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Biden, McCarthy say they have brokered a debt limit deal to avert U.S. default
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - May 27, 2023
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced a deal in principle Saturday night that would stave off a first-ever default on the nation’s debt as long as it can clear both chambers of Congress before June 5. The agreement would address the nation’s debt limit and include a “historic” reduction in spending, McCarthy said, though […]
A default on the U.S. debt would be far worse than a government shutdown
By: Jennifer Shutt, Ashley Murray, Jacob Fischler and Ariana Figueroa - May 22, 2023
WASHINGTON — A U.S. default on its debt would have a significantly broader impact on federal operations, financial markets and the global economy than recent government shutdowns that have left ordinary Americans largely untouched. While the two have been confused frequently during debate over the debt limit, the federal government has had considerable practice with […]
Title 42 set to end, marking a shift in U.S. asylum policy at the border
By: Ariana Figueroa - May 11, 2023
WASHINGTON — A pandemic-era measure that allowed for the swift expulsion of millions of migrants at the Southwest border ends Thursday, and the Biden administration and state officials across the U.S. are bracing for a potential increase in asylum seekers. At the same time, House Republicans this week are pushing through a border security package […]
At a McDonald’s in Kentucky, 10-year-olds worked past midnight, Department of Labor finds
By: Ariana Figueroa - May 4, 2023
WASHINGTON — Children as young as 10 were found working past midnight at a McDonald’s restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S. Department of Labor said in announcing numerous civil penalties levied on fast-food franchises. As part of an investigation into federal child labor law violations in the Southeast, the Department of Labor said that three […]
‘Tennessee three’ praised by Biden in White House meeting
By: Ariana Figueroa - April 25, 2023
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Monday met with three Tennessee state Democratic lawmakers, two of whom were expelled by the Republican-controlled state House after they protested for gun safety measures following a mass school shooting. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville, Justin Pearson of Memphis […]
U.S. judge rules insurers don’t have to cover many free preventive health services
By: Jennifer Shutt, Ariana Figueroa and Ashley Murray - March 31, 2023
WASHINGTON — Health insurance companies may no longer need to cover a wide swath of preventive health care services that were required by the 2010 Affordable Care Act, under a federal judge’s ruling issued Thursday in Texas. The decision could affect millions of Americans’ access to no-cost preventive health care — including pregnancy-related care, cancer screenings, […]
Biden student debt relief plan met with skepticism from U.S. Supreme Court conservatives
By: Ariana Figueroa - March 2, 2023
WASHINGTON — The majority conservative wing of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Tuesday that the Biden administration had the authority to implement a federal student debt relief program that was estimated to potentially aid millions of borrowers. The conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority on the court, questioned whether the Department of Education […]
White House taps Indiana, New Mexico governors for federal-state council on national security
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 9, 2023
President Joe Biden announced Thursday the appointment of Govs. Eric J. Holcomb, an Indiana Republican, and Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat, to a special bipartisan board that strengthens the federal and state partnership on matters pertaining to national security. The Council of Governors consists of 10 members selected by the president to serve a two-year […]
Members of Congress sign up for TikTok, despite security concerns
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 23, 2023
WASHINGTON — Just like teens, members of Congress are setting up TikTok accounts — even as the popular app is increasingly barred from government devices and heads of federal intelligence agencies raise concerns about data collection and surveillance obtained by a Chinese-owned company. At least 32 members of Congress — all Democrats and one independent […]
Days after Indiana attack, White House vows to fight hate against Asian Americans
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 18, 2023
The White House on Tuesday announced a multi-agency strategy to help combat anti-Asian American hate, promote language access and improve governmental data collection for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community. “This unprecedented plan builds on the administration’s broader equity agenda,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during Tuesday’s press briefing. Pew Research Center has […]
New federal student loan repayment plan aimed at low-income borrowers
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 12, 2023
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would overhaul a federal student loan income-driven repayment plan, and, if implemented, could help millions of low-income borrowers. However, it’s unclear how the agency would be able to finance the program. Many student debt relief advocates also criticized the proposal for leaving out […]
Biden administration to rapidly expel more migrants at the border, add legal pathways
By: Jacob Fischler and Ariana Figueroa - January 6, 2023
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Thursday announced dual immigration strategies that would increase expulsions of migrants who attempt to cross the Southern border, while also expanding opportunities for migrants from several countries to legally enter the United States. But the sweeping new immigration plan brought condemnation from advocates who said he should not broaden […]