CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Authorities on Thursday, Feb. 23, cleared a protest camp where opponents of the Dakota Access oil pipeline had gathered for the better part of a year, searching tents and huts and arresting three dozen holdouts who had defied a government order to leave. It took 3 ½ hours for about … Continue reading
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s top aides on Thursday delivered one overriding message to the thousands of conservative activists gathered for their annual conference outside of Washington: Don’t blow it. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and other senior Trump officials implored the audience … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservatives are praising the Trump administration’s rollback of public school bathroom requirements for transgender students, saying the move corrects a legal overreach by the Obama administration that is best left for states to decide. Transgender rights advocates, meanwhile, are vowing to overcome a major setback. “We’re not discouraged. And we’re going to … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday ended federal protection for transgender students that allowed them to use public school bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identities. The Justice and Education departments said in a letter being sent to school districts nationwide that the Obama-era guidance caused a spike in lawsuits over how … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain, one of President Donald Trump’s harshest critics, made a secret trip to northern Syria to visit U.S. forces stationed there and discuss the campaign for defeating the Islamic State extremists, his office said Wednesday. The Arizona Republican’s visit to the war-torn country occurred as a major battle nears to … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has “counseled” a top aide to President Donald Trump after she promoted Ivanka Trump’s fashion line during a national cable television appearance from the White House. But House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz says that’s not enough, calling what Kellyanne Conway did “wrong, wrong, wrong, clearly over the line, … Continue reading
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, announced Wednesday he will run for Illinois governor in 2018, bringing the instant name recognition of his family’s political legacy to what’s expected to be a sharply contested race. The Democratic businessman said Illinois is heading “in the wrong direction” under Republican. … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — These days of alternative facts, phantom terrorist attacks and fake news are changing the way news organizations do their jobs. Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements — a function often pushed into the background when campaigns end — finding innovative new formats and seeing keen interest among consumers. An … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge Neil Gorsuch earned warm praise from Senate Republicans as he visited Capitol Hill Wednesday, Feb. 2, a day after President Donald Trump nominated him to the Supreme Court. Democratic divisions were on display as the Senate minority struggled for a strategy to oppose the conservative judge. Accompanied by Vice President Mike … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans are moving to dismantle former President Barack Obama’s rules on the environment, gun ownership and financial disclosure as they look to reverse years of what they see as excessive government regulation during the Democrat’s presidency. House Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday, Feb. 2, to scuttle a new regulation … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Donald Trump’s often contentious path to becoming the 45th president included unusual battles with major businesses like Macy’s and Amazon. Trump mocked Macy’s financial performances after the national retailer stopped selling his clothing line after the then presidential candidate made derogatory comments about Mexicans. Trump also accused Amazon of “getting away … Continue reading
CHICAGO (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s ready to “send in the Feds” if Chicago can’t reduce its homicide problem, and the city’s police superintendent says he is “more than willing” to work with the federal government to combat the violence. Trump tweeted Tuesday, Jan. 24, night: “If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible ‘carnage’ … Continue reading
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state legislator known for his blunt, occasionally offensive manner, who was fined for having cybersex using a state computer, resigned Wednesday after he retweeted a comment that implied participants at a women’s march were too unattractive to be sexually assaulted. Republican Sen. Bill Kintner announced at a news conference … Continue reading
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown forcefully defended California’s efforts to curb global warming, protect immigrants and expand health care, vowing in his State of the State address Tuesday, Jan. 24, to fight the Trump administration if it tries to roll back the state’s accomplishments. “California is not turning back. Not now, not ever,” … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — White House press secretary Sean Spicer told a roomful of reporters that “our intention is never to lie to you,” although sometimes the Trump administration may “disagree with the facts.” Spicer’s first full press briefing was closely watched Monday following a weekend statement about President Donald Trump’s inauguration audience that included … Continue reading
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s decision not to appoint any Latinos to his Cabinet is drawing fierce criticism from Hispanics, who call it a major setback for the nation’s largest minority group. Trump announced former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue on Thursday, January 19th, as his choice to lead the Agriculture Department, ending hopes … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Behind in the polls in late October, Donald Trump ventured to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to give American voters a “contract” detailing what he would achieve during his first day in office. Beneath a list of 18 major actions was the flourish of Trump’s familiar signature and a blank space for voters to sign. … Continue reading
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The lone American in orbit will end up voting for president from the International Space Station, if her homecoming is delayed. NASA astronaut Kate Rubins said Thursday that she doesn’t know yet whether she’ll return to Earth in late October as planned. The Russians have delayed the next crew launch … Continue reading
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — On the southern shore of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, more than 100 boats are sitting high and dry in a parking lot, unable to sail the shallow, drought-stricken sea. North of the nearly empty marina, salt-loving bacteria thriving in the low water has turned the liquid pink. The massive lake, … Continue reading
BEIJING (AP) — China’s Dalian Wanda Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group have formed a partnership to cooperate on multiple big-budget movies, marking another step into the global film industry by the Chinese conglomerate. Wanda, which already owns AMC Theaters and bought Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion in January, said it would both … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — In Virginia and in states across the country, drugmakers that produce opioids and allied advocacy groups are spending heavily as they work to influence state and federal policies. A joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity found that drug companies and allied groups spent more than … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are making solid gains in Monday morning trading as machinery and technology companies move higher. Energy companies are up with the price of oil. KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 114 points, or 0.6 percent, to 18,238 as of 10:25 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor’s … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Thursday called for an independent review of allegations that the National Football League sought to improperly influence a government study into the link between football and brain disease. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general, GOP leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee … Continue reading
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Angry protesters marched in Kenya’s capital on Friday against plans to build an elevated railway line over the country’s oldest national park, saying the project will threaten wildlife that includes lions, leopards and giraffes. The Chinese project would cross six kilometers of Nairobi National Park. Dozens of conservationists and others carried … Continue reading
SEATTLE (AP) — More than two years after Washington state launched legal marijuana sales, it’s planning to test pot for banned pesticides more regularly. The state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board said Thursday it’s paying the Washington Department of Agriculture more than $1 million to buy new equipment and hire two full-time workers to conduct the … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 