PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island — It's one of America's leading sources for news about the government, yet also among the least trusted. Social media, a new poll finds, is America's political news paradox. Julie Ferguson, an occupational therapist in central Washington state, remembers getting TV news from just a handful of...
US Budget Deficit Surges to $134.5 Billion in October
WASHINGTON — The federal government, which ended the 2019 budget year with its largest deficit in seven years, began the new budget year with a deficit in October that was 33.8% bigger than a year ago as spending hit a record. The Treasury Department said Wednesday that the deficit last...
California DMV Revealed Private Information on 3,200 Drivers
SACRAMENTO — California's Department of Motor Vehicles improperly disclosed private information to seven other government agencies on more than 3,000 people involved in some type of investigation as suspects or witnesses, officials said Tuesday. The department was sending letters Tuesday to the 3,200 people after determining that they are not...
Could City Ordinance Punishing Leakers Also Go After Media?
A proposed Fresno City Council ordinance would punish City Hall officials and staff who reveal confidential information, as well as those who receive privileged materials. "We have problems with information that gets leaked out of our closed session items, with other information that is not supposed to be leaked," said...
Syria Talks: Possible Path Toward Peace, or Another Dead End
GENEVA — Syria's government and opposition have delicately sat down for their first face-to-face talks, amid the hopes of millions of Syrians and governments from Washington to Moscow that they could become a step toward ending the country's devastating 8 ½-year war. It could be a chance for peace, or...
Lebanese Prime Minister Quits Amid Anti-Government Protests
BEIRUT — Lebanon's prime minister resigned Tuesday, bowing to one of the central demands of anti-government demonstrators shortly after baton-wielding Hezbollah supporters rampaged through the main protest camp in Beirut, torching tents, smashing plastic chairs and chasing away protesters. The demonstrators later returned to the camp in time to hear...
US Public Land Workers Getting Assaulted, Threatened on Job
BILLINGS, Mont. — Federal employees overseeing U.S. public lands were assaulted or threatened at least 360 times over a five-year period marked by heightened tensions with anti-government groups, according a Congressional watchdog agency. The Government Accountability Office in a new report highlights anti-government tensions that at times have boiled over....
Iranian Hackers Said to Target Presidential Campaign
WASHINGTON — Microsoft said Friday that hackers linked to the Iranian government targeted a U.S. presidential campaign, as well as government officials, media targets and prominent expatriate Iranians. Overall, the hackers attempted to penetrate 241 accounts — four successfully — though none of those penetrated was associated with presidential campaigns...
Opinion: On Oct. 3, Happy Deficit Day
Imagine that the federal government received all the revenue it will receive for the year in a lump sum on Jan. 1, and then proceeded to spend that money at a constant rate. If the federal government’s budget were balanced, the money would last until the stroke of midnight on...
Israeli Politics Remain in Chaos After Deadlocked Election
JERUSALEM — Benjamin Netanyahu has been tasked by Israel's president to form a new government for the sixth time in his lengthy political career. This time it's no mere formality, but rather a daunting endeavor that looks like mission impossible. After an inconclusive national election last week, Netanyahu has no obvious path...