U.S. economy beats projections with 224,000 jobs in June
The United States added 224,000 jobs during the month of June, beating analysts’ expectations by about 60,000, the Labor Department said in its monthly workforce report Friday.
U.S. Headlines
Trump to sign executive order to lower drug prices
The White House is writing an executive order that would reduce what the U.S. pays for drugs so that it’s more in line with the lowest price paid elsewhere in the world, Trump told reporters Friday.
Maryland voter registration will allow ‘X’ or ‘unspecified’ for gender identity
Maryland will soon allow people to put an ‘X’ or ‘unspecified’ for their gender on their voter registration.
FBI, ICE using state driver’s license photos without consent for facial recognition searches
The FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have reportedly been using driver’s license photos for facial recognition searches without license holders’ knowledge or consent.
Fight over vaccine exemptions hits state legislatures
State legislators across the country are moving to tighten limits on vaccine exemptions for children amid one of the worst outbreaks of preventable diseases in recent history.
Aftershocks in California Continue After 2 Major Earthquakes
Two remote California desert communities assessed damage after two major earthquakes hit the area at the end of last week, followed by thousands of smaller aftershocks.
Seismologist says 1 in 10 chance of another major earthquake in Southern California
A California seismologist said the two earthquakes near the city of Ridgecrest, Calif., over the past two days could be followed by an even larger quake.
Banners Promoting Atheist Event Offend Fort Worth Residents
City officials in Forth Worth, Texas received around 100 complaints from residents after banners with the phrase ‘In No God We Trust’ were hung along Main Street promoting an atheist event.
Appeals court rejects Trump’s request for border wall funding
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s allocation of $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense to pay for construction of physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Strongest Earthquake in 20 Years Rattles Southern California
The strongest earthquake in 20 years shook a large swath of Southern California and parts of Nevada on Thursday, rattling nerves on the July 4th holiday and causing injuries and damage in a town near the epicenter, followed by a swarm of ongoing aftershocks.
22-week abortion ban moves closer to Colorado ballot
A proposal to ban abortions at 22 weeks in Colorado moved closer to being on next year’s ballot on Wednesday.
Government lawyers backtrack, say they will try to get citizenship question on census
Lawyers for the Justice Department backtracked furiously Wednesday, saying they would examine whether the Trump administration may add a question on citizenship status to the census, just one day after DOJ officials and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said they were abandoning those efforts for next year’s survey.
US trade deficit rises to 5-month high of $55.5B in May
The U.S. trade deficit rose to a five-month high in May as the politically sensitive imbalances with China and Mexico widened.
US breaks record for longest economic expansion
The U.S. broke its record for time without an economic recession Monday as it began the 121st consecutive month of gross domestic product (GDP) growth since the 2008 recession.
Right-wing protesters, ‘antifa’ clashes bring chaos to streets of Portland, Oregon
Oregon’s largest city was calm and quiet Sunday after a day of chaotic, competing protests that clogged Portland streets, crippled public transit and left at least eight people injured.
National Guard First Denies Then Allows Christian Scouting Group to Tour Facility, Citing Need to ‘Prevent Discrimination’
The Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has reversed course on its initial decision to ban a Christian scouting group from touring its training facility.
Abortion In Missouri Dealt Potentially Fatal Blow
Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services did not allow the state’s last remaining Planned Parenthood clinic to renew its license to perform abortions.
2020 Democrats defend abortion rights at Planned Parenthood forum
Twenty Democratic presidential candidates attending a Planned Parenthood forum on Saturday vowed to defend abortion rights under nearly any circumstance while largely ignoring nuances around the issue that have already roiled their party heading into the 2020 election.
Rhode Island governor signs late-term abortion bill minutes after passage
A Rhode Island late-term abortion bill appeared to be finished after legislators voted it down last month in committee, but it turns out the Reproductive Privacy Act wasn’t going anywhere.
Evangelicals go all in for Trump reelection
Faith leaders and anti-abortion groups are ramping up their efforts to reelect President Trump, rewarding a president who has become an unlikely hero of the Christian right because of his commitment to socially conservative causes.