Politics

Putin Orders 36-Hour Weekend Cease-Fire in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Moscow’s armed forces to hold a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday, the Kremlin said.

Court: Teacher Wearing MAGA Hat Fell Under Protected Speech

An appeals court has ruled in favor of a former teacher in Vancouver, Washington, concluding that his wearing a hat supporting former President Trump to school was protected speech under the First Amendment.

Jan. 6 Witness Recounts Pressure Campaign from Trump Allies

Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson described to the House Jan. 6 committee a wide-ranging pressure campaign from Donald Trump's allies aimed at influencing her cooperation with Congress and stifling potentially damaging testimony about him.

Lawsuit Challenging Several North Carolina Abortion Laws Withdrawn

A North Carolina abortion provider, medical professionals and an abortion-rights group have withdrawn their 2020 lawsuit challenging several state laws restricting and regulating the procedure.

Arizona To Remove Shipping Container Wall From Mexico Border

Gov. Doug Ducey says Arizona will take down a makeshift wall made of shipping containers at the Mexico border, settling a lawsuit and political tussle with the federal government over trespassing on federal lands. The Biden administration and the Republican governor entered into an agreement that Arizona will cease installing the containers in the Coronado National Forest.

Pageantry Evoking Churchill Greets Zelenskyy in Washington

At a time of grave consequence, a wartime leader crossed the Atlantic to arrive at a White House decked in holiday decor to consult with the American president about a war in Europe.

Jan. 6 Panel Unveils Full Report, Describes Trump 'Conspiracy'

The House Jan. 6 committee’s final report asserts that Donald Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol.

Jan. 6 Panel Prepares To Unveil Final Report On Insurrection

An 800-page report set to be released by House investigators will conclude that then-President Donald Trump criminally plotted to overturn his 2020 election defeat and "provoked his supporters to violence" at the Capitol with false claims of voter fraud. The resulting Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection threatened democracy and the lives of lawmakers and police.

Congress Moves To Ban TikTok From US Government Devices

TikTok would be banned from most U.S. government devices under a government spending bill Congress unveiled early Tuesday. It's the latest push by American lawmakers against the Chinese-owned social media app.

LA Taps Hotel Rooms as Estimated 40,000 People Live Homeless

The new mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, said Sunday her administration will start moving homeless people from tent encampments into hotels and motels through a new program that launches Tuesday.

Supreme Court Temporarily Pauses Lifting Title 42 Border Restrictions

Suspense is mounting at the U.S. border with Mexico about the future of restrictions on asylum-seekers after the Supreme Court issued a temporary order to keep pandemic-era limits on migrants in place. Conservative-leaning states won a reprieve as they push to maintain a measure that allows officials to expel many asylum-seekers.

With The Clock Ticking, Still No Decision On CMS Interim Superintendent

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education held an emergency meeting Friday but still did not reach a conclusion on who will replace outgoing CMS superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh.

Senate Passes Stopgap Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown

The Senate voted 71-to-19 late Thursday to pass a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown.

Feds Order Review Of Power-grid Security After Moore County Attacks

Federal regulators on Thursday ordered a review of security standards at the nation's far-flung electricity transmission network, following shootings at two electric substations in North Carolina that damaged equipment and caused more than 45,000 customers to lose power.

Confusion Over Student Debt Relief

The future of the Biden administration's student debt relief program is still up in the air, and recently some incorrect emails caused even more confusion about the program.

Political Wrap: U.s. Covid Deaths Nearing 500,000; Texas Power Grid

NC Lawmakers To Review State's Power Grid Vulnerability Following Attack In Moore Co.

North Carolina's top legislative leaders said Tuesday that the General Assembly will review what can be done to protect the state's power transmission system following the Duke Energy substation shooting attacks this month that put Moore County in the dark for days.