Climate Change Batters The West Before Summer Even Begins
June 18 By Brad Plumer A heat dome is baking Arizona and Nevada, where temperatures have soared past 115 degrees this week and doctors are warning that people can get third-degree burns from the sizzling asphalt. At Lake Mead, which supplies water for 25 million…
Biden Signs Bill Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
June 17 By Kevin Freking President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday establishing a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, saying he believes it will go down as one of the greatest honors he has as president. Biden signed into law a bill to…
Biden Gives Putin Custom Aviator Sunglasses
June 16 By Annie Feidt President Joe Biden marked his first presidential summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin with a gift, presenting his counterpart with a pair of custom aviator sunglasses. Biden is so known for wearing aviator shades that he’s sometimes parodied over them. He…
Alaska House passes budget over Republican opposition, but many elements remain uncertain
June 15 By James Brooks The Alaska House of Representatives narrowly approved a compromise state budget on Tuesday night, but Republican opposition meant two key procedural votes failed, leaving significant uncertainty. Unless lawmakers successfully revote, one of the failed votes will cut this year’s Permanent…
Putin likens Capitol rioters to political dissenters for U.S.
June 15 By Fiona Harvey Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is to meet President Joe Biden at a summit Wednesday, has suggested that the hundreds of people arrested for rioting at the U.S. Capitol are being subjected to “persecution for political opinions.” Putin is likely…
G7 leaders to discuss climate change, pandemic and vaccines at summit
June 14 By Tom Smith The G7 Summit kicks off Friday in Cornwall where G7 leaders will discuss climate change, recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and vaccines. After meeting with US President Joe Biden Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who is hosting the…
New US Intel Report Warns of More Violence by QAnon Followers
June 14 By Michael Kunzelman A new federal intelligence report warns that adherents of QAnon, the conspiracy theory embraced by some in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, could target Democrats and other political opponents for more violence as the movement’s false prophecies don’t…
Alaska lawmakers reach tentative deal on budget, dividend
June 13 By Becky Bohrer Alaska budget negotiators reached a tentative agreement Sunday on a state spending package that includes an estimated $1,100 dividend for residents this year. But the check size could be cut to $525 a person if the House or Senate fails…
Putin says Trump is an ‘extraordinary’ and ‘talented individual’ who is an outsider to the US political establishment, unlike ‘career man’ Biden
June 12 By Joshua Zitser Russian President Vladimir Putin heaped praise on former President Trump in an exclusive interview with NBC News on Friday. “Well even now, I believe that former US president Trump is an extraordinary individual, talented individual, otherwise, he would not have…
Ukraine, US may sign number of political and security agreements during Zelensky’s visit to Washington
June 11 By Casey Grove Signing a number of political and security agreements may be on the agenda of the forthcoming visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States of America. “Today [on Thursday], a constituent meeting was held to establish a working group…
Former Alaska Rep. LeDoux and her aide face new charges of felony voter fraud
June 10 By Nathaniel Herz Former Anchorage GOP Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux faces four new felony counts of voter misconduct, state prosecutors announced Thursday. LeDoux’s former legislative aide, Lisa Simpson, also faces two new felony charges, which could increase the pressure on her to cooperate with…
U.S. Image Rebounds Across the World Under Biden
June 10 By Susan Milligan President Joe Biden wants to convey a clear and self-confirming message when he is in Europe this week on his first foreign trip: America, as you knew and mostly loved it, is back. And while Biden clearly has work to…