Wildfire-weary Western US coughs through late-season surge
The smoke, the flames, the aching lungs, the evacuations. They’re summertime facts of life in the U.S. West, where every wildfire season competes with memories of previous destruction.
US News
Trump declares Hurricane Irma emergencies as Florida worries megastorm could be worse than Harvey
As Hurricane Irma barreled toward the Caribbean on Tuesday — on a path that could send the Category 5 megastorm toward Florida — people up and down the state were starting to prepare for the worst.
Trump phaseout of DACA gives Congress six months to devise solution for Dreamers
The Trump administration on Tuesday declared the Obama-era DACA program unconstitutional and ordered a phaseout, giving Congress six months to devise a permanent solution for 800,000 young adult illegal immigrant Dreamers who could be at risk of deportation.
Irma becomes strongest Atlantic hurricane outside Gulf and Caribbean ever recorded
Irma spun into a monster storm Tuesday morning with sustained winds topping 180 mph, becoming the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded outside the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, National Hurricane Center forecasters said in their 11 a.m. advisory.
Armed with new data, committees ready to ratchet up investigations into Trump’s ties with Russia
The progress congressional investigators have made this summer comes into sharp focus this week as House and Senate committees return to work to ratchet up the legal and political clash into the Trump campaign’s suspected collusion with the Kremlin in the November presidential election — and whether Democratic rival Hillary Clinton’s allies tried to falsely fan the story.
Hurricane Irma elevated to Category 4 storm, threatens to hit Florida
The National Hurricane Center has elevated Hurricane Irma to a Category 4 storm with winds as high as 150 miles per hour in the next 24 hours.
Religious liberty battles may take center stage in Supreme Court’s new term
A flurry of religious liberty challenges headed toward the Supreme Court in its upcoming term could leave a lasting mark on American law for years to come.
Yellowstone Supervolcano Earthquake Swarm Now One of the Biggest on Record, With Over 2,300 Tremors
An ongoing earthquake swarm at Yellowstone volcano is now one of the biggest ever recorded, with over 2,300 tremors since it began in June.
Trump Declares Sunday a National Day of Prayer for People Affected by Harvey
President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation declaring Sunday, Sept. 3, a national day of prayer to think of those who are facing the devastation from Hurricane Harvey.
Trump uncovers evidence of Dreamers loophole hidden by Obama
Thousands of Dreamers have used a loophole in federal law to get on a full pathway to citizenship, top congressional Republicans revealed Friday, citing government data withheld by the Obama administration but provided by the Trump administration.
White House preparing $5.9B request for Harvey recovery aid
The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion package in Harvey recovery aid, a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are adequately funded.
Trump on tax reform: ‘I don’t want to be disappointed by Congress’
President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted tax reform as his key to unlocking economic growth and job opportunities — and put the onus on Congress to overhaul the U.S. system.
Federal judge blocks enforcement of Texas’ ‘sanctuary cities’ law
A federal judge blocked enforcement of much of a ‘sanctuary cities’ law in Texas on Wednesday night, just days before it was set to go into effect.
AccuWeather predicts Hurricane Harvey to be the most costly natural disaster in US history
AccuWeather predicts Hurricane Harvey, which has wreaked havoc in Texas, to be the most costly natural disaster in United States history.
With Congress in stalemate, states take lead in Planned Parenthood defunding
The effort to defund Planned Parenthood may be stalled at the federal level, but recent legal and legislative victories have given states more power than ever to cut off taxpayer funding to the nation’s largest abortion provider.
Haunted by Katrina’s memory, Louisiana now faces Harvey
Twelve years to the day after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, another deadly storm forced the rescue of hundreds of people from floodwaters in southwestern Louisiana and prompted New Orleans to shut down its schools and other key institutions as a precaution.
Trump ready for shutdown standoff over border wall: ‘We will build the wall’
President Trump stood firm Monday on his threat to shut down the government if congressional Democrats block funding for a wall on the border with Mexico, saying the wall was crucial to U.S. security and stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
Harvey Pummels Texas with 11 Trillion Gallons of Water; May Be the Most Expensive Storm in U.S. History
Tropical Storm Harvey has stalled over southeast Texas where extreme rainfall has occurred in the Houston metro area, leading to record-breaking, catastrophic flooding. Days of drenching downpours are ahead, along with the potential for tornadoes and lingering coastal flooding.
Texas Governor, Mayor Split Over Whether Houston Needed Evacuations
A split between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over whether the metropolis should have been evacuated is raising questions about officials’ response to damaging floodwaters as a catastrophe continues to engulf the region.
Hurricane Harvey barrels toward coast as Texans prepare for worst
Harvey was a tropical storm but intensified Thursday into a hurricane — with the potential for up to 3 feet of rain, 125 mph winds and 12-foot storm surges.