Pres. Trump tweets, stays out of sight for hours after shootings

BRIDGEWATER, N.J.  — As the nation reeled from two mass shootings in less than a day, President Donald Trump spent the first hours after the tragedies out of sight at his New Jersey golf course, sending out tweets of support awkwardly mixed in with those promoting a celebrity fight and attacking his political foes.Americans did not glimpse the Republican president in the immediate aftermath of a shooting in El Paso, Texas, that killed at least 20 people and, hours later, one in Dayton, Ohio, that claimed at least nine lives.

'Enough is enough:' 2020 Dems back gun limits after El Paso mass shooting

LAS VEGAS  — Democratic presidential candidates expressed outrage Saturday that mass shootings have become chillingly common nationwide and blamed the National Rifle Association and its congressional allies after a gunman opened fire at a shopping area near the Texas-Mexico border."It's not just today, it has happened several times this week.

US is thought to have added a solid 163,000 jobs in July

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers are thought to have sustained a steady pace of hiring in July, a reassuring sign for an economy that's endured a series of ups and downs.Economists have forecast that the government will report that 163,000 jobs were added in July, according to data provider FactSet.

President Trump to visit Poland for World War II anniversary Sept 1

WARSAW, Poland — President Donald Trump will visit Warsaw from Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 to take part in observances marking the 80th anniversary of World War II, aides to Poland's president said Tuesday.It would be President Trump's second visit to Poland since July 2017.

'True American warriors:' President Trump signs Sept. 11 victims' compensation fund extension

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday signed a bill ensuring that a victims' compensation fund related to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks never runs out of money, ending years of legislative gridlock as the number of first responders dying of Ground Zero-related illnesses mounted.Appearing in the Rose Garden with more than 60 first responders from the 2001 terrorist attacks, President Trump signed into law an extension of the fund through 2092, essentially making it permanent."You inspire all of humanity," President Trump said of the "true American warriors" who rushed to assist victims that day and searched for remains for months after.The president said that the nation has a "sacred obligation" to care for the responders and their families.

New video from Iran shows Guard warning away UK warship

TEHRAN, Iran — In new video released Monday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer is heard telling a British warship not to interfere or put their "life in danger" as the paramilitary force, using speedboats and a helicopter, seized a U.K.-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.The video includes a shot apparently filmed on the day of the July 19 incident from above the British warship Foxtrot 236 that was in the vicinity of the U.K.-flagged Stena Impero, showing the British navy unable to prevent Iran's seizure of the ship in the critical waterway.

Despite calls to start over, US health system covers 90%

WASHINGTON — America's much-maligned health care system is covering 9 out of 10 people, a fact that hasn't stopped the 2020 presidential candidates from refighting battles about how to provide coverage, from Bernie Sanders' call for replacing private insurance with a government plan to President Donald Trump's pledge to erase the Affordable Care Act and start over.The politicians are depicting a system in meltdown.

Supreme Court clears way for Trump admin to use Defense funds for border wall construction

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Friday cleared the way for the Trump administration to use $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense to construct parts of a wall along the southwestern border that the government argues is necessary to protect national security.The decision allows the Defense Department money to be spent now while a court battle plays out over whether the government had the authority to divert funds that were not appropriated for the wall.

House passes bipartisan budget and debt deal

WASHINGTON -- A hard-won, bipartisan budget and debt compromise between President Donald Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has easily passed the Democratic-controlled House.The bill would head off another government shutdown, permit the Treasury to borrow freely to pay the government's bills, and lock in place recent budget gains for the Pentagon and domestic agencies.It's a must-do measure that represents a relatively rare moment of detente in President Trump's Washington.The legislation would take care of the two biggest items on Washington's essential agenda.

House Republicans promise tough questions for Mueller at hearing

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are pledging tough questioning of special counsel Robert Mueller when he testifies before Congress this week as Democrats plan to air evidence of wrongdoing by President Donald Trump in a potentially last-ditch bid to impeach him.Rep.

ESPN reasserts political talk policy after attack on Pres. Trump

NEW YORK — ESPN is making sure that its employees know there is not change in the network's policy to avoid talking about politics unless it intersects with sports after radio talk show host Dan Le Batard criticized President Donald Trump and his recent racist comments and ESPN itself on the air this week.The reminder went out Friday to all employees, including Le Batard, according to an ESPN employee who spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about personnel matters.ESPN has not spoken publicly about Le Batard's comments, including whether he faces any disciplinary action.Reached on Saturday, Le Batard also declined comment.For ESPN, the episode raises comparisons to what happened following anti-Pres.