Senator says Smithfield deal has food safety implications
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday said she was concerned about the food safety implications posed by the proposed purchase of pork producer Smithfield Foods by Shuanghui International, a Chinese meat produ…
Democrat Markey’s lead widens in Massachusetts U.S. Senate race
(Reuters) – Veteran Democratic Congressman Ed Markey has extended his lead over Republican Gabriel Gomez in the race to fill Massachusetts’s open seat in the Senate, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
After Sandy Hook, Connecticut lawmakers vote to shield victim photos
MILFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) – The Connecticut General Assembly overwhelmingly approved compromise legislation on Wednesday to prevent public release of homicide victim photos, videos and some audiotapes in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary Schoo…
FBI searches offices of California state senator, Latino caucus
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The FBI searched the offices of a California state senator and the Latino legislative caucus on Tuesday as part of an investigation into undisclosed “allegations of criminal activity,” a spokeswoman for the agency said.
Republican wins special congressional election in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – Republicans on Tuesday held onto a U.S. House seat vacated by Jo Ann Emerson in southeast Missouri as state Representative Jason Smith easily defeated Democratic Representative Steve Hodges in a special election.
Kerry to push for OAS reform, broad debate on drug policy
ANTIGUA, Guatemala (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry will press for reform of the 35-nation Organization of American States and back a broad approach to tackling drug-related violence at OAS meetings this week, a senior U.S. official said on Tu…
House Republicans pursue plans to cut 2014 spending
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the House of Representatives pressed ahead on Tuesday with efforts to extend deep “sequester” spending cuts into next year, despite a veto threat from President Barack Obama.
North Carolina lawmakers want to repeal bias law, restart executions
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) – North Carolina lawmakers took additional steps on Tuesday to repeal a divisive racial bias law in a move designed to restart executions in the state.
Senators, military brass battle over curbing sexual assault
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers berated America’s senior military officers over sexual assault in the armed forces on Tuesday, but top brass insisted a plan in Congress to take the cases out of the hands of commanders would go too far by weakening the…
Oklahoma will not mandate tornado shelters in schools: Governor
(Reuters) – The state of Oklahoma will encourage but not require residents to build safe rooms or tornado shelters, after 43 people died in massive storms over the last two weeks, Governor Mary Fallin said on Tuesday.
