Congress watchdog to investigate Trump voter fraud panel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress’ watchdog office has agreed to investigate President Donald Trump’s commission on voter fraud after three Democratic senators raised concerns the panel’s work may diminish the public’s confidence in the democrat…
U.S. House panel seeks documents on Puerto Rico utility repair contract
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. congressional committee on Thursday set a Nov. 2 deadline for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to provide information related to its $300 million contract with a small Montana firm to repair damage to the u…
Trump declares opioids a U.S. public health emergency
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency on Thursday, stopping short of a national emergency declaration he promised months ago that would have freed up more federal money.
No role for Assad in Syria’s future: Tillerson
GENEVA (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad and his family have no role in the future of Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday ahead of peace talks aiming at a political transition scheduled to resume next month.
Trump declares opioid epidemic a national public health emergency
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Calling it a “national shame” and “human tragedy,” President Donald Trump on Thursday announced steps to fight the opioid crisis in the United States by declaring it a national public health emergency and cracking down on the flo…
U.S. attorney general says people should just ‘say no’ to opioids
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions equated the opioid epidemic to a personal failing by many Americans who cannot “say no” to drugs on Thursday, and he said that marijuana could be serving as a gateway to the problem.
House narrowly passes measure paving way for Trump tax cuts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives helped pave the way on Thursday for deep tax cuts sought by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders, but barely overcame a revolt within party ranks that could foreshadow trouble ahead.
Connecticut lawmakers pass $41.3 billion budget nearly four months late
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Connecticut lawmakers on Thursday passed a two-year $41.3 billion budget, nearly four months after it was due, that is expected to help capital city Hartford avoid bankruptcy through state aid provisions.
Senators from refinery states request Trump meeting on biofuels
(Reuters) – Nine U.S. senators from states that have oil refineries sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Thursday urging changes to the country’s biofuels policy and asking for a meeting to discuss the issue.
Twitter bans ads from two Russian media outlets, cites election meddling
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Twitter Inc on Thursday accused Russian media outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik of interfering in the 2016 U.S. election and banned them from buying ads on its network, after criticism the social network had not done enoug…