President Trump says U.S. operation killed al-Qaida leader in Yemen

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. at his direction has conducted a counter-terrorism operation in Yemen that killed Qassim al-Rimi, an al-Qaida leader who claimed responsibility for last year's deadly shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola, where a Saudi aviation trainee killed three American sailors.Al-Rimi is a founder of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Pelosi defends speech-ripping as protesting 'falsehoods'

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday defended her speech-ripping performance after President Donald Trump's State of the Union address and took fresh aim at his fitness for office even as he celebrated his impeachment acquittal.“That was not a State of the Union,” Pelosi said. “That was his state of mind.”Pelsoi said she felt "very vindicated'' by her shredding of a paper copy of President Trump's speech, an action that incensed Republicans and led to a GOP-sponsored resolution of disapproval.“The conduct of Speaker Pelosi was a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House,” the resolution read.

After acquittal, President Trump unleashes fury at impeachment

WASHINGTON — Exulting in his impeachment acquittal, a defiant President Donald Trump took a scorched-earth victory lap Thursday, unleashing his fury against those who tried to remove him from office and pointing ahead to his reelection campaign.President Trump, triumphantly waving a newspaper front page — “ACQUITTED” — declared the impeachment proceedings a “disgrace” and portrayed himself as a victim of political foes he labeled "scum," “sleaze bags” and “horrible” people.

FBI director warns of ongoing Russian 'information warfare'

WASHINGTON — FBI Director Chris Wray said Wednesday that Russia is engaged in “information warfare” heading into the 2020 presidential election, though he said law enforcement has not seen ongoing efforts by Russia to target America's election infrastructure.Wray told the House Judiciary Committee that Russia, just as it did in 2016, is relying on a covert social media campaign aimed at dividing American public opinion and sowing discord.

Serviceman surprises wife and children during State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCMH) — During President Trump's State of the Union address, he took a moment to recognize a North Carolina mother whose husband deployed to Afghanistan.Amy Williams, who lives in Fort Bragg, has a 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son."War places a heavy burden on our nation's extraordinary military families," Trump said. "Amy works full time and volunteers countless hours helping other military families."Her husband, Sgt.

Senate so far split neatly along party lines on impeachment

WASHINGTON — The Senate is so far cleaving neatly along party lines in advance of Wednesday's virtually certain votes to acquit President Donald Trump on two impeachment charges, with just two or three undecided members even considering breaking with their party.A leading GOP moderate, Susan Collins of Maine, announced she will vote to acquit President Trump, leaving Utah Sen.

Army veteran, Border Patrol deputy among President Trump’s guests for State of the Union

WASHINGTON  ─ For U.S. Army veteran Tony Rankins, it was hard to put into words what it would mean to be a gust of President Donald Trump at the State of the Union address Tuesday night, Feb. 4.“It’s unbelievable, from sleeping on the streets to being here at the White House,” Rankins said.Rankins said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but overcame homelessness and addiction with the help of a job, which was made possible by President Trump’s Opportunity Zones program.“Without that, I would’ve never gotten a job,” Rankins said. “…it means a lot to my family because I’ve brought so much shame to them, but now, maybe they’ll see if we are all right.”Border Patrol Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz, another of President Trump’s guests said he recognizes the importance of securing the nation’s southern border.“He also recognizes that there’s a border security issue and national security issue that we must deal with,” Ortiz said of President Trump. “Understand that we have a humanitarian crisis.”Jody Jones’ brother was murdered by an illegal immigrant back in 2018.

President Trump's State of the Union speech to project optimism at time of bitter division

WASHINGTON — Standing before lawmakers in the grand-domed Capitol where his impeachment trial is still underway, President Donald Trump on Tuesday night will declare the state of the union strong, even when it is bitterly divided as he asks Americans for a second term.After becoming just the third president in U.S. history to be impeached, President Trump will try to move forward, aides say, offering an optimistic message that stresses economic growth in his annual address before Congress.But the impeachment drama will hang over him as he stands before the very lawmakers who have voted to remove him from office — and those who are expected to acquit him Wednesday when the Senate trial comes to a close.

Poor start: Leadoff Iowa Democratic caucus results delayed

DES MOINES --  The Iowa Democratic Party said Monday night, Feb. 3 that results from the state’s first-in-the-nation caucus were indefinitely delayed due to “quality checks” and “inconsistencies” in some reporting, an embarrassing complication that added a new layer of doubt to an already uncertain presidential primary season.The party said the problem was not a result of a “hack or an intrusion.”The statement came after Iowa voters packed caucus sites across the state with at least four leading candidates battling to win the opening contest of the 2020 campaign, and ultimately, the opportunity to take on President Donald Trump this fall.Monday's confusion allowed every candidate to claim momentum, though no results were announced by the state party as Monday night was about to turn to Tuesday.“It looks like it’s going to be a long night, but we’re feeling good," former Vice President Joe Biden said, suggesting the final results would “be close.” “We’re in this for the long haul.”Vermont Sen.

Annual White House Easter Egg Roll scheduled for April 13

WASHINGTON — The annual White House Easter Egg Roll is set for April 13.First lady Melania Trump announced the date for the time-honored tradition on Monday.Tickets are free and are available through an online lottery scheduled to open Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. CST and close Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. CST.

In battleground Wisconsin, GOP opens 1st Milwaukee office

MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin Republican Party this week will open its first-ever office in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, one of the clearest signs yet of the party's push to cut into Democrats' advantage among minority voters and the latest indication of how hard-fought every vote will be in the battleground state.The office, which opens Thursday, will serve as the base for the party's minority outreach coordinator and serve as a hub for Republican events, campaign organizing and efforts to connect with black and Hispanic people in Milwaukee, party leaders told The Associated Press.“We want to be a part of the community,” Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt told the AP. “We want to make sure they know there is a choice."Both major parties have stressed the importance of reaching every possible voter in the swing state.

President Trump to tout U.S. 'comeback' at State of the Union speech

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will use next week’s State of the Union to promote what he calls the “Great American comeback,” according to a senior administration official.The speech comes at a moment when President Trump is hoping to put his Senate impeachment trial behind him.

President Trump acquittal now likely Wednesday; Senate nixes witnesses

WASHINGTON — The Senate narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial late Friday, all but ensuring President Trump's acquittal in just the third trial to threaten a president's removal in U.S. history.

Police open fire at 'impaired' driver in Mar-a-Lago breach

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Law enforcement agents opened fire on an SUV driver who smashed through two security checkpoints at Mar-a-Lago on Friday in what authorities described as the actions of “an obviously impaired" driver but not an intentional attack on President Donald Trump's resort.The driver, Hannah Roemhild, 30, of Connecticut, who identifies herself on her Facebook page as an opera singer, was later arrested at a nearby motel.