Tag Archives: Politics

North Carolina’s high court says elections board shift can continue while appeals carry on

North Carolina’s high court says elections board shift can continue while appeals carry on

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Supreme Court has confirmed it was OK for a new law that shifted the power to appoint State Board of Elections members away from the Democratic governor to start being enforced earlier this month. The court’s Republican majority declined or dismissed requests Friday that Gov. Josh Stein made three weeks ago to block for now the enforcement of the Republican law shifting authority to State Auditor Dave Boliek while Stein seeks to overturn it. But the court didn’t immediately act, so Boliek made his appointments May 1. The old Democratic-majority board now has a Republican majority. Appeals over the law’s constitutionality can continue.… Continue Reading

Federal judge blocks Trump administration decision to bar foreign student enrollment at Harvard

Federal judge blocks Trump administration decision to bar foreign student enrollment at Harvard

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to sponsor international students as they obtain visas to study in the U.S. Harvard filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts earlier Friday.… Continue Reading

Judge blocks Trump’s order to dismantle the Education Department and fire employees

Judge blocks Trump’s order to dismantle the Education Department and fire employees

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department and ordered the agency to reinstate employees who were fired in mass layoffs. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston granted a preliminary injunction Thursday stopping the Trump administration from carrying out two plans announced in March that sought to work toward Trump’s goal to dismantle the department. It marks a setback to one of the Republican president’s campaign promises. The ruling came in two consolidated lawsuits that said Trump’s plan amounted to an illegal closure of the Education Department.… Continue Reading

House Republicans pass Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session

House Republicans pass Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package. Speaker Mike Johnson defied the skeptics within his ranks and muscled President Donald Trump’s priority bill to approval Thursday. Last-minute concessions and a stern warning from Trump appeared to win over the hold outs to salvage what he calls the “big, beautiful bill.” The outcome caps an intense time on Capitol Hill, with days of private negotiations and public committee hearings. Democrats, without the votes to stop Trump’s package, tried to stall it. The Congressional Budget Office says the tax provisions would add $3.8 trillion to federal deficits.… Continue Reading

Taxes, salaries, vacancy cuts make plain differences over rival North Carolina GOP budgets

Taxes, salaries, vacancy cuts make plain differences over rival North Carolina GOP budgets

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House’s state budget proposal makes plain differences on taxes, salaries and job cuts between Republicans who control both General Assembly chambers. The House gave preliminary approval Wednesday to its plan to spend $32.6 billion in the year beginning July 1 and $33.3 billion the next year. The Senate approved its two-year plan last month. The chambers are soon expected to start negotiating a final measure to present to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. The House plan appears more cautious on permitting future tax rate reductions compared to the Senate. One national conservative group warned of political consequences for House members who voted for the plan.… Continue Reading

Trump announces he’s selected final ‘Golden Dome’ space missile defenses that would cost billions

Trump announces he’s selected final ‘Golden Dome’ space missile defenses that would cost billions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has announced the concept he wants for his future Golden Dome missile defense program — a multilayered system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space. Speaking Tuesday in the Oval Office, Trump said the system would cost $175 billion. He expects it will be “fully operational before the end of my term,” which ends in 2029, and have the capability of intercepting missiles “even if they are launched from space.” It’s likelier that the complex system may have some initial capability by that point, a U.S. official familiar with the program said.… Continue Reading

Home Depot says it doesn’t expect to boost prices because of tariffs

Home Depot says it doesn’t expect to boost prices because of tariffs

Home Depot doesn’t expect to raise prices because of tariffs, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves. Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way. Walmart said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000. Home Depot says it doesn’t expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now.… Continue Reading

Trump comes to the Capitol to try to persuade a divided GOP to unify around his big tax cuts bill

Trump comes to the Capitol to try to persuade a divided GOP to unify around his big tax cuts bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has arrived on Capitol Hill to try to seal the deal on what he calls his “big, beautiful bill.” He will try to unify divided House Republicans on the multitrillion-dollar package that is at risk of collapsing before planned votes this week. The president has implored GOP holdouts to “STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE.” But negotiations are slogging along. It’s not at all clear the package, with its sweeping tax breaks and cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs, has the support needed. With all Democrats opposed, the Republicans can handle only a few defections from their slim House majority.… Continue Reading

Trump’s big bill advances in rare weekend vote as conservative holdouts secure changes

Trump’s big bill advances in rare weekend vote as conservative holdouts secure changes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans advanced their massive tax cut and border security package out of a key House committee during a rare Sunday night vote. Deficit hawks who blocked the measure two days earlier reversed course after gaining commitments on the package’s spending cuts. Speaker Mike Johnson was determined to make Friday’s setback a short one. He met with Republican lawmakers shortly before the meeting, telling reporters that changes agreed to during weekend negotiations were “just some minor modifications.” The Republicans who have criticized the measure noted that the bill’s new spending and the tax cuts are front-loaded, while the measures to offset the cost are back-loaded.… Continue Reading

House works into the night as Republicans push ahead on Trump’s big bill

House works into the night as Republicans push ahead on Trump’s big bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tax breaks tallying more than $5 trillion. But also sizable reductions in Medicaid health care, food stamps for older Americans and green energy strategies to fight climate change. Those all faced sharp debate as House lawmakers pushed through marathon public hearings overnight into Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” Republicans are working on Trump’s signature legislative package over mounting opposition from Democrats, advocacy groups and even some wary Republicans themselves. The first hearing was disrupted by protesters shouting against health care cuts. House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to send the Senate the bill by Memorial Day.… Continue Reading

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