A Georgia woman who mailed a secret U.S. report to a news organization faces the “longest sentence” ever behind bars for a federal crime involving leaks to the news media, prosecutors said in a court filing. Former National Security Agency ...
Read More »Average US mortgage rates fall; 30-year at 4.53 percent
Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week for the second straight week, with relatively lower rates continuing to fail to spark home sales. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages dipped to 4.53 percent ...
Read More »July housing starts up a slight 0.9 percent as tariffs bite
U.S. housing starts ticked up just 0.9 percent in July, a sign that higher construction costs might be weighing on homebuilders. The Commerce Department said Thursday that housing starts last month rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 ...
Read More »Moderates are key to defeating Kobach in Kansas
With Kris Kobach as the Republican nominee for governor, Kansas Democrats may have the candidate they want. Kobach, who serves as secretary of state, has earned a national reputation for his tough views on illegal immigration, his push for voting ...
Read More »Teacher candidacies surge in wake of spring walkouts
The spring of teacher uprisings gave way to summer, however, recent months have been anything but lazy days for educators continuing the fight through their own election campaigns. Hundreds of teachers are running for office in November elections, campaigning primarily ...
Read More »Baker who refused to make cake for gays sues again
A Colorado baker who insisted his religious beliefs justified his refusal to make a wedding cake for a gay couple — an argument partly supported by the U.S. Supreme Court — has sued the state again for opposing his refusal ...
Read More »Survivor of duck boat sinking urges ban on such crafts
An Indiana woman whose husband and three children died when a duck boat sank last month in Missouri says that she hopes to save lives by backing an effort to ban the amphibious tourist boats. Tia Coleman, speaking through tears ...
Read More »Black Americans aren’t buying Omarosa’s turn against Trump
For years, Omarosa Manigault Newman stood at Donald Trump’s side, making her deeply unpopular with African-Americans who see her as a sellout for aligning herself with a president who has hurled one insult after another at black people. Her falling ...
Read More »Dems pick ‘firsts,’ GOP goes for Trump fave in primaries
In a night of firsts, Democrats in Vermont’s primary chose the nation’s first transgender gubernatorial nominee. In Minnesota, they picked a woman who would be the first Somali-American member of Congress. Connecticut Democrats nominated a candidate who could become the ...
Read More »US productivity grew at strong 2.9 percent rate in Q2
U.S. productivity grew at an annual rate of 2.9 percent in the second quarter, the fastest pace in more than three years, while labor costs actually fell. The April-June increase in productivity followed a much weaker 0.3 percent rate of ...
Read More »US retail sales rose at robust 0.5 pct. annual rate in July
Americans shopped at a healthy pace in July, buying more cars, clothes and appliances, evidence that confident consumers are helping drive robust economic growth. Retail sales rose at a 0.5 percent annual rate in July, after a 0.2 percent increase ...
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