Senate talks continue over ending shutdown as Trump returns to D.C.

Senators at the Capitol continued to express cautious optimism about the state of conversations to end the shutdown on Thursday.  Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, told reporters he’s “seeing some movement,” noting that “there’s a lot of negotiating going on right now among members.” “I’ve seen more discussions. Some of the Democrats I’ve

Treasury sanctions alleged human smuggling network across 4 continents

Washington — The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sweeping sanctions on members of an alleged Mexico-based human smuggling network that it says trafficked people from four continents using yachts, hotels and cartel connections, a move officials say underscores the Trump administration’s intensifying strategy to treat migrant trafficking schemes as a direct threat to national security.  The

The quiet collapse of America’s reproductive health safety net

In late October, Maine Family Planning announced three rural clinics in northern Maine would close by month’s end. These primary care and reproductive health clinics served about 800 patients, many uninsured or on Medicaid.  “People don’t realize how much these clinics hold together the local health system until they’re gone,” George Hill, the group’s president