Populist conservative and ex-NBA player Royce White shakes up US Senate primary race in Minnesota
Populist conservative and ex-NBA player Royce White has shaken up a U.S. Senate primary race in Minnesota.
Sen. Klobuchar says she's cancer-free but will get radiation as precaution after a spot removal
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she remains cancer-free following her bout with breast cancer in 2021, but doctors recently removed a small spot and that sheโll get radiation treatment as a precaution.
Building a new Key Bridge could take years and cost at least $400 million, experts say
Experts say rebuilding Baltimoreโs Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from 18 months to several years.
Republicans block Senate bill to protect nationwide access to IVF treatments
Senate Republicans have blocked legislation that would protect access to in vitro fertilization, objecting to a vote on the issue Wednesday even after widespread backlash to a recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that threatens the practice.
96-year-old Korean War veteran still attempting to get Purple Heart medal after 7 decades
A 96-year-old Korean War veteran from Minnesota has been waiting for 70 years for a Purple Heart medal.
Schumer and other Senate Democrats call for a federal probe of huge oil deals by Exxon and Chevron
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators are urging federal regulators to investigate multibillion-dollar acquisitions by oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, saying the deals could lead to higher prices at the gas pump.
Meta and X questioned by lawmakers over lack of rules against AI-generated political deepfakes
US Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York sent a letter Thursday to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X CEO Linda Yaccarino expressing โserious concernsโ about the emergence of AI-generated political ads on their platforms and asking each to explain any rules theyโre crafting to curb the harms to free and fair elections.
Jimmy Carter: Family affair to the White House and beyond
When Jimmy Carter stepped onto the national stage, he brought along those closest to him, introducing Americans to a colorful Georgia family that helped shape the 39th presidentโs public life and now, generations later, is rallying around him for the private final chapter of his 98 years.
Federal effort to boost election worker protections fizzles
Federal proposals that would have significantly boosted security funding for election offices and heightened penalties for threatening their staff failed to advance this year.
EPA seeks to mandate more use of ethanol and other biofuels
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed increasing ethanol and other biofuels that must be blended into the nationโs fuel supplies over the next three years.
Musk tweets link to an unfounded conspiracy theory
Elon Musk tweeted a link to an unfounded rumor about the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosiโs husband, just days after Muskโs purchase of Twitter fueled concerns that the social media platform would no longer seek to limit misinformation and hate speech.
Fighting bogus claims a growing priority in election offices
Local election officials preparing for the rapidly approaching midterm elections have one more headache: trying to combat misinformation that can confuse, anger and disenfranchise voters.
In new gun law, a quiet breakthrough for victims of abuse
Victims of abuse and their families saw a quiet breakthrough this summer when a new bipartisan gun safety law made it more difficult for intimate partners convicted of domestic abuse to obtain firearms.
Facing threats, some election workers weigh whether to stay
Since the 2020 election, election officials and workers have faced an onslaught of harassment and threats stemming from false claims that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
Former Rep. Giffords tells Congress 'be bold' on gun reform
Eleven years after her own life was massively altered by gun violence, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords stood in front of the Washington monument and once again lobbied for stricter gun laws after yet another string of mass shootings in America.
What GOP-nominated justices said about Roe to Senate panel
In one form or another, every Supreme Court nominee is asked during Senate hearings about his or her views of the landmark abortion rights ruling that has stood for a half century.
Biden calls former VP Mondale 'giant' of political history
President Joe Biden has saluted his โfriend of five decadesโ Walter Mondale, traveling to the University of Minnesota to remember the former vice president and Democratic Party elder whose memorial service was delayed for a year due to the pandemic.
New step to curb tech giants' power advanced by Senate panel
Congress has taken a new step toward reining in the market dominance of Big Tech. Bipartisan legislation advanced by a Senate panel would bar the dominant online platforms from favoring their own goods and services over those of rivals on the platforms.
Minneapolis voters reject replacing police with new agency
Minneapolis voters have rejected a proposal to replace the cityโs police department with a new Department of Public Safety โ an idea that arose from the May 2020 death of George Floyd.
![First steps made in Congress to honor pop superstar Prince](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/CTyrwdqVl5N8OqUge-1VBf1hqw4=/800x566/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MVBNNYHSURELFMXMVFNHIQNWLE.jpg)
First steps made in Congress to honor pop superstar Prince
Minnesotaโs Congressional delegation on Monday is introducing a resolution to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to pop superstar Prince, citing his โindelible mark on Minnesota and American culture,โ The Associated Press has learned.
![Facebook unveils new controls for kids using its platforms](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/cnkZzpnh8-kWvfueqT9e1R5FFXk=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OGGFOKEOT5C7HHS2MYD6JP5JFY.jpg)
Facebook unveils new controls for kids using its platforms
Facebook, in the aftermath of damning testimony that its platforms harm children, will be introducing several features including prompting teens using its photo sharing app Instagram to take a break, and nudging them if they repeatedly look at the same content that's not conducive to their well-being.
![Ex-Facebook manager criticizes company, urges more oversight](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/CdNWHy4eZzCSYgwc-_H6rYx6U28=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/54Z7BHR26RH43DKPVWPFATEOEY.jpg)
Ex-Facebook manager criticizes company, urges more oversight
While accusing the giant social network of pursuing profits over safety, a former Facebook data scientist told Congress she believes stricter government oversight could alleviate the dangers the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence to fueling misinformation.
![Watch Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar discuss polarization in Washington, D.C., at The Texas Tribune Festival](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/l-NlcRkq6dOUdVq59Ut4EQPfv6c=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PZ3NKPNOBBFKXIJBG7PQM4U5EQ.jpg)
Watch Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar discuss polarization in Washington, D.C., at The Texas Tribune Festival
The former presidential candidate will also talked about why she thinks breaking up big monopolies is good for America.
![California recall brings Harris home to support Gov. Newsom](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/om2hc-3yBNmS6l4Jfx3vMWUXP_k=/800x583/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/X6ZIQICZYVEOTMFOX2XDIFL2Q4.jpg)
California recall brings Harris home to support Gov. Newsom
Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters in her home state of California to defend the Democratic Party's progressive values by defeating the recall against Gov. Gavin Newsom.
![Biden signs bill awarding medals to Jan. 6 first responders](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/M6gIU0Iw-Ww8PZ5DJA4iqGBzshk=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UODEHMQ37BFM3JJUVPTMTEMR4M.jpg)
Biden signs bill awarding medals to Jan. 6 first responders
President Joe Biden offered โprofound gratitudeโ to law enforcement officers who responded to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection as he signed legislation to award them Congressional Gold Medals for their service.
!['This attack happened': Medals to honor Jan. 6 responders](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/3vi6PurEXfZUGmv5Pj1tsfXceec=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3LQP4HJXG5AGRN22FP4WXLWRWE.jpg)
'This attack happened': Medals to honor Jan. 6 responders
The Senate has voted to award Congressional Gold Medals to the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department for protecting Congress during the Jan. 6 insurrection, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden for his signature.
![Klobuchar: Infrastructure bill could include voting measures](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/X-j1dffxieZwaBnwp0dxqPWgcOU=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HHMMLIVSZZDFTGVGFBQH5T3CMA.jpg)
Klobuchar: Infrastructure bill could include voting measures
A key senator says congressional Democrats are exploring ways to include financial incentives for states to expand voting access as part of a massive infrastructure bill.
![Dozens of states target Google's app store in antitrust suit](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/meijennx0KDt_QXu0R60fBeXXPQ=/800x529/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TF6RKR6PAZERTOVQOTY5LOJIKE.jpg)
Dozens of states target Google's app store in antitrust suit
Dozens of states are taking aim at Google in an escalating legal offensive on Big Tech. A lawsuit filed late Wednesday targets Google's Play store, where consumers download apps designed for the Android software that powers most of the worldโs smartphones.
![Dems set voting bill showdown as GOP rejects Manchin plan](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/bA5ofPvJ7NeCtC3WDuvK_9rG134=/800x562/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/6DJDLMIVGVBFDNM7MWAL2KRNTI.jpg)
Dems set voting bill showdown as GOP rejects Manchin plan
The Senate will take a key vote next week on a sweeping rewrite of voting and election law, setting up a dramatic test of Democratic unity on a top priority that Republicans are vowing to block.
![Police say nearly 250 arrested in Minnesota pipeline protest](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/-S1eaqj2iM4Tj_TTWhjG4bQVNKE=/800x534/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LDD6S6FESBFPHGVBGBAZXCPNWA.jpg)
Police say nearly 250 arrested in Minnesota pipeline protest
Nearly 250 people were arrested when protesters attempting to stop the final leg of the reconstruction of an oil pipeline across northwestern Minnesota took over a pump station.
![Takeaways: Senate report on 'absolutely brutal' Jan. 6 siege](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/xucu-W-NoFvgv9AOvBxNjAPCL7w=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E3BGPFSGAZE73IQWFHXWEMG5RI.jpg)
Takeaways: Senate report on 'absolutely brutal' Jan. 6 siege
A Senate report examining security failures surrounding the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol blames missed intelligence, poor planning and multiple layers of bureaucracy for the deadly siege.
![Senate report details broad failures around Jan. 6 attack](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/sVqrnvvmSHIVvLdKvtuCtZW7i04=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MRWPID4CVNGVLGB5NM5WVOGOAU.jpg)
Senate report details broad failures around Jan. 6 attack
A Senate investigation of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has found a broad intelligence breakdown across multiple agencies, along with widespread law enforcement and military failures.
![EXPLAINER: What Biden's new $100B plan for broadband means](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/DlonAnzRoDXmnjMseldhkDKeODg=/1600x965/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E4SSO3PYCJC6LJZEHSL4JCZKWA.jpg)
EXPLAINER: What Biden's new $100B plan for broadband means
Broadband internet in the U.S. costs more than in many other rich nations, it still doesnโt reach tens of millions of Americans and the companies that provide it donโt face much competition.
![Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floydโs death](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/yhO9Kg7BzPtBejfyUFbq161wpqQ=/1600x912/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KETTWLGMEVCNXM6T664VL7HOLY.jpg)
Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floydโs death
(Court TV, via AP, Pool)MINNEAPOLIS โ Opening statements are set for Monday in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floydโs death. THE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. He also denied defense requests to delay or move the trial out of Hennepin County after the city of Minneapolis reached a $27 million settlement with Floyd's family. This was a win for local civil rights advocates who said longtime Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman didn't have the trust of the Black community. He helped win an acquittal for a Minnesota man who was charged with fatally shooting his unarmed neighbor in 2017.
![Pelosi taps DC National Guard head to lead House security](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/UyRqoiy0_KvqLlSe60kZI19IS94=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WU5SULZW3FDORNOV4AKRPML5BM.jpg)
Pelosi taps DC National Guard head to lead House security
National Guard troops were delayed in getting to the building as the rioters beat up police officers and smashed through windows and doors to get in. On Thursday, seven House committees asked 10 federal agencies for documents and communications from the government as part of a wide-ranging investigation. The Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee have already held two hearings with security officials about what went wrong. The security officials described violent attacks on overwhelmed police officers and desperate pleas for backup. As the committees investigate, Capitol officials are improving the building's physical security, including reinforcing the House doors that the rioters attempted to breach.
![Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rights](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/tpF78hykDjI3s4lIccKtONOjM10=/1600x1132/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KOAYJZY34ZC53B7LVQPFO7QPT4.jpg)
Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rights
Democrats and Republicans both see the legislation, which touches on nearly every aspect of the electoral process, as fundamental to their partiesโ political futures. Republicans charge the bill would strip power from the states and cement an unfair political advantage for Democrats. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots. Some measures would limit mail voting, cut hours at polling places and impose restrictions that Democrats argue amount to the greatest assault on voting rights since the Jim Crow era. The bill has already run into roadblocks that have become familiar since Democrats began their narrow control of the Senate two months ago.
![Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rights](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/JV2YTE9bA5Es-cINK8Xf9EOBNG8=/1600x1132/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EZJKICHRENDKDPOFHDBYKHENBY.jpg)
Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rights
Democrats and Republicans both see the legislation, which touches on nearly every aspect of the electoral process, as fundamental to their partiesโ political futures. Republicans charge the bill would strip power from the states and cement an unfair political advantage for Democrats. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots. Some measures would limit mail voting, cut hours at polling places and impose restrictions that Democrats argue amount to the greatest assault on voting rights since the Jim Crow era. The bill has already run into roadblocks that have become familiar since Democrats began their narrow control of the Senate two months ago.
![Congressional Democrats push $50B bill for nonprofits](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/jlGB7uCDorwgcEJk6RRcvrLitPg=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/M3MQU2AJJZHELHDQ3CQIOUKOTM.jpg)
Congressional Democrats push $50B bill for nonprofits
Congressional Democrats, including Klobuchar, and nonprofits are pushing for a federal bill that would give nonprofits $50 billion to help them retain employees, hire newly unemployed workers and expand their operations. The bill, which was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate this week by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and three other Senate Democrats, would give individual nonprofits grants of up to $3 million. The bill would also allow intermediary organizations, which help and provide expertise for nonprofits, to get grants of up to $100 million. Nonprofits with 500 or fewer employees have been able to get forgivable loans for expenses through the governmentโs Payment Protection Program. More than 100 organizations have endorsed the bill, including the National Council of Nonprofits.
![Battling bigness: Congress eyes action against monopolies](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/MCJBRMAONfcjWgOjegRi70pngEo=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LSBAR52VBRCX3AVGWD7QRQOL4Y.jpg)
Battling bigness: Congress eyes action against monopolies
Klobuchar, who heads the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on competition policy, has launched a broad examination by the panel of monopoly concerns. The current drift toward bigness began with a merger boom in the 1980s in corporate America that fattened profits for the dominant companies. But hold on, some are saying, letโs not punish bigness for its own sake; better to look at each case individually. They say big companies can bring efficiencies of scale, reduce prices and create jobs. He said as a candidate that breaking up Big Tech companies was something that should be considered.
![Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd's death](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/48zOcMQeH6nqELN-351AdSE1cC4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JQHO44EFTVANPACBPLSFYUAVOQ.jpg)
Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd's death
Jury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS โ Jury selection begins Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. City, county and state officials are preparing for any sort of reaction that trial testimony or a verdict might elicit. AdTHE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. AdPROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case.
![Takeaways: What hearings have revealed about Jan. 6 failures](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/Aw7UcLwCHUxgmf61oo4LGLcovbI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SLESAS44OFD5DENBERAU464MOU.jpg)
Takeaways: What hearings have revealed about Jan. 6 failures
Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON โ Many questions remain unanswered about the failure to prevent the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol Police also did its own intelligence assessment warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. Four House committees are probing what went wrong with that data collection, including the House intelligence committee. โI donโt want our committeeโs examination to be about Trump or about Jan. 6,โ Warner, D-Va., said in an interview. Thousands of National Guard troops still guard the Capitol, which is now surrounded by fencing and barbed wire and closed off to the public.
![Watch: National security officials to testify on mistakes in deadly Jan. 6 siege on US Capitol](https://media.ksat.com/theme/images/placeholder-16x9-ksat.png)
Watch: National security officials to testify on mistakes in deadly Jan. 6 siege on US Capitol
Guard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. Much of the focus at Wednesday's hearing was on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund pleaded with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. AdAccording to the Defense Department, Walker was called at 3 p.m. by Army officials, and was told to prepare Guard troops to deploy. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are investigating Jan. 6.
![Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breach](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/OTkCogfBtzQH53erhHLTw2OmeCc=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZQXDUHSRVZGEFGQYAVA455O7HY.jpg)
Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breach
Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Sund said he hadnโt seen an FBI field office report that warned of potential violence citing online posts about a โwar." Sund said he did see an intelligence report created within his own department warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. โSund and Irving disagreed on when the National Guard was called and on requests for the guard beforehand. A House subcommittee will examine damage to the Capitol on Wednesday and will hear testimony from current security officials, including Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman, on Thursday.
![Takeaways from Congress' first hearing on Capitol riot](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/lHvaHa0_IFUVIbKX7ZRx_fpMDaw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GZ33CLZBEVHPDBB2FXVCM2P6NQ.jpg)
Takeaways from Congress' first hearing on Capitol riot
Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund appears before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)WASHINGTON โ Security officials testifying at Congress' first hearing on the deadly siege of the Capitol cast blame and pointed fingers on Tuesday but also acknowledged they were woefully unprepared for the violence. The security officials lost their jobs, and Trump was impeached by the House on a charge of inciting the insurrection, the deadliest attack on Congress in 200 years. But then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testified that he only learned about it the day before Tuesday's hearing. But in closing, Klobuchar restated the testimony: โThere was clear agreement this was a planned insurrection.โONE OFFICER'S PERSONAL STORYThe hearing opened with Capitol Police Capt.
![Capitol defenders blame bad intelligence for deadly breach](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/-GrqjBaxvqZDwE3FWpQxVP-khjU=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-23-2021/t_f2c4d53ebbcc4fdf804a73bc4ade51d5_name_Screen_Shot_2021_02_23_at_8_04_00_AM.png)
Capitol defenders blame bad intelligence for deadly breach
Fencing and National Guard troops still surround the Capitol in a wide perimeter, cutting off streets and sidewalks that are normally full of cars, pedestrians and tourists. Like Sund, Irving and Stenger resigned under pressure after the deadly attack. And how could the Capitol Police have been so ill-prepared for a violent insurrection that was organized online? Sund said he did see an intelligence report created within his own department warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. โWe all agreed the intelligence did not support the troops and collectively decided to let it go,โ Stenger said.
![Impeachment over, Congress shifts focus to security failures](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/LZbS_pohOX1zSam5a7i1EY5CrHM=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NRRPOWQYUBFURAFFZDTW6EILAU.jpg)
Impeachment over, Congress shifts focus to security failures
Two Senate committees have summoned top security officials to testify, the beginning of a comprehensive look at what went wrong. In her letter to Democratic colleagues, Pelosi said the House will also put forth supplemental spending to boost security at the Capitol. The hearing will begin a broad examination of the security failures that led to the breach. The security breakdown on Jan. 6, as the House and Senate met for a joint session to count electoral votes, was severe. With the diminished security presence, the rioters not only breached the Capitol but entered the Senate chamber minutes after senators had fled.
![Trial highlights: Trump grievances, angry outbursts and more](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/-uSmgAJyZ2go2pC-EMxHYjoKZIM=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IZPRRQR6C5CTFCYITEIX3ON4C4.jpg)
Trial highlights: Trump grievances, angry outbursts and more
"The Senate cannot ignore the First Amendment," said van der Veen. In a letter signed last week they wrote that โthe First Amendment does not apply in impeachment proceedings, so it cannot provide a defense for President Trump." van der Veen bristled and inquired who had asked. Sanders responded, โI did.โ van der Veen retorted: โirrelevant.โโNo, it isnt!โ Sanders angrily shot back from his desk, adding: โYou represent the president of the United States!โHe scoffed audibly when van der Veen avoided answering the question. โThis is not whataboutism," said Michael van der Veen.
![Democrats make federal election standards a top priority](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/3LfFiOoAVxGIkCn43AQPbnrE10Y=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7QCQG5IC6FDDTG23STADLHKNOE.jpg)
Democrats make federal election standards a top priority
Democrats plan to move quickly on one of the first bills of the new Congress, which would set federal election standards. Advocates say the bill is the most consequential piece of voting legislation since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. House Democrats vowed two years ago to make the bill a priority, and they reintroduced it this month as H.R. That bill would restore a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that had triggered federal scrutiny of election changes in certain states and counties. In general, state election officials have been wary of federal voting requirements.
![For a splintered nation, a delicate moment of continuity](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/7sdaRec141qlSP7VL0cZLuaycto=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2MNWHI7DIZGTTOCXIEAR4C52GQ.jpg)
For a splintered nation, a delicate moment of continuity
When it gazes into the mirror, the United States does not generally see a land of process and procedure. The bold, splashy storylines that Americans crave, and have used to construct their nation, don't always play well with repetition and routine. That's where process, procedure and ritual come in. And that for every deafening moment that lurches the nation forward, there are countless procedural ones that inch it along. For one moment, whatever kind of American you are, whatever youโre upset about and however you voted, this land was incontrovertibly your land.
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Clyburn: Bush called him a 'savior' for boosting Biden
House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina, and former President George Bush, take a selfie before the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)COLUMBIA, S.C. โ As they witnessed President Joe Biden take the oath of office on Wednesday, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said former Republican President George W. Bush lauded him as a โsaviorโ for helping get Biden elected. The South Carolina Democrat is largely credited with giving Biden the endorsement he needed to shoot to the top of 2020โฒs large Democratic field and win his party's nomination. Clyburn, South Carolinaโs only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the stateโs Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House. Clyburn said that his backing of Biden also came up Wednesday during conversations with former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the party's 2016 nominee.
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Biden faces challenge in guiding America past Trump era
When Biden takes office later this month, his biggest challenge may be navigating a deeply divided country past the turmoil of the Trump era. Biden essentially framed his presidential campaign as a response to Trump, pledging to โrestore the soulโ of America. He has said he decided to seek the White House after watching Trump say there were โvery fine people on both sidesโ of a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. โBiden has to be very conscious of dealing with President Trump," Updegrove continued. But the senator said the inauguration itself may offer the most important opportunity for Biden to set a forward-looking tone.
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Capitol siege raises security concerns for Biden inaugural
Similar structures have previously been used around the White House and in other cities that faced prolonged demonstrations. A Trump rally in front of the White House on Wednesday helped rile up the mob that later stormed the Capitol. Viewing stands built to hold crowds of onlookers in front of the White House were recently dismantled. The inaugural committee has announced that Biden would receive an official escort, with representatives from every military branch, for a block before arriving at the White House from the Capitol. Trump may not invite Biden to the White House while forgoing the inauguration, which Bendat said would amount to โan assault on our Democracyโ akin to Wednesday's unrest.
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The day my 'second home,' the Capitol, was overtaken by mob
This was a big day, especially for the House and Senate leadership lane, one of my specialties. Smith Goes to Washingtonโ you've seen my work area since a press gallery scene from the movie was filmed there more than 70 years ago. (The Senate chamber, however, was a soundstage). The mob was out of the building by then and, strangely, it almost seemed boring, waiting for the Capitol to be declared safe. The Daily Press Gallery where I work had not been breached.
![A moment in America, unimaginable but perhaps inevitable](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/0H-UpOoPC3h1evXd1PZNUVa0V5M=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QABETPEYNBDCVBLJBYB44YT2BU.jpg)
A moment in America, unimaginable but perhaps inevitable
But there it was, in the capital city of the United States in early January 2021: a real-time breaking and entering the likes of which the republic has never seen. The stars and stripes โ soaring over public property โ was lowered, then replaced as a blue Trump flag ascended. โThis,โ Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said, "is an absolute disgrace." The United States on Wednesday seemed at risk of becoming the very kind of country it has so often insisted it was helping: a fragile democracy. โThis temple to democracyโ was what Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called the Capitol building after things calmed down.
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Congress reconvenes, confirms Bidenโs electoral win
Together, the protests and the GOP election objections amounted to an almost unthinkable challenge to American democracy and exposed the depths of the divisions that have coursed through the country during Trumpโs four years in office. Congress reconvened in the evening, lawmakers decrying the protests that defaced the Capitol and vowing to finish confirming the Electoral College vote for Bidenโs election, even if it took all night. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress would show the world โwhat America is made of" with the outcome. Tensions were already running high when lawmakers gathered early Wednesday afternoon for the constitutionally mandated counting of the Electoral College results, in which Biden defeated Trump, 306-232. Some House lawmakers tweeted they were sheltering in place in their offices.
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Myon Burrell enjoys 1st days of freedom after prison release
Myon Burrell is photographed at his home in Minneapolis, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, two days after his release from prison. โฆ Every step that I took, it was just like bricks, just bricks and bricks and bricks, just being removed from my shoulders,โ said Burrell, now 34, in his first interview from home. Burrell now has a job lined up, along with a wife and supportive family ready to help with his transition to freedom. With no idea how to navigate the criminal justice system, he said, many were easily convinced by defense attorneys to sign plea deals even when they werenโt guilty. โWe need to make compassion and redemption part of our criminal justice system.โBurrellโs sentence was commuted to 20 years, but he was not pardoned.
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Stay away: Thumbs down on inauguration crowds for Biden
That's the message from the congressional committee organizing inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Despite this weekโs rollout of the new vaccine, its availability to the general public is still months away. Biden's own inaugural committee, which works with the congressional committee, had already asked supporters to stay away from Washington and plan safe inaugural celebrations at home. Features of that convention, such as the virtual roll call from every state, may be incorporated into a virtual inauguration experience. Blunt said planners were developing "enhanced opportunities to watch the ceremonies online, in addition to the traditional televised national broadcast.โ
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Minnesota juvenile lifer walks free after 18 years in prison
Just hours after receiving the news, he walked out the front door of Stillwater prison into below-freezing temperatures. The AP investigation that followed sparked national outrage and gave Burrellโs family and community organizers the ammunition they needed to get Klobucharโs attention. One had his 16-year prison sentence cut to three. He said the justice system failed his family, and media coverage and support for Burrellโs release overshadowed his sisterโs death. Edwards III, Tyeshaโs brother, said news of Burrellโs release is especially hard after the death of his mother last year.
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The Latest: Biden says he plans to name Austin defense chief
WASHINGTON โ The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):4:20 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden is confirming that he will nominate retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to be secretary of defense. And he wrote that Austin knows that the secretary of defense has a different set of responsibilities than a military officer. ___HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN'S TRANSITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE:President-elect Joe Biden will nominate retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin to be secretary of defense, according to four people familiar with the decision. Those pledges came even as Biden struck a somber tone about the toll the coronavirus has already taken. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is being prevented from publicly announcing its plans for President-elect Joe Bidenโs inauguration on Jan. 20.
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Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, poised to break stereotypes
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and her husband Doug Emhoff take the stage during a drive-in get out the vote rally, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in Philadelphia. Doug Emhoff, the 56-year-old husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, will leave his private law practice by Inauguration Day to focus on his role at the White House, a spokesperson said Tuesday. While Emhoff built a career as a high-profile entertainment lawyer in Southern California, he's been most visible to voters as Harris' supportive husband. When Harris began her term in the U.S. Senate in 2017, Emhoff moved to DLA Piper, which had a presence in Washington and Los Angeles, where Harris and Emhoff split their time. John Bessler, the husband of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is also a lawyer, called Emhoff a โmodern man" for dedicating time to Harris' political career over his own.
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McConnell, Schumer to lead, but Senate majority uncertain
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., won another term as Republican leader, his office said, cementing his role as the longest-serving GOP leader in U.S. history. But itโs still to be determined whether McConnell will retain his role as majority leader or cede it to Schumer as the final races for the U.S. Senate play out. Republicans brushed back Democratic challengers in several states, but failed to lock down the seats needed to retain their majority. The math has become more challenging for McConnell because the vice president of the party holding the White House casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. A Democratic majority in the Senate, the party that also controls the House would give the party a firm grasp on power in Washington.
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GOP pushes Barrettโs nomination ahead, Dems decry โshamโ
A former Notre Dame Law School professor, Barrett would be the only one of her Supreme Court colleagues not groomed in the Ivy League. But Barrett is the most open opponent of abortion nominated to the Supreme Court in decades. She refused to say whether the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights was correctly decided, though she has signed two ads against it. Others testifying Thursday included Laura Wolk, the first blind woman to be a law clerk for the Supreme Court, who told senators that Barrettโs encouragement and support were life-changing. โHer brilliance is matched only by her compassion,โ said Wolk, who also spent a year as a law clerk for Barrett.
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Barrett faces senators on health care, legal precedent
โI think Amyโs doing incredibly well,โ he said at the White House departing for a campaign rally. Allowing Trump to fill the seat with Barrett โposes a threat to safe and legal abortion in our country," Harris said. Democrats warn that she would be a vote to undo the law and strip health coverage from millions of Americans. "I'm not hostile to the ACA,โ Barrett told the senators. โYou would not be getting Justice Scalia, you would be getting Justice Barrett,โ she declared.