Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams After a decade since the launch of the Fight for $15 movement in New York City, a record number of U.S. states and communities are set to raise the minimum wage in the new year. From New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day, the minimum wage …

Jennifer Shutt, Florida Phoenix U.S. Senate passed a massive $1.7 trillion funding package Thursday that carries emergency aid for natural disaster recovery and the Ukrainian war effort, pushing past disputes over immigration policy and barely meeting a Friday deadline when current funding runs out. The bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, …

Julia Conley, Common Dreams The Biden administration is conducting a first-of-its-kind federal investigation into book banning by a school district, stepping up its response to nationwide right-wing attacks on LGBTQ+ people and the libraries and schools that seek to create a welcoming environment for the community. The Office for Civil …

The IRS failed to pursue mandatory audits of Donald Trump on a timely basis during his presidency, a congressional panel found on Tuesday, raising questions about statements by the former president and leading members of his administration who claimed he could not release his tax filings because of the ongoing …

by Ashley Murray, Iowa Capital Dispatch President Joe Biden declared Wednesday that Ukraine will “never stand alone” as he welcomed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an historic U.S. visit — a rare departure from Zelenskyy’s months-long fight to defend his country from deadly Russian shelling and targeting of civilian infrastructure. The …

Ashley Murray, Michigan Advance Any last hopes of resurrecting the expanded child tax credit as part of Congress’ massive spending package were dashed early Tuesday when the 4,155-page bill was released without a mention of the tax benefit. The temporary expanded child tax credit, part of a COVID-19 relief deal …

A federal investigation into former President Donald Trump appeared to enter a new phase this month, according to reporting Tuesday that the U.S. House panel probing the January 6 attack on the Capitol is “extensively cooperating” with Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed to lead Trump investigations. Punchbowl News reported …

Climate campaigners welcomed the U.S. Postal Service’s announcement Tuesday that it plans to buy at least 66,000 electric vehicles in the coming years to replace its aging, gas-guzzling fleet, a move that comes after months of pressure from environmental groups and the Biden White House. In a statement, the USPS—led …

Congress unveiled a $1.7 trillion spending package early Tuesday that would fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year, completing the annual process that began this spring when President Joe Biden sent lawmakers his budget request.  Biden’s chief budget official in a statement urged Congress to speedily …

by Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror A judge dismissed seven of nine counts in Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s lawsuit that challenges the outcome of her race, setting a high bar for what she’ll have to prove at trial to win the suit. The case is set for a two-day trial, …

The Biden administration on Monday released a plan that seeks to eventually eradicate homelessness in the United States, starting with a 25% reduction in the number of people suffering from a lack of reliable access to safe housing over the next two years. “My plan offers a roadmap for not …

By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday paused the scheduled lifting of an emergency health order the federal government has used for more than two years to quickly turn away migrants, including those seeking asylum, at the southwest border. The order comes after an …

Jacob Fischler, Missouri Independent The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in a historic vote agreed unanimously Monday to refer former President Donald Trump and others to the Justice Department for potential criminal charges, including inciting or aiding an insurrection. Trump associates, including attorneys …

Louisiana Illuminator, Florida Phoenix Attorneys general from 15 states want Apple and Google to increase their age ratings for the social media application TikTok. They have sent letters to the companies’ CEOs that say states have the right to pursue legal action if age ratings for the app aren’t changed. …

A federal judge on Friday sentenced an Iowa man to five years in prison for leading the mob that chased U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman on Jan. 6, 2021. Douglas Jensen, of Des Moines, was convicted by a jury in September of five felony and two misdemeanor counts, including …