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States, cities face deadline for proving how quickly they’ve helped renters in crisis
WASHINGTON – States, cities, and counties that excelled at distributing emergency federal aid to renters struggling during the pandemic may soon be rewarded – with yet more cash. Their new funding would be drawn from sluggish states and localities that didn’t move as swiftly to help people facing eviction and homelessness, who were targeted for […]
White House touts clean energy, transit, rail projects in sprawling infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON – Federal officials on Tuesday offered details about how money from the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill would be spent, emphasizing the pending law’s potential to add clean energy capacity. Department of Transportation officials highlighted the $1.2 trillion bill’s record funding for public transit like buses and subways, as well as for Amtrak. They […]
Federal vaccine rule for private businesses to kick in on Jan. 4
WASHINGTON – Many private employers beginning in January will have to ensure their workers either are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they will undergo weekly testing and wear a face covering, under a new federal rule announced Thursday by the White House. The policy from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is set to […]
COVID-19 vaccines for kids 5 to 11 get final endorsement by CDC
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on giving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to all kids ages 5 to 11, a final decision that means those children can begin receiving shots as soon as Wednesday. Vials of the pediatric version of the vaccine have already been shipped to states, so they […]
What’s in – and out – of Biden’s $1.75 trillion social spending and climate bill
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s sprawling social spending and climate package has been slimmed down into a still-massive $1.75 trillion plan that he and top congressional Democrats are attempting to wrestle through after months of negotiations. Snipped from that proposal are a number of key priorities for Democrats, including an attempt to create the first […]
FDA panel recommends OK for Pfizer’s vaccine for kids 5 to 11
WASHINGTON – A federal vaccine advisory panel on Tuesday recommended authorizing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, a decision that means as soon as next week everyone in the U.S. over age 5 is expected to be eligible for a shot. The vote by the Food & Drug Administration panel, with 17 […]
Feds OK ‘mix-and-match’ approach for COVID-19 booster shots
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given a green light to Americans who want to receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by a different company than the one that produced the initial shot they received. The announcement Wednesday on allowing “mix-and-match” shots from different manufacturers will give more flexibility […]
Kids age 5 to 11 next in line for COVID-19 vaccines as White House rolls out plans
WASHINGTON – Smaller needles. Redesigned shipments to ease the storage needs in pediatricians’ offices. And enough vials of the COVID-19 vaccine to inoculate the 28 million U.S. children between ages 5 and 11. Those are among the plans announced by the White House on Wednesday as federal and state officials prepare for a regulatory decision […]
Why there’s such an impasse in Congress: Some questions and answers
WASHINGTON – Congress may have kept the federal government operating with an 11th-hour flurry of votes on Thursday, but several key pieces of the Democratic agenda remain in limbo. Here are some questions and answers on where negotiations stand with two massive Democratic-drafted bills — and the status of other looming challenges for federal lawmakers: […]
Congress passes bill to prevent government shutdown, send out $28.6B in disaster aid
WASHINGTON – Congress made a last-minute dash to avert a government shutdown on Thursday, with the U.S. Senate and House approving a short-term spending bill just hours ahead of a midnight deadline. Every Democratic and independent senator and 15 Republicans supported the bill in the 65-35 vote. The GOP senators in the “aye” tally included […]
Senate GOP torpedoes U.S. government funding bill, raising odds of federal fiscal crises
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats on Monday evening to begin debate on a broad bill that would avert multiple looming fiscal crises for the federal government. The measure to briefly keep the government operating past the end of the fiscal year on Thursday, as well as to increase the borrowing […]
Who will get a booster shot? A Q&A about what the feds are saying
This story was updated on Sept. 24 at 8:30 a.m. with new information about booster shot recommendations. WASHINGTON – Booster shots soon will begin rolling out to some Americans who received the two-shot vaccine made by Pfizer – after a contentious and confusing federal approval process that isn’t over yet. Determining who exactly should be […]