Former U.S. House Speaker Hastert pleads not guilty to federal charges
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded not guilty in a packed Chicago courtroom on Tuesday to federal charges of trying to hide large cash transactions and lying to the FBI about it.
Parts of White House, Capitol complex evacuated hours apart after bomb threats
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House briefing room and parts of two U.S. Senate office buildings were briefly evacuated within hours of each other on Tuesday after separate bomb threats, but it was not clear if the incidents were linked.
Wisconsin lawmakers vote to repeal 48-hour handgun waiting period
MILWAUKEE (Reuters) – Wisconsin lawmakers voted on Tuesday to repeal the state’s 48-hour waiting period on handgun purchases, a measure supporters say will make transactions more convenient and opponents contend will lead to increased violence.
U.S. House votes for permanent ban on Internet access taxes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to permanently bar U.S. states from taxing Internet access and replace a 17-year-old temporary ban that had been extended multiple times and was due to expire on Oct. 1.
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry tweets photo of himself in hospital
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was doing well and receiving physical therapy at a Boston hospital after surgery on a broken right leg but it was unclear when he would be released, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Former U.S. House Speaker Hastert pleads not guilty to federal charges
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded not guilty in a packed Chicago courtroom on Tuesday to federal charges of trying to hide large cash transactions and lying to the FBI about it.
Pentagon bars discrimination against gays, lesbians in uniform
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday the Pentagon has updated its equal opportunity policy to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation, putting it in the same category as discrimination based on race, religion, colo…
U.S. Senate preserves funding plan for Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday successfully defended their bid to avoid across-the-board budget caps by using some $38 billion in “emergency” war funding to expand military spending.
U.S. trade bill hits new funding hurdle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers are looking at alternative ways to fund aid for workers who lose their jobs due to trade, a senior Democrat said on Tuesday, as a vote nears on legislation key to sealing a Pacific trade pact.
Jeb Bush launches European tour with speech to Merkel’s party
BERLIN (Reuters) – Jeb Bush called for closer trade and security ties with Europe on Tuesday in a speech in Berlin, the first stop on a five-day tour designed to prove his foreign policy credentials before announcing his run for the presidency.