National News

FCC votes to set up 3-digit suicide hotline number like 911 Federal regulators are setting up a new three-digit number to reach a suicide prevention hotline in order to make it easier to seek help and reduce the stigma a... by MAE ANDERSON AP Technology Writer - December 12, 2019

Pentagon watchdog investigating $400M border wall contract The Defense Department's internal watchdog is investigating a $400 million border wall contract awarded to a firm that used multiple appearances on Fox News to ... by COLLEEN LONG Associated Press - December 12, 2019

WATCH LIVE: Judiciary panel moves steadily toward Trump impeachment vote The House Judiciary Committee argued through a marathon session Thursday ahead of voting to send impeachment charges against President Donald Trump to the full ... by The Associated Press - December 12, 2019

10 ex-NFL players charged with defrauding healthcare program Ten former NFL players were charged in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud the league's health care benefit program by submitting false claims for medical e... by MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press - December 12, 2019

'Widow's tax' provision in bill OK'd by House The National Defense Authorization Act, which passed in the House of Representatives 377-48 Wednesday, contains good news for thousands of military widows in Ar... by Lisa Hammersly, Frank E. Lockwood - December 12, 2019

Arizona official in human smuggling case seeks to keep seat An Arizona elected official accused of paying women from a poor Pacific island nation to give their babies up for adoption in the United States made an appeal W... by The Associated Press - December 12, 2019

Hearing starts on articles to impeach The House Judiciary Committee took the first steps Wednesday evening toward voting on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, beginning a marath... by Democrat-Gazette staff and wire reports - December 12, 2019

Hunter Biden financial details sought in Arkansas paternity suit Hunter Biden, who faces a paternity suit in Independence County, has been sent a notice of deposition by an attorney for the baby's mother, Lunden Alexis Robert... by Frank E. Lockwood - December 12, 2019

Parties lock horns over report; FBI probe legitimate but flawed, Horowitz says The Justice Department's internal watchdog was caught in a political tug of war Wednesday as Republican and Democratic senators used his report on the origins o... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 12, 2019

Federal judge halts Arkansas law on plant-based food labeling Enforcement of a state agricultural law alternately described as a "truth in labeling" law and a "censorship law" was banned Wednesday by a federal judge in Lit... by Linda Satter - December 12, 2019

Fed leaves rates at current level; economy on track, growth likely to persist, Powell says The Federal Reserve hit the pause button Wednesday, deciding to leave interest rates unchanged for now and signaling no plans to cut them in 2020. President Don... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 12, 2019

Teen activist Time Person of Year Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg said she was surprised and honored Wednesday to be named Time's youngest Person of the Year, while adding that others in... by FRANK JORDANS The Associated Press - December 12, 2019

Weinstein, accusers reach tentative deal After two years of legal wrangling, Harvey Weinstein and the board of his bankrupt film studio have reached a tentative $25 million settlement agreement with do... by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor The New York Times - December 12, 2019

Military funds not to be used for wall, second judge says A second federal judge barred President Donald Trump from using military construction funds for his Mexico border wall, with a U.S. court ruling Wednesday in Oa... by Peter Blumberg Bloomberg News - December 12, 2019

Federal payments drive up deficit The U.S. budget deficit rose by nearly 2% last month to $208.8 billion, another step in the federal government's journey toward $1 trillion-a-year budget shortf... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 12, 2019