The 30-year mortgage rate reached its highest mark in more than a year Thursday, portending lower purchasing power for prospective homebuyers. The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.71 percent this week, up from 6.66 percent a week ago, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. That is the highest point for the 30-year rate since the week...
The Forest Service is closing 23 research sites that it described as having few to no staffers as part of a broader reorganization, it announced Thursday. Earlier this year, the agency that manages the nation’s national forests said it would shutter the facilities after reviewing a total of 64 of them. It said that the...
The Missouri Supreme Court dealt a blow to President Trump and Republicans Thursday, ruling the GOP could not issue a new map aimed at giving the party an additional seat in the House until the congressional lines are approved by voters in November. The decision is a setback for Republicans, who had sought to quickly...
The jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial was sent home again Thursday afternoon after her defense attorney blamed one "spurned" juror for causing deliberations to extend into Friday, which would be their seventh consecutive day. Jurors appear to be split 11-1 and will return to court Friday morning for another day of discussions, seeking to...
In today's issue: ▪ What to make of the polls ▪ Hegseth under rising scrutiny ▪ Google catches a break ▪ Schwartz’s first test as CDC director Most election observers seem to agree that about eight states are in play to decide control of the Senate this November. But looking at some recent polls, one might think solidly red...
This week’s stunning defection by two centrist Democrats has posed a dilemma for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) — now caught between liberals calling for scalps and others in the party urging restraint ahead of the midterms. From the left, Jeffries is facing pressure to punish fellow Democratic Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Marie...
Democratic state auditor Rob Sand is leading Republican businessman Zach Lahn in the tense Iowa governor’s race, new polling shows, while Democrat Josh Turek trails Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson in the wide-open Senate race. A new Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media Iowa survey found Sand with 49 percent of voters in the gubernatorial race, compared to...
Republicans are cautiously approaching the party’s midterm convention next week as President Trump spirals in polls, with some candidates and lawmakers deciding to skip the gathering all together. The dynamic underscores how worried Republicans are about Trump’s own brand ahead of midterm elections in which the party is in danger of losing the House...
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is on a collision course with GOP senators as key lawmakers have major concerns about the turnover of senior staff, the lack of a clear plan for ending the Iran war, and the failure of the administration to reach out to Democrats to build support for funding priorities. Hegseth has...
Four Democratic senators sent a letter Wednesday to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, calling for her to share details on how her department used $1 billion in funding intended for student loan administration. The letter, authored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), questions why the Education...
Pennsylvania health officials last week announced two unvaccinated people died from measles-associated conditions, including an infant. But the announcement was just the beginning of a growing political controversy that’s pitting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) against the state’s health department. The agency is publicly questioning Pennsylvania’s findings and has not yet counted the...
