
Washington, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the administration's immigration enforcement and clashed with House Homeland Security Committee members during a Thursday hearing, addressing a Washington, D.C., ambush shooting and Antifa inquiries. Representative Bennie Thompson questioned Noem and an FBI official about the incident and Antifa presence. Members including Rep....
Washington — The U.S. Treasury on Dec. 11 announced sanctions targeting three nephews of Venezuela's first lady, a Maduro-affiliated businessman, six oil tankers and shipping companies linked to oil firm PDVSA, officials said. The measures followed a reported U.S. seizure of a sanctioned tanker and were described by Treasury officials...
Washington: The Trump administration launched the Trump Gold Card visa program on Wednesday, opening Trumpcard.gov to accept applications offering expedited residency in exchange for payments. The program requires a $15,000 DHS processing fee plus a $1 million individual contribution or $2 million corporate contribution after background checks and vetting. Officials...
Washington. The Senate voted this week to reject competing bills to extend COVID-era Affordable Care Act premium tax credits or replace them with health savings account payments, leaving enhanced subsidies set to expire Dec. 31 and risking steep premium increases for millions. Lawmakers offered a three-year Democratic extension and a...
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday unveiled a near-$117.4 billion 'Floridians First' budget that increases education funding, boosts law enforcement pay and reserves, proposes homestead property-tax elimination with state backfill, and includes debt reduction and targeted program cuts; legislative approval and a 2026 ballot amendment will affect implementation....
