WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump gave governors a road map Thursday for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases. “We’re starting our life...
New Pressure on Lawmakers as Virus Aid for Firms Hits Limit
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are struggling to break a stalemate over President Donald Trump’s $250 billion emergency request for a small-business program, stoking uncertainty about when additional support will be available in a key rescue program now exhausted of funds. A House session Friday was expected to simply be a pro...
Stimulus Checks to Bear Trump’s Name in Unprecedented Move
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's name will be printed on the stimulus checks that the Internal Revenue Service will be sending to tens of millions of Americans around the country, in an unprecedented move finalized this week. The Treasury Department confirmed the decision in a statement Wednesday. It marks the...
Former Senate Staffer Accuses Joe Biden of Sexual Assault
WASHINGTON — A former aide to Joe Biden is accusing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee of sexually assaulting her during the early 1990s when he was a senator. Biden’s campaign denies the charges. In two recent interviews with The Associated Press, Tara Reade alleged the assault occurred in the basement...
Supreme Court to Hold May Arguments by Teleconference
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hold arguments by teleconference in May in key cases, including President Donald Trump's bid to shield his tax and other financial records. The court will make live audio of the arguments available for the first time. It had previously postponed courtroom arguments...
Navy Reports First Coronavirus Death From Roosevelt Crew
WASHINGTON — A member of the crew of the coronavirus-infected USS Theodore Roosevelt died Monday of complications related to the disease, the Navy said, just weeks after the aircraft carrier's captain was fired for pressing his concern that the Navy had done too little to safeguard his crew. The sailor,...
Trump Quietly Shuts Down Asylum at US Borders to Fight Virus
SAN DIEGO — A U.S. Border Patrol agent wouldn't let Jackeline Reyes explain why she and her 15-year-old daughter needed asylum, pointing to the coronavirus. That confrontation in Texas came just days after the Trump administration quietly shut down the nation's asylum system for the first time in decades in...
Caught in Video Mashup, Pinsky Apologizes for Virus Comments
NEW YORK — Celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky has apologized for a series of statements unspooled in a recent video where he downplayed the coronavirus and suggested it was a “press-induced panic.” “I wish I had gotten it right, but I got it wrong,” said Pinsky in a video posted over...
Congress, White House Reach High for Next Virus Bill
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another coronavirus rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed $2.2 trillion effort. She wants another round of direct payments...
Trump Campaign Kicks off Catholic Voter Outreach Project
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is ramping up its courtship of Catholic voters ahead of a likely November matchup against a devout Catholic Democrat, former Vice President Joe Biden. The campaign previewed its message at a Thursday night launch of a “Catholics for Trump” coalition, touting the...