by Siera Jones The Commonwealth of Virginia has passed an historic bill granting students excused absences to participate in protests and lobbying events. This legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is a result of bipartisan lobbying efforts by both the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus and the Teenage Republican Federation of … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Republican
Asia / Europe / Middle East / Politics
Syria deal in the works ahead of likely Trump-Putin meeting
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia are nearing an agreement on Syria for how they hope to resolve the Arab country’s civil war once the Islamic State group is defeated, officials said Thursday. If clinched, the deal could be announced by President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after a meeting in … Continue reading
GOP leaders bolt from Senate candidate Moore after sex claim
WASHINGTON (AP) — A month before Alabama’s special election, Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore abruptly faced allegations Thursday of sexual misconduct with minors decades ago — and an immediate backlash from party leaders who demanded he quit the race if the accusations prove true. The instant fallout followed a Washington Post report in which an … Continue reading
US and them: America, the elephant in room at climate talks
WASHINGTON (AP) — How’s this for awkward? The United States has a delegation at international climate talks in Bonn that will be telling other nations what they should do on an agreement that the president wants no part of. President Donald Trump has promised to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 Paris climate pact where … Continue reading
The Latest: Trump lends last-minute help to Republican
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Latest on the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey (all times local): 4:40 p.m. President Donald Trump is lending last-minute support to Republican Ed Gillespie in Virginia’s closely watched race for governor. Trump recorded robocalls to help boost Gillespie supporters on Election Day. Gillespie is facing Democrat Ralph … Continue reading
Trump holding back some JFK files, releasing others
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump blocked the release of hundreds of records on the John F. Kennedy assassination Thursday night, bending to CIA and FBI appeals, while the National Archives moved to turn over some 2,800 other records. “I have no choice,” Trump said in a memo, citing “potentially irreversible harm” to national security … Continue reading
Officials say Trump’s opioid emergency won’t mean new money
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday plans to declare the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency — a step that won’t bring new dollars to fight a scourge that kills nearly 100 Americans a day but will expand access to medical services in rural areas, among other changes, White House officials said … Continue reading
US agrees to pay tea party groups in suits over IRS scrutiny
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has agreed to a “very substantial” payout and is apologizing to tea party groups to settle lawsuits over the extra, often burdensome IRS scrutiny they received when applying for tax-exempt status during the 2012 election. Eddie Greim, a lawyer representing more than 400 groups in a class-action suit, provided … Continue reading
Media: S. Korean lawmaker says North Korea hacked war plans
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean lawmaker says North Korean hackers may have stolen highly classified military documents that include U.S.-South Korean wartime “decapitation strike” plans against the North Korean leadership, according to South Korean media reports. The United States, meanwhile, staged another show of force meant to deter any North Korean aggression … Continue reading
The Latest: GOP tax plan nearly doubles standard deduction
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Republican plan to overhaul the tax code (all times local): 9:20 a.m. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are proposing a tax plan that they say will be simple and fair. In a document obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, their outline a blueprint for almost doubling … Continue reading
Trump: Mideast peace deal may be ‘toughest deal of all’
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump says achieving peace between the Israelis and Palestinians may be the “toughest deal of all” he’s tried to negotiate. Trump says his administration nonetheless is working “very hard” for peace in the region. He says there’s a “pretty good shot” it can be achieved. Trump commented during a … Continue reading
The Latest: Graham sees chance for Hill deal on ‘Dream Act
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Congress and DACA (all times local): ___ 7:20 a.m. Sen. Lindsey Graham says he believes “there’s a congressional deal to be made” that could resolve the question of a legal shield for young immigrants living in the U.S. illegally while improving border security without building a wall. Graham says … Continue reading
Milwaukee sheriff, Trump supporter Clarke resigns
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The tough-talking sheriff of Milwaukee County, David Clarke, resigned without explanation Thursday, capping a tumultuous year for the divisive, provocative lawman whose unabashed support for President Donald Trump and in-your-face personality earned him a national following among some conservatives. Clarke submitted his resignation in a one-sentence letter to the county clerk that … Continue reading
In Georgia, Handel thanks Trump and reaches out to Democrats
DUNWOODY, Ga. (AP) — Republican Karen Handel declared victory in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District with a promise that she’ll work to gain the confidence of voters who backed her Democratic opponent. But in the same speech Tuesday night, Handel also thanked President Donald Trump, underscoring her campaign’s triumph over the anti-Trump resistance in the traditionally … Continue reading
FBI: Gunman acted alone in shooting of congressman
WASHINGTON (AP) — A gunman acted alone when he shot and wounded a top House Republican and four other people on a northern Virginia baseball field, the FBI said Wednesday. Tim Slater, who leads the criminal division of the FBI’s Washington field office, also said during a news conference that James T. Hodgkinson did not … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 