WASHINGTON — A new report from Democrats compiling evidence on impeachment has revealed extensive contact between President Donald Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and California Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the Intelligence panel. The report released Tuesday includes phone records obtained from AT&T and Verizon that show Giuliani...
Roger Stone Guilty of Witness Tampering, Lying to Congress
WASHINGTON — Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump, was found guilty Friday of witness tampering and lying to Congress about his pursuit of Russian-hacked emails damaging to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election bid. Stone was convicted of all seven counts in an indictment that accused him of...
Fed’s Powell Sees Steady Growth, Signals Pause in Rate Cuts
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated Wednesday that the Fed is likely to keep its benchmark short-term interest rate unchanged in the coming months, unless the economy shows signs of worsening. But for now, in testimony before a congressional panel, Powell expressed optimism about the prospects for the...
House Impeachment Inquiry Becomes Teachable Moment Across US
BEAR CREEK, N.C. — The 10th graders in Aedrin Albright's civics class at a rural North Carolina high school had done their homework, and now it was time to decide: Should President Donald Trump be impeached? The students dragged their chairs across the room, those who opposed removing Trump from...
Congress Approves Bill Expanding Animal Cruelty Law
WASHINGTON — Congress has passed a bill making certain types of animal cruelty a federal felony. The bill would expand a 2010 law that made creation or distribution of so-called "animal crushing" videos illegal. The new bill would make the underlying acts of cruelty a federal crime. The Senate unanimously...
Elections in 4 States Offer Tests of 2020 Voter Enthusiasm
Gubernatorial and legislative elections in four states Tuesday will test voter enthusiasm and party organization amid impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump and a fevered Democratic presidential primary scramble. Results in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia won't necessarily predict whether Trump will be reelected or which party will control...
Newsom Headlines Costa Fundraiser in Fresno
The evening before Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers the keynote address to the California Economic Summit in downtown Fresno, he will appear at a fundraiser for Congressman Jim Costa. Multiple sources confirmed Newsom's appearance at a yet-to-be-disclosed location on Thursday, Nov. 7. The governor is one of several high-profile politicos in...
California Rep. Katie Hill Resigns Amid Ethics Investigation
WASHINGTON — Freshman Rep. Katie Hill, a rising Democratic star in the House, announced her resignation amid an ethics probe, saying explicit private photos of her with a campaign staffer had been "weaponized" by her husband and political operatives. The California Democrat, 32, had been hand-picked for a coveted leadership seat. But...
US Budget Deficit Hits $984 Billion, Highest in 7 Years
WASHINGTON — The federal deficit for the 2019 budget year surged to $984.4 billion, its highest point in seven years, and is widely expected to top the $1 trillion mark in coming years. The 26% surge from the 2018 deficit of $779 billion that the government reported Friday reflected such...
21st District House Money: a Look at Cox vs. Valadao
Despite his late entry in a rematch for the House seat he once held, David Valadao (R-Hanford) outraised incumbent TJ Cox (D-Fresno) in the third quarter. However, the Cox campaign still has more cash on hand. The contribution list for the two men running for congress in California's District 21...