Tracking Trends, Breaking News
NEW YORK — Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday afternoon in a Lower Manhattan court. Menendez, 71, was convicted last July on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors had been calling for Menendez to serve 15 years, citing “the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes, the
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Washington — President Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act, which aims to expand the federal government’s mandate to detain immigrants who are in the country illegally, marking the first legislation signed in Mr. Trump’s new term. The Laken Riley Act, named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented Venezuelan
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The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will leave its benchmark rate unchanged, hitting the brakes on lowering borrowing costs for individuals and businesses after a flurry of rate cuts starting last fall. The Fed said it will maintain the federal funds rate at its current range of 4.25% to 4.5%. The decision comes after
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Washington — Tulsi Gabbard‘s nomination to be President Trump’s director of national intelligence is in peril as she faces skepticism from senators ahead of her confirmation hearing Thursday. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and combat veteran, faces a narrow path to confirmation amid concerns over her decision to meet with Syrian dictator Bashar
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Washington — The White House Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday walked back a memo that ordered a freeze on federal assistance, less than two days after the directive led to chaos and confusion around the country as to what programs would be impacted. The latest two-line memo from acting Director of the Office
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A memo from the White House budget office is calling for a spending freeze on federal assistance by 5 p.m. Tuesday, which could affect everything from aid to nonprofits, universities, small business loans and state and local government grants. The freeze could have wide-ranging implications, with the White House noting that $3 trillion was spent
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Washington — At least 56 senior officials in the top U.S. aid and development agency were placed on leave Monday amid an investigation into an alleged effort to thwart President Trump’s orders. A current official and a former official at the U.S. Agency for International Development confirmed the reason given for the move Monday. Both
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s controversial pick to head the federal Department of Health and Human Services, will appear Wednesday before a Senate panel that is crucial to advance his nomination. Kennedy is due to appear first at the Senate Committee on Finance, the panel that will ultimately be the committee with the deciding
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Parents enrolling children in Oklahoma public schools would be required to provide proof of their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status under a proposal aimed at helping President Trump’s immigration policies. The proposed rules, which Oklahoma’s education board was set to vote on Tuesday, are in the early stages and would still need approval
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President Trump signed multiple executive orders Monday night that could reshape the management and composition of the military, with provisions addressing diversity measures, transgender service members, and troops who were discharged for refusing COVID vaccinations. He also signed an executive order to establish a process to develop what the administration is calling an American Iron
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