Jacob Fischler, Virginia Mercury White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called on Congress on Thursday to strengthen gun safety laws in the wake of the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. Jean-Pierre opened Thursday’s press briefing with a statement on the shootings, saying President Joe Biden stepped out of a state dinner …

Ken Coleman, Michigan Advance The United Auto Workers on Monday reached a tentative contract agreement with General Motors on day 46 of the strike. The announcement follows previous UAW tentative pacts with the other Detroit Three automakers, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis, which were announced on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. …

Hugh Jackson Republican candidates for president have spent this year ignoring Nevada, the third state on the nominating calendar, but one of them made a splash in the state Saturday. More specifically, Mike Pence grabbed the headlines out of the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian, where …

A federal judge has reinstated a gag order on former President Donald Trump, lifting a temporary hold placed on it earlier this month. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order on Sunday evening, rejecting Trump’s request to set aside the limitations on his public statements while he appeals. Chutkan …

Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams On the heels of Maine officials confirming that the shooter who killed 18 people in Lewiston earlier this week was found dead, shootings in Florida, Illinois, and Indianapolis early Sunday fueled further calls for action by U.S. lawmakers to reduce gun violence. Around midnight, one person …

Jon King, Michigan Advance U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) has fired back against a censure resolution introduced by Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene, in remarks on the House floor Thursday. accused Tlaib, among other things, of “antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at …

AnnMarie Hilton, Maine Morning Star The 40-year-old Bowdoin man suspected of murdering 18 people in Lewiston was found dead Friday night after a two-day search. “I stand here tonight to simply report that Maine State Police have located the body of Robert Card,” said Gov. Janet Mills at a 10 …

Amanda Hernández, Stateline When Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his presidential campaign in May, he proudly told the nation that Florida’s crime rate in 2021 had reached a 50-year low. But really, DeSantis couldn’t say for sure. That’s because fewer than 1 in 10 law enforcement agencies in his …

Evan Popp, Stateline Following a mass shooting in Lewiston on Wednesday night in which 18 people were killed and 13 were wounded, proponents of gun policy reform pointed out that it remains far too easy to obtain a firearm in Maine and called for stricter safety laws. As Mainers grappled …

Jill Nolin, Georgia Recorder A federal court judge has struck down Georgia’s political maps and blocked the state from using the maps for future elections. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones issued his ruling Thursday after holding a nearly two-week trial last month. Jones concluded that the GOP-drawn maps violate …

Amanda Becker Originally published by The 19th Before the newly elected U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson was in public office, the Louisiana Republican’s restrictive stances on gender identity, abortion and sexuality were honed at the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, where he served as a senior spokesperson and …

Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix As fitting for a case of this magnitude, Florida’s First District Court of Appeal will put on a rare show during oral arguments in voting-rights groups’ challenge to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ congressional districting map — specifically, its elimination of a Black-opportunity district in North Florida. All …

  Former President Donald Trump faced a $10,000 fine on Wednesday and was summoned to the witness stand in his civil fraud trial after being accused of violating a gag order. This marks the second time within a week that Trump has been penalized for his out-of-court comments. The judge, …

Jacob Fischler, Louisiana Illuminator Before a relatively short time in elected office, new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana was a constitutional lawyer deeply involved in religious causes. Prior to a short stint in the Louisiana Legislature, Johnson spent two decades as a public interest lawyer mainly representing clients …

House Republicans on Wednesday voted for Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker in a chamber that has been frozen for more than three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted. In a 220-209 party-line vote, all Republicans present backed Johnson, 51, a strongly conservative lawyer who represents northwest Louisiana’s 4th …