WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is beginning a new term with controversial issues that offer the court’s conservative majority the chance to move aggressively to undo limits on campaign contributions, undermine claims of discrimination in housing and mortgage lending, and allow for more government-sanctioned prayer. Assuming the government shutdown doesn’t get in their way, […]
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Use of force to be studied in D.C. police chase
WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in Washington are reviewing the use of officers’ deadly force in the killing of a woman who tried to ram her car through a White House barrier, a shooting her family says was unjustified. The investigation will reconstruct the car chase and shooting, which briefly put the U.S. Capitol on lockdown, […]
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Man sets himself on fire on Mall in Washington
WASHINGTON (AP) — A man set himself on fire on the National Mall in the nation’s capital as passers-by rushed over to help put out the flames, officials and witnesses said Friday afternoon. The reason for the self-immolation was not immediately clear and the man’s identity was not disclosed. But it occurred in public view, […]
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Congress likely to give shutdown workers back pay
WASHINGTON (AP) — A partial government shutdown enters its fifth day, with Congress convening for a session that promises no progress in breaking the impasse but will at least offer back pay to furloughed federal workers. The GOP House is scheduled Saturday to vote on legislation backed by the White House and congressional Democrats that […]
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Chase from White House to Capitol ends in gunfire
WASHINGTON — A woman driving a black Lexus tried to ram through a White House barricade Thursday, then led police on a chase that ended in gunfire outside the Capitol, witnesses and officials said. Tourists watched the shooting unfold on Constitution Avenue outside the Capitol as lawmakers inside debated how to end a government shutdown. […]
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Lawmakers still get a check, even in shutdown mode
WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s at least one constant in a government shutdown: The 532 members of Congress continue to be paid — at a cost of $10,583.85 per hour to taxpayers. Lawmakers get their pay even as hundreds of congressional staffers are sent home, packs of tourists are turned away at the Capitol, and constituent […]
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Collins, King split on bill that funds government and ACA
Maine’s U.S. senators were split on a measure to keep government operating past Tuesday. Republican Susan Collins opposed the measure which, if approved in the House, will avoid a threatened government shutdown. Independent Angus King supported the measure. It passed the Senate 54-44 Friday afternoon but faces an uncertain future in the House as the […]
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King stands in defense of Obamacare
“The estimates are between 20,000 and 30,000 of those people die each year because of the lack of health insurance,” King said during a speech on the Senate floor. “Why doesn’t that bother us?” King spoke late in the day following a more than 20-hour filibuster by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who spoke against the […]
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Obama says Kenyan mall attack a ‘terrible outrage’
NEW YORK — President Barack Obama says the United States stands with Kenya against the “terrible outrage” of a shopping mall terrorist attack. Obama says the United States is providing law enforcement assistance and all the help it can to deal with the tragedy. At least 62 people have been killed by members of the […]
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House passes bill to fund government but not ACA
WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled House voted Friday to cripple President Barack Obama’s health care law as part of a risky ploy that threatens a government shutdown in a week and a half. U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud, both Maine Democrats, voted against the bill. The fight is coming on a stopgap funding measure […]