Dec 20 Trump administration wants to tighten work requirements for food stamps By Juliet Linderman, Associated Press The move comes just weeks after lawmakers passed a $400 billion farm bill that reauthorized agriculture and conservation programs while leaving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves roughly 40 million Americans, virtually untouched. Continue reading
Dec 19 What changes to this fingerprinting rule could mean for migrant children in U.S. custody By Joshua Barajas The government is expected to release 2,000 or so migrant children to designated sponsors in the coming days. Continue reading
Dec 19 53 journalists killed for their work so far in 2018, report finds By Verena Dobnik, Associated Press The number of journalists killed in retaliation for their work nearly doubled this year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Continue reading
Dec 19 Watch 6:35 Markets drop as Fed signals it’s not done raising interest rates yet In a sign of confidence in economic growth, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point, to its highest level in a decade. Fed chairman Jerome Powell said politics played "no role whatsoever" in the bank's… Continue watching
Dec 19 Watch 8:15 After policy reversal, hundreds of detained migrant children could be released Hundreds of migrant children could be released from government custody as the Trump administration relaxes requirements for the adults sponsoring them. The shift was followed by an Associated Press report that some shelters house more than 1,000 children. Michelle Brane… Continue watching
Dec 19 LA bishop resigns 13 years after diocese learned of misconduct allegation By John Antczak, Nicole Winfield, Associated Press The Vatican announced the resignation in a one-line statement. It was the latest in a string of misconduct allegations against bishops to come to light this year. Continue reading
Dec 19 Illinois investigation finds 500 more Catholic clergy abuse cases By Associated Press Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's findings come amid a renewed national outcry over allegations of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. Continue reading
Dec 19 Watchdog to review DeVos’ decision to revive a troubled accreditor By Collin Binkley, Associated Press The move by the education secretary has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over the regulation of for-profit colleges. Continue reading
Dec 19 Deal allows Cubans to sign with big league baseball teams without defecting By Michael Weissenstein, Associated Press Major League Baseball, its players' association and the Cuban Baseball Federation reached an agreement that will allow players from the island nation to sign big league contracts without defecting, an effort to eliminate the dangerous trafficking that had gone on… Continue reading
Dec 19 Judge blocks Trump administration restrictions on who can apply for asylum By Colleen Long, Associated Press The judge said the administration's policy on asylum seekers violates federal immigration law and that "it is the will of Congress -- not the whims of the executive" that sets the standards for expedited removal. Continue reading