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Month: April 2024

The House passes billions in aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle. Next is the Senate

By STEPHEN GROVES and LISA MASCARO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies in a rare weekend session as Democrats and Republicans banded together after months of hard-right resistance over renewed American support for repelling Russia’s invasion. With an overwhelming vote

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Biden signs bill extending a key US surveillance program after divisions nearly forced it to lapse

By FARNOUSH AMIRI and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday signed legislation reauthorizing a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans’ data nearly forced the statute to lapse. Barely missing its midnight deadline, the

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Israel and Iran’s apparent strikes and counterstrikes give new insights into both militaries

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Israel demonstrated its military dominance over adversary Iran in its apparent precision strikes that hit near military and nuclear targets deep in the heart of the country, meeting little significant challenge from Iran’s defenses and providing the world with new insights into both militaries’ capabilities. The

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California is rolling out free preschool. That hasn’t solved challenges around child care

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AP Education Writer CONCORD, Calif. (AP) — A year before I-Ting Quinn’s son was old enough for kindergarten, she and her husband had the option to enroll him in “transitional kindergarten,” a program offered for free by California elementary schools for some 4-year-olds. Instead, they kept their son, Ethan, in a private

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Merkley, Risch introduce bill to boost mass timber industry, promote use in federal, military projects

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Idaho Senator James Risch this week announced the introduction of the bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act to promote the utilization of mass timber in federal building projects and military construction. The mass timber industry has become important to Oregon, Idaho, and the entire Pacific Northwest’s economy and environment.

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Focus is on next steps after Oregon lawmakers make ‘groundbreaking’ housing investments

By Eric Tegethoff, Oregon News Service SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon lawmakers passed a major housing package in this year’s session, but said easing the state’s housing crisis will take more work. Bills passed during the short legislative session will send a total of $376 million to address the state’s housing shortage, including Senate Bill 1530 and Senate

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Venezuela’s main opposition bloc agrees on candidate to challenge Maduro in presidential election

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s main opposition coalition has agreed to unite behind former diplomat Edmundo González as its challenger to President Nicolás Maduro in this July 28 election. The bloc acted Friday, just one day before the deadline to formalize its candidate. The coalition known as the Unitary Democratic Platform says the decision was

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Summer food benefits for Oregon kids amplified through Double Up produce program

By Eric Tegethoff, Oregon News Service PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT. Dollars from the program will go even farther to purchase produce, through the Double Up Food Bucks program. The Oregon Legislature approved the state’s participation in the Summer EBT program, making nearly 300,000

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A man escaped Sudan’s bloody civil war. His mysterious death in Missisippi has sparked suspicion

By MICHAEL GOLDBERG Associated Press/Report for America JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Dau Mabil escaped war-torn Sudan as a child and built a new life in Mississippi. Fishermen found the body of the 33-year-old Mabil floating in a river earlier this month. The case has prompted calls for a federal investigation into his disappearance and death

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Lawsuits under New York’s new voting rights law reveal racial disenfranchisement even in blue states

BY AYANNA ALEXANDER Associated Press FREEPORT, N.Y. (AP) — Weihua Yan had seen dramatic demographic changes since moving to Long Island’s Nassau County. Its Asian American population alone had grown by 60% since the 2010 census. Why then, he wondered, did he not see anyone who looked like him on the county’s local governing body,

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