National News

By JILL COLVIN, LISA MASCARO, ZEKE MILLER and CATHERINE LUCEY, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’ll be making a “major announcement” on the government shutdown and the southern border on Saturday afternoon as the standstill over his border wall continues into its fifth week. Democrats are now …

y JUANA SUMMERS, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand entered the growing field of 2020 Democratic presidential contenders Tuesday, telling television host Stephen Colbert that she’s launching an exploratory committee. “It’s an important first step, and it’s one I am taking because I am going to run,” the …

By PAUL J. WEBER, Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Assailing President Donald Trump for “a crisis of leadership,” former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro joined the 2020 presidential race Saturday as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge the incumbent accelerates. Castro, who could end up being the …

By LISA MASCARO, AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — The 116th Congress gaveled into session Thursday swathed in history, returning Nancy Pelosi to the House speaker’s office and ushering in a diverse class of Democratic freshmen ready to confront President Donald Trump in a new era of divided government. Pelosi was …

By ZEKE MILLER and LISA MASCARO, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is convening a border security briefing Wednesday for Democratic and Republican congressional leaders as a partial government shutdown over his demand for border wall funding entered its 12th day. The president “wants an agreement that reopens the …

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on efforts to avoid a government shutdown (all times local): 12:40 Democratic leaders say the government has shut down because President Donald Trump threw a “temper tantrum.” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi say Trump “has gotten what he wanted” …

By ZEKE MILLER and JILL COLVIN, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is facing scathing criticism from conservative supporters after backing away from his threat to shut down the government over border wall funding, with some aggressively lobbying the president against signing a short-term deal with no wall dollars. …

By JESSICA GRESKO, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Three states resumed executions of death row inmates in 2018 after long breaks, but nationwide, executions remained near historic lows this year, according to an annual report on the death penalty released Friday. The report by the District of Columbia-based Death Penalty Information …

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on events honoring former President George H.W. Bush (all times local): 5:25 p.m. Texas A&M says the private, graveside service for George H.W. Bush’s family members has ended and the former president has been buried. Thursday evening’s ceremony concludes days of funeral activities honoring the …

HOUSTON (AP) — George H.W. Bush came back to Washington for a final time Monday, heading for the Capitol to lie in state as the nation paid tribute to the 41st president for a lifetime of service that began in the Navy during World War II, ended with four years …