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Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke at an event led by a white nationalist and has no regrets
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 28, 2022
WASHINGTON — Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is doubling down on her decision to give a speech at a far-right conference with ties to white supremacists over the weekend. In a statement released Sunday night, Greene argued that she went to talk to audience members about “America First” policies. “We’re going to focus […]
Biden taps Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court
By: Ariana Figueroa and Jennifer Shutt - February 25, 2022
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court Friday afternoon. “For too long, our government, our courts haven’t looked like America,” Biden said. “I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of qualifications, […]
Before any U.S. troops are sent to Ukraine, some in Congress want a say
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 23, 2022
WASHINGTON — U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, a Democrat, and Warren Davidson of Ohio, a Republican, are leading a broad, bipartisan coalition of lawmakers urging the president to not send U.S. troops into Ukraine, or declare war, before receiving authorization from Congress. President Joe Biden has not dispatched troops to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion […]
Members of Congress from both parties urge tough sanctions on Russia
By: Jennifer Shutt, Ariana Figueroa and Jacob Fischler - February 22, 2022
WASHINGTON — Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to impose severe sanctions on Russia after the country declared a broad section of eastern Ukraine independent before sending troops into the region. Members of Congress appear unified, for the moment, that the most the United States should do is […]
U.S. House hearing on extremism toward minorities turns into ‘defund the police’ debate
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 18, 2022
WASHINGTON — Leaders of faith organizations and Historically Black Colleges and Universities told members of a U.S. House panel on Thursday how their institutions and places of worship have been roiled by bomb threats and extremism. They talked about the recent waves of bomb threats aimed at HBCUs, a terrifying hostage-taking at a Texas synagogue […]
Students defrauded by for-profit colleges to get millions in loan repayments
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 16, 2022
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that nearly 16,000 student borrowers would receive millions in loan repayments, after the department found that four private for-profit institutions made misleading claims about their job placement rates. “The Department remains committed to giving borrowers discharges when the evidence shows their college violated the law and […]
Biden warns of U.S. energy price spikes if Russia invades Ukraine
By: Jacob Fischler and Ariana Figueroa - February 15, 2022
WASHINGTON — American service members will not deploy to Ukraine in the event of a “distinctly possible” Russian invasion, but strong economic sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies could reverberate and prompt energy price spikes, President Joe Biden said in a live address from the White House Tuesday. Biden urged Russian President […]
Biden meets with county leaders in D.C., promotes Build Back Better plan
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 15, 2022
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden during a Tuesday meeting with county leaders called on Congress to pass his stalled social spending package as a way to fight inflation, saying it would help with expenses families face. “Families are getting clobbered by the cost of everyday things,” Biden told members of the National Association of Counties […]
U.S. Sen. Luján vows to return to D.C. in time to vote on Supreme Court nominee
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 14, 2022
WASHINGTON — New Mexico Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján said he plans to return to the U.S. Capitol in time to vote for the president’s Supreme Court nominee, following a recent stroke. “I am doing well,” Luján, 49, said in a video released Sunday. “I am going to make a full recovery. I am going […]
Black women in the U.S. House push for Supreme Court pick with a civil rights track record
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 10, 2022
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri Thursday led a coalition of Black women members of the U.S. House in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to pick a Black woman for the Supreme Court — which he has promised — who has a track record of protecting civil rights. “The appointment […]
National parks try to make progress on long-deferred maintenance
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 9, 2022
WASHINGTON — During a Wednesday U.S. Senate hearing centered on national parks, administration officials outlined to senators how funding from the Great American Outdoors Act is starting to reduce the backlog of maintenance projects — even as visitation to parks has exploded. An Interior Department official said that the most-loved parks are the ones that […]
HBCU leaders decry waves of bomb threats as federal investigators probe origin
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 9, 2022
WASHINGTON — Hours before the Southern Poverty Law Center held a virtual panel Tuesday about recent bomb threats made to dozens of historically Black colleges, yet another bomb threat was reported — this one to Spelman College, a historically Black institution in Georgia. “This was a racist attack that aims to not only disrupt the […]