President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated his confrontation with the Federal Reserve.

Former President Donald Trump may be a lot of things, but I think everyone can agree that he is someone who doesn’t follow the rules.

Virginia falls in overtime 73-65 to NC State in ACC Tournament Semifinal

Transgender advocate Rose Montoya is no longer welcome at White House events after posting on social media a video of herself and two others going topless for a time at Saturday’s Pride Month event on the South Lawn.

A jury has heard testimony about Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's private communications with a police officer who provided him with internal information about law enforcement operations in the weeks before members of Tarrio's far-right extremist group stormed the U.S. Capitol.

One year ago, I had the great honor of signing legislation to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday—the first new federal holiday since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day nearly four decades ago. Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation and a promise of a brighter morning to come. It is a day of profound weight and power that reminds us of our extraordinary capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our most painful moments into a better version of ourselves. Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments. They confront them to grow stronger. And that is what this great nation must continue to do.

Four years after actor Mr. T fell in love with curling, he's back and sharing his excitement for watching the sport again at the 2022 Games.

The year 2021 shared some similarities with 2020 -- one that was difficult for the whole world.

A legendary news pioneer will be honored on a new stamp next year.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m., President Biden discussed COVID restrictions for the upcoming summer.

On Monday the Oklahoma City Thunder signed former Virginia Tech Hokies guard, Justin Robinson, to a 10-Day contract.

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden delivered remarks about the American Rescue Plan Friday afternoon. This speech came two days after the House passed his $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan. Biden spoke at 2:30 p.m. from the White House Rose Garden.

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to the White House residence after exiting Marine One upon his return on January 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)WASHINGTON – Senators in Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial have agreed to consider the case, rejecting an attempt by the former president’s defense team and some Republican allies to halt the trial because he is no longer in office. The vote was 56-44 on Tuesday on the question of whether the Senate has jurisdiction and could proceed. Trump is facing a charge of incitement of insurrection for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The trial is scheduled to continue on Wednesday at noon.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announces the co-founding of The Climate Pledge at the National Press Club on September 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. Rather than be CEO, Jeff Bezos will transition to the role of executive chair later this year. Andy Jassy, the chief executive of Amazon Web Services, will take Bezos’ role as CEO. When you look at our financial results, what you’re actually seeing are the long-run cumulative results of invention. Right now I see Amazon at its most inventive ever, making it an optimal time for this transition.”

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about his racial equity agenda in the State Dining Room of the White House on January 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)(2021 Getty Images)

Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson along with acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Tim Blodgett, lead the Democratic House impeachment managers as they walk through Statuary Hall in the Capitol, to deliver to the Senate the article of impeachment alleging incitement of insurrection against former President Donald Trump, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)On Monday evening, another step in the second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump happened. At about 6:55 p.m., impeachment managers, led by the House Clerk and the Acting House Sergeant at Arms, held a procession ceremony through National Statuary Hall and the Capitol Rotunda to the Senate to present the article of impeachment to the Secretary of the Senate. During that time, Congressman Jamie Raskin, the lead manager, read the article of impeachment on the Senate Floor.

President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. We saw many recognizable faces Wednesday at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but there were many people -- some quite notable -- who were not in attendance. President Donald Trump: He announced on Twitter ahead of the inauguration that he would not be attending, and he stuck to his word. He’s the first outgoing president who chose not to attend the ceremony since President Andrew Johnson’s refusal in 1869. Sen. Marco Rubio: Rubio conveyed he would be hard at work instead.

President Joe Biden reacts as he delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today's inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. As President-elect Biden reaches the summit of his political career today at noon, President Trump will have already descended into Florida, making him the first president in over 150 years to not attend his successors swearing-in. [Joe Biden sworn in, becoming United States’ 46th president]In his address, Biden will issue a call for national unity in the face of enormous challenges, including a ghastly pandemic and deep political and social divisions that helped fuel both the deadly Capitol insurrection and unprecedented security surrounding the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies. [Kamala Harris sworn in as U.S. first female vice president]

RONAOKE, Va. – After photos of members of the National Guard sleeping in the Capitol went viral, the community responded with the desire to send care packages. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 4 Hundreds of National Guard troops hold inside the Capitol Visitor's Center to reinforce security at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Scott Applewhite)However, the Virginia National Guard Chief of Public Affairs Cotton Puryear said while they appreciate the donations, they “are not logistically able to accept donations of any kind.”Puryear wants to reassure the community that all 2,000 guard members are receiving proper lodging when off duty. He said when troops are lying down in the Capitol they are just sleeping in between shifts. Thirty states sent a combined total of 20,000 National Guard members to protect the government seat after the insurrection a week ago.

Copyright 2021 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. President Donald Trump spoke at the “Save America March” in Washington, DC Wednesday afternoon. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 17: Tourists walk past the Statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that is located inside the US Capitol August 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has called for the removal of all Confederate statues from the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)WASHINGTON – A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that has represented Virginia in the U.S. Capitol for 111 years has been removed. The Washington Post reports that workers removed the statue from Statuary Hall early Monday morning. Lee’s statue had stood with George Washington’s statue since 1909 as Virginia’s representatives in the Capitol’s honorary hall.

ATLANTA – After five days of memorials and tributes in his home state of Alabama and in Washington, DC, Congressman John Lewis was laid to rest Thursday in Georgia, the state he served for more than 30 years. John Lewis funeral Presidents Bush, Clinton and Obama are expected to speak today at John Lewis' funeral. Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Thursday, July 30, 2020Following a funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church that will include remarks from three former Presidents Bush, Clinton and Obama, Lewis went to his final resting place at Southview Cemetery, just south of downtown Atlanta.

WASHINGTON – NBC News is providing a special report for the procession and ceremony honoring the late Rep. John Lewis in Washington, DC. Procession, ceremony honoring Rep. John Lewis Watch the procession and ceremony honoring the late Rep. John Lewis in Washington, DC. Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Monday, July 27, 2020The report will begin just before the procession reaches the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and continue through the ceremony at the Capitol.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)WASHINGTON The body of the late Rep. John Lewis has arrived in Washington to lie in state as lawmakers gather to pay tribute to the long-time Georgia lawmaker and icon of the civil rights movement. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who served in Congress alongside Lewis, is expected to visit the Capitol to pay his respects. Lewis was the youngest and last-living of the featured speakers for the March on Washington in 1963, where the Rev. In Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, Lewis suffered a beating at the hands of an Alabama state trooper that became one of the defining moments of his life. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on Aug. 6 of that year.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday the Supreme Court started on what could be a landmark case affecting pipelines in our area and across the East Coast. An environmental group is challenging the permit issues to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross the Appalachian Trail, and it could affect the Mountain Valley Pipeline because it, too, crosses the Appalachian trail on federal land. Protesters rallied outside the Supreme Court, while inside lawyers got just one hour to argue before the judges. His land is slated to be crossed by the Mountain Valley Pipeline and he wants that to change. “I’m not counting on the supreme court to win this fight for us," Satterwhite said.

WASHINGTON, DC – The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday. Capitol Hill Democrats seized on the report as evidence of a lawless White House. “The OMB, the White House, the administration broke — I'm saying this — broke the law," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.Democrats want Mulvaney, who is still officially the OMB director, to be subpoenaed as a witness in Trump's impeachment trial. OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with the President's priorities and with the law," said OMB spokeswoman Rachel Semmel. The impoundment control law is rigorously adhered to by career officials in agency budget offices, who can face severe trouble for violating it.

(Chinatopix Via AP)WASHINGTON, DC – The United States and China reached a trade deal Wednesday that eases tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, offers massive export opportunities for U.S. farms and factories, and promises to do more to protect American trade secrets. Trump promoted the trade signing as a way of delivering economic justice for American workers he claims have been betrayed by past administrations and their trade policies. Chinese leader Xi Jinping said in a letter to Trump that the first-phase deal was “good for China, for the U.S. and for the whole world." That was the concern voiced when Trump sparked a trade war by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports in July 2018. The 86-page agreement makes it easier to bring criminal cases in China against those accused of stealing trade secrets.

WASHINGTON, DC – Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren says she'd order her secretary of education to cancel up to $50,000 in college debt for about 95% of student borrowers on her first day in office, effectively erasing outstanding loans for about 42 million Americans. Warren had already promised in previous plans to wipe out student loans for 42 million Americans while offering free tuition at public universities. “We’re facing a student debt crisis, and every day counts for families struggling with this burden and for our economy as a whole,” Warren wrote in an online post unveiling her plan. The senator also wants to reduce backlogs so that qualifying borrowers are able to cancel loans through debt forgiveness plans that are already available. And Warren promised that on her first day in office, she’d empower the secretary of education to limit the for-profit college industry and crack down on “predatory” student lending.

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration will immediately impose new economic sanctions on Iran in response to Iranian missile strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq. “These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior.”It was not immediately clear what those sanctions might be, and Trump's vow left many wondering what is left for the U.S. to sanction in Iran. The administration has already reinstated all the U.S. sanctions that were eased under the 2015 nuclear deal. But it still has room to boost the penalties and step up its “maximum pressure campaign” on Iran. Some U.S. officials and lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have argued that the U.S. remains a “participant” in terms of that resolution despite its withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally in Wisconsin next month, countering a Democratic presidential debate set for the same night in Iowa. Trump's campaign says the rally is set for Jan. 14 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. It's the same night that CNN and The Des Moines Register are sponsoring the first Democratic presidential debate of 2020 at Drake University in Des Moines. The Republican president's campaign has said he'll hold his first 2020 rally in Toledo, Ohio, on Jan. 9. The Democratic-controlled House voted earlier this month to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress over his dealings with Ukraine.

WASHINGTON, DC – The impeachment process is on pause and will likely remain so until the start of the new year. President Trump, at a weekend event in Florida, blasting the house for impeaching him. The matter’s at a stalemate for now since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hasn’t sent the articles of impeachment to the Republican-led senate. She’s crazy," said President Trump. “President Trump, release the emails, let the witnesses testify, what are you afraid of?,” said Sen. Schumer.

Billy Graham, “would rather have a Radical Left nonbeliever, who wants to take your religion & your guns, than Donald Trump as your President." The magazine “has been doing poorly and hasn’t been involved with the Billy Graham family for many years,” Trump wrote. Franklin Graham, who now leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and prayed at Trump’s inauguration, tweeted Friday that his father would be “disappointed” in the magazine. He wrote on Facebook: “Is President Trump guilty of sin? “No President has done more for the Evangelical community, and it’s not even close,” Trump said in his tweets.

Bloomberg, who has long considered a White House bid, sits atop a sprawling business empire and is worth more than $50 billion, easily making him the wealthiest candidate in the contest. But his attorneys say he is not yet prepared to disclose his investments and income. The FEC on Monday granted his request, giving him until Feb. 4 to file — one day after the Iowa caucuses. Bloomberg has said he is not competing in the first few presidential contests in states including Iowa and New Hampshire. ___Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, “Ground Game.”___This story has been corrected to delete an erroneous reference to White House contender Tom Steyer not releasing his finances.

Buttigieg has resisted opening his fundraisers, but that position became untenable as his campaign moved into the top tier. He's also called on her to release additional years of tax returns to shed light on corporate clients she represented. Buttigieg has yet to name specific companies he worked for during his tenure at the consulting firm. He has said his work for the firm largely involved working in small groups on monthslong assignments and completing studies for clients. “The bulk of my work on these teams consisted of doing mathematical analysis, conducting research, and preparing presentations," Buttigieg wrote.

A federal judge in the District of Columbia has temporarily halted the first federal execution in 16 years as a lawsuit on how the government intends to carry it out continues. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON, DC – The Latest on federal executions (all times local):6 p.m.Attorney General William Barr tells The Associated Press he will take the Trump administration’s bid to restart federal executions after a 16-year hiatus to the Supreme Court if necessary. Barr’s comments came hours after a district court judge temporarily blocked the administration’s plans to start executions next month. The administration is appealing the decision, and Barr says he will take the case to the high court if Thursday’s ruling stands. He says the five inmates set to be executed are a small number of the 62 death row inmates.

WASHINGTON, DC – New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg has taken another step toward launching a Democratic bid for president. The former New York City mayor, who became a Democrat just last year, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday to formally create a presidential campaign committee. The move legally allows him to begin raising and spending money on a 2020 campaign, although his team says he’s yet to make a final decision. Bloomberg’s enormous wealth, his ties to Wall Street, and his status as a former Republican could make it difficult for him to win support among traditional Democratic primary voters. Before Thursday’s federal filing, he had already filed paperwork to qualify for presidential primary ballots in three states.

(CNN) - Outside the White House on Friday, President Trump said the age to purchase vaping products in the United States could rise to 21. "We have to take care of our kids, most importantly, so we're going to have an age limit of 21 or so, so we'll be coming out with something next week very important on vaping," Trump said. At the time, Trump administration officials said the agency would remove all non-tobacco-flavored vaping products from the market. Several cities and states, including California, Oregon, Virginia, Massachusetts and others, limit sales of tobacco products to people age 21 and older. In April, Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette introduced the Tobacco to 21 Act, which would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to people younger than 21.

New US special representative to North Korea Steve Biegun speaks after being named by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department in Washington, DC, on August 23, 2018. WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Donald Trump has tapped Stephen Biegun, his North Korea envoy, as the next No. A senior State Department official said that Biegun will keep his North Korea portfolio even if he is confirmed for the deputy role. He was appointed to the role of US special representative for North Korea in August 2018 to lead efforts to negotiate "the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea." North Korea fired two "unidentified projectiles" into the waters between South Korea and Japan on Thursday afternoon, the South Korean government said in a statement.

Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros celebrates as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the 4th inning in Game 5 of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on Oct. 27, 2019, in Washington, DC. (CNN) - You could almost say the Washington Nationals have the Houston Astros right where they want them. The National League champs have perennial all-star pitcher Max Scherzer starting the deciding World Series contest and Wednesday night's Game 7 is for the Nationals a road contest. And the road team winning the World Series decider is a recent trend; the past five events were won on the road. The Nationals won when they scored 10 runs in the final three innings.

(CNN) - In a World Series where neither team has won a home game, the Houston Astros are taking a 3-2 series lead home. ET) at Houston's Minute Maid Park, where the Washington Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the series last week before losing three in a row. Yet in five World Series outings two as an Astro, three as a Detroit Tiger he's never registered a win. The 31-year-old right-hander will be taking the mound in only his second World Series game, the first being last week's 12-3 blowout. The Nationals have never won a World Series.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hand out candy to children as they trick-or-treat during a Halloween event at the White House on Oct. 28, 2019, in Washington, DC. Hide Caption

Decorations are seen during a Halloween at the White House event October 28, 2019 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Monday celebrated their third Halloween at the White House, welcoming children of military families, as well as local elementary school students, for trick-or-treating. The theme of the evening appeared to be haunted forest-inspired. Silhouetted cutouts of large, black trees with creepy bare branches were placed on the columns of the White House South Portico, lit a ghoulish orange; dozens of pumpkins lined the curved staircases. On the South Portico porch, the United States Air Force Strolling Strings played Halloween-themed tunes on shiny black violins -- the theme songs from "Ghostbusters," "Bewitched" and the Harry Potter films were all featured.

President Donald Trump attends Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Oct. 27, 2019, in Washington, DC. (CNN) - Democratic Sen. Chris Coons on Monday shunned chants of "lock him up" aimed at President Donald Trump by the crowd at World Series Game 5. He continued: "I certainly hope that we won't hear 'lock him up' chants at Democratic rallies or at our convention. On Sunday night, Trump received cheers, boos and chants of "lock him up" as he was displayed on Nationals Park's video screen during the game. Some attendees pointed angrily at the suite Trump was sitting in and chanted "lock him up," and in the outfield seats, the boos and chants of "lock him up" rang loud.

President Donald Trump answers questions before boarding Marine One while departing the White House on October 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)(CNN) - President Donald Trump admitted on Sunday the White House did not inform some key Democrats about the daring raid that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff called the raid an "operational success," but also said he was not informed about the raid before it took place. "I applaud President Trump's announcement that U.S. special forces have eliminated ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Boehner countered that he was briefed multiple times by the Obama administration about the raid that took down Osama bin Laden.

WASHINGTON, DC – Dave Chappelle has built a career on pushing boundaries and challenging social conventions. Rapper and actor Common praised Dave Chappelle's bravery and sociological influence. Musician John Legend paid tribute to Chappelle's passion for music and determination to use his influence to spotlight different artists. At the height of his fame, Chappelle organized "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" — a movie built around an all-star concert featuring Legend, the Roots and a reunion of The Fugees. Chappelle spoke with reverence about the Mark Twain prize and the "art form" of stand-up comedy.

Gerardo Parra #88 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with the trophy after winning the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on Oct. 15, 2019, in Washington, DC. But it's hard to think of many guys better than that trio to kick off a World Series." The Astros are in their third World Series in franchise history, having reached the series in 2005 and winning it all in 2017. While the Astros were a favorite throughout the season to get this far, the Nationals were on more uneven footing. The San Francisco Giants are the last wild card team to win a World Series, in 2014.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Jane Fonda was taken into police custody Friday in Washington, DC, while participating in a climate crisis demonstration. The incident comes as the actress and activist launched her "Fire Drill Fridays" campaign, a civil disobedience effort to raise awareness of environmental challenges. "The United States Capitol Police arrested 16 individuals for unlawfully demonstrating on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol," Eva Malecki, spokeswoman for the Capitol police told CNN. While Malecki did not confirm Fonda was among those arrested, Fonda's campaign shared an image of her being taken into custody. In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Fonda said she was inspired to act by environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

Activists hold up a sign before an NBA exhibition basketball game between the Washington Wizards and the Guangzhou Loong-Lions, in Washington. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Several fans standing with a sign reading "Free Hong Kong" and "Google: Uyghurs" had them confiscated prior to a game between the Washington Wizards and the Guangzhou Loong Lions at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, Wednesday night. The incidents were posted on Twitter and detail two separate interactions with arena officials who can be heard telling the group of fans "no political signs." Scott Hall, a spokesman for the Wizards, confirmed the incident, telling CNN: "The building security staff removed signs tonight in accordance with Capital One Arena's long-standing Signs, Banners, Posters, and Flag Policy." This is the second incident of security engaging with fans at NBA games over pro-Hong Kong signs this week.

Yaotl Mazahua performs with the indigenous band Aztlan Underground during an event celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. (CNN) - This Columbus Day, Washington, DC, will be celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day for the first time. The DC Council voted Tuesday to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day, but the change will only last a year. Councilmember David Grosso proposed the "Indigenous Peoples' Day Emergency Declaration Act of 2019." "After 5 years, the Council has approved emergency legislation renaming Columbus Day as #IndigenousPeoplesDay," Grosso said on Twitter.

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during an East Room event on the environment on July 7, 2019, at the White House in Washington, DC. (CNN) - US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Monday that he "absolutely" asked President Donald Trump "multiple times" to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but about energy -- not the Bidens -- and said he is not leaving his role in the administration. "Absolutely, I asked the president multiple times. The Energy Department confirmed on Sunday that Perry "supported and encouraged" Trump to speak with Zelensky on matters related to energy and the economy. Energy issues, though, were not discussed during the July phone conversation between the two leaders, according to a rough transcript of the call released by the White House.

The US Treasury Department building is seen in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2019. The chairman's request to the inspector general comes following the revelation of a whistleblower in connection with the federal court case stemming from Neal's denied requested for President Donald Trump's tax information. "Chairman Neal has asked Treasury OIG to inquire into the process by which the Department received, evaluated, and responded to the Committee's request for federal tax information," Rich Delmar, the acting Inspector General, said in a statement. The presidential tax audit program, conducted by the IRS, automatically audits every president's taxes. He has argued that he wants the records to make sure the presidential tax audit program is working properly or if it is necessary to make legislative fixes.

President Donald Trump takes a photo with an onlooker as he returns to the White House after attending the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 26, 2019, in Washington, DC. "I want to know who's the person who gave the whistle-blower the information because that's close to a spy," Trump said, according to the Times, which cited a person briefed on what occurred who had notes of what the president said. "You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart with spies and treason, right? Earlier Thursday, a stunning whistleblower complaint alleged Trump abused his official powers "to solicit interference" from Ukraine in the upcoming 2020 election, and the White House took steps to cover it up. Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire also testified before the House Intelligence Committee about the whistleblower complaint.

(CNN) - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson made dismissive comments in a recent meeting that multiple people present interpreted as an attack on transgender people, The Washington Post reported Thursday. Carson expressed concern about "big, hairy men" attempting to enter women's homeless shelters, according to three people present, the Post reported. "That was the first time any of us heard him use such derogatory language," one San Francisco staffer told the Post. A senior HUD official told The Washington Post that "the Secretary does not use derogatory language to refer to transgendered individuals. Before launching his ultimately unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign, Carson told CNN he considers LGBTQ issues "personal."

With the Washington Monument in the background, cherry trees are in full bloom at the Tidal Basin April 1, 2019 in Washington, DC. The National Park Service said this year's cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom today. (Photo by AlexWASHINGTON - The refurbished Washington Monument is once again open for tourists. First lady Melania Trump, accompanied by local fourth graders, cut the ribbon Thursday morning as the monument opened to the public for first time in three years. It reopened in 2014, but National Park Service officials were forced to close it again two years later after a series of elevator breakdowns.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, announced the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship on Wednesday while speaking at an education summit at Central New Mexico Community College. The plan would provide free undergraduate tuition at New Mexico colleges for in-state residents and aims to cover nearly 55,000 students a year. The plan would make New Mexico the latest state to join the movement for free college tuition. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that will provide free tuition for two years of community college to first-time, full-time California students. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced a plan that would make public college tuition free if he were elected president, and in March, Sens.

(CNN) - House Democrats who won Republican districts in 2018 are pushing back on the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment investigation effort, arguing that pursuing impeachment is a mistake and that they would vote against it. While liberal Democrats are pushing for impeachment proceedings, frontline Democrats remain Rose are opposed to such efforts. There are 135 House Democrats who have publicly supported an impeachment inquiry, according to CNN's tally. But the push in the Judiciary Committee this week has also sparked a more public voice of caution from those Democrats opposed to impeachment. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a freshman New Jersey Democrat, also said she didn't think the House should be moving on impeachment.

Almost 4 in 10 said the economy is getting worse, 31% said it's getting better and 30% said it's staying the same. In a June Quinnipiac poll, only 23% said the economy was getting worse, a 14 percentage point change. In August 2018, 45% of Americans said the economy was getting better, 14 points higher than in August 2019, Quinnipiac showed. Voters are also seeing Trump's economic policies, such as his ongoing trade war with the Chinese, in a less favorable light. That's up 4 percentage points from January 2019 and 11 percentage points from December 2018, according to Quinnipiac.

International chef Jos Andrs (C) at the Odyssey Aviation hangar in Nassau, Bahamas, as he plans to feed people from Hurricane Dorian on devastated Abaco Island on Sept. 3, 2019. (CNN) - Celebrity chef Jos Andrs who is famous for his humanitarian feeding efforts in areas stricken by disaster made his first trip to the Abaco Islands on Tuesday with food for those devastated by Dorian. Andrs told CNN he was able to fly 2,000 sandwiches and more than 1,000 oranges by helicopter to Abaco on Tuesday. Andrs said he's planning to transport between 5,000 and 7,000 more sandwiches to the island today. The chef told CNN he estimates he'll be serving 10,000 meals to the people of Abaco.

People gather in in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as decisions are handed down in Washington, DC. (CNN) - A state court in North Carolina unanimously struck down Republican-led efforts to maintain state legislative districts on Tuesday, holding that they amount to unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders that violate the state's Constitution. Now, in North Carolina, a top Republican state legislative leader told local reporters in a statement that the GOP will not appeal the state court's ruling against state House and Senate districts there. While the US Supreme Court recently declined to step in to decide a separate challenge to federal maps in the state, the North Carolina court observed that provisions of state constitutions "could provide standards and guidance for state courts to apply." The North Carolina Democratic Party, registered Democratic voters and Common Cause brought the lawsuit last year.

CNNWASHINGTON (CNN) - President Donald Trump said Sunday that he's "not sure that (he's) ever even heard of a Category 5" hurricane, despite four such storms having threatened the US since he took office. And I've seen some Category 4's -- you don't even see them that much," Trump said at a briefing with officials at FEMA's headquarters in Washington, DC. "But a Category 5 is something that -- I don't know that I've ever even heard the term other than I know it's there. Last October, Hurricane Michael, which was originally designated as a Category 4, barreled into the Florida Panhandle as the third Category 5 hurricane to blast the US since Trump. Not the first time Trump said he's never heard of a Category 5Trump has previously indicated several other times that Category 5 hurricanes are unprecedented weather events that either he or others had never heard of or witnessed.

CNN video(CNN) - A federal judge on Thursday denied an attempt by House Democrats to fast-track its attempt to force the Treasury Department and IRS to release President Donald Trump's tax returns. The ruling from Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington, DC, does not stop the lawsuit by the Democratic-led House Ways and Means Committee, which continues to move ahead with filings due in September. House Democrats are also trying other legal ways to obtain the documents. The Court does not fault the Committee for its time and efforts negotiating with the Administration before suing, but it is not clear why only now the Committee asks for expedited consideration of this matter," McFadden wrote Thursday. "It may be appropriate to expedite this matter at some point, but not now," he added.

(CNN) - Credit reporting agency Equifax is nearing a deal to pay about $700 million to state and federal regulators to settle probes stemming from a data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million people, according to two published reports. Funds from the settlement will go toward compensating consumers for the cost of the 2017 data breach, the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported Friday, citing people close to the matter. Equifax first disclosed the hack in September 2017, three months after the company discovered the breach. Equifax admitted it was aware of the security flaw a full two months before the company says hackers first accessed its data. The data breach prompted the resignation of CEO Richard Smith and investigations by federal regulators, multiple states attorneys general and the company faces a number of civil lawsuits.

A park bench and sidewalk are flooded from the rising high tide on July 2, 2019, in Washington, DC. In a report Wednesday, the agency says that last year tied the 2015 record for a national median of five days of high-tide flooding. The effects of high-tide flooding include disrupted traffic along East Coast roadways, degraded septic system functionality in South Florida and salted farmlands in coastal Delaware and Maryland, the NOAA said. NOAA has identified more than 40 locations where high-tide flooding trends reveal "significant acceleration" along the West and East coasts. The report projects that, by 2050, the United States will experience 25 to 75 days of high-tide flooding.

Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals and National League celebrates with the trophy after winning the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Nationals Park on July 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. And for the first time ever, the top prize for the winner will be $1 million. The Home Run Derby pits some of the league's top sluggers against one another as they see who can hit the most home runs. Last year, the total prize pool for the home run derby was only $525,000, with the winner taking home $125,000. With $1 million of the $2.5 million prize pool going to the winner, expect the competition to be more fierce with significantly more money on the line.