OXON HILL, Md. — Faizan Zaki’s enthusiasm for spelling nearly got the better of him. Ultimately, his joyful approach made him the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. The favorite entering the bee after his runner-up finish last year — during which he never misspelled a word in a conventional spelling round, only to lose a […]
Sen. Cory Booker expands upon historic Senate floor speech for new book, ‘Stand’
NEW YORK — Sen. Cory Booker has expanded upon his historic Senate floor speech from last month into an upcoming book. “Stand” will be published Nov. 11, St. Martin’s Press announced Wednesday. In April, the New Jersey Democrat made headlines by delivering the country’s longest continuous Senate floor speech — just over 25 hours. The […]
NPR sues Trump administration over executive order to cut funding to public media
WASHINGTON — National Public Radio and three local stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE, Inc. argues that Trump’s executive […]
Cities tied to George Floyd mark the 5th anniversary of his death
MINNEAPOLIS — Religious services, concerts and vigils are set to mark Sunday’s fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer even as police reform and civil rights activists face what they see as a backlash from the Trump administration. Events in Minneapolis center around George Floyd Square, the intersection where police Officer […]
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Barring Foreign Student Enrollment At Harvard
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off Harvard’s enrollment of foreign students, an action the Ivy League school decried as unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands. In its lawsuit filed earlier Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government’s action violates the […]
Software update keeps Newark airport radar online
A new software update prevented a third radar outage in the last two weeks at New Jersey’s busy Newark airport when a telecommunications line failed again over the weekend, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday. At a news conference, Duffy also said the recent problems that have led to hundreds of cancellations and delays in […]
Before naming 2028 nominee, Democrats have to decide which state will weigh in first
DES MOINES, Iowa — Before they can name their next presidential nominee, Democrats will have to decide which state will weigh in first. In 2022, President Joe Biden forced a shake-up of the 2024 election calendar, moving South Carolina’s primary ahead of contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Officials in those traditionally four early-voting […]
An earthquake of 4.1 preliminary magnitude has been reported in Tennessee
An earthquake of 4.1 preliminary magnitude has been reported in Tennessee and was felt in Atlanta, Georgia, and western North Carolina ATLANTA — An earthquake of 4.1 preliminary magnitude was reported Saturday morning in Tennessee and was felt in Atlanta, western North Carolina and elsewhere, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and local news reports. […]
More than 400 nonprofit hospitals chase down patients eligible for free care
Keith Hearle, a healthcare finance consultant tapped by the IRS to help implement the tax provisions of the ACA, was in the room for formative early conversations about the new tax return forms. The reforms enacted under the ACA helped increase the level of public disclosure, he said, but did not go far enough in […]
Washington governor signs rent-control bill into law
Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law Wednesday that sets limits on rent increases, making the state among the first in the nation to provide protections for tenants. The rent stabilization measure, House Bill 1217, adds Washington to states like Oregon and California that have sought new ways to curb homelessness. Bill […]