In the News

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned fellow Democrats on Thursday they “must put aside our differences” as the party struggles to coalesce around President Joe Biden’s huge but now-scaled-back package of social services and climate change strategies. Schumer’s letter to colleagues comes as progressive leaders in Congress are steering them away from what the… Read more »

While many area lawmakers hailed news Tuesday, Oct. 12, that the U.S. plans to loosen its border restrictions and allow vaccinated Canadians to cross at land points of entry, they say their work to support communities most impacted by the 19-month-long closure to non-essential travel is not done. “For nineteen long months, our border communities have lived in a state of hardship and… Read more »

The White House continued to refuse expanding on the reasoning behind its decision not to allow vaccinated Canadians to cross the border by land into the U.S., despite Americans being allowed to head north, and that is frustrating Washington lawmakers. “I remain extremely frustrated that the White House has failed to sufficiently explain its position on our northern border,” Rep.… Read more »

WASHINGTON – Weeks after allowing passenger flights from Canada to the United States, the Biden administration has not explained why Canadians can’t make similar trips in a car. Congressional Democrats and Republicans alike have criticized the policy as affecting struggling border communities in their districts. Asked about the issue in Monday’s White House press briefing, Press… Read more »

Mail delivery for many Americans will slow starting on Friday, part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's blueprint for overhauling the U.S. Postal Service in order to slash costs. But critics say the slower delivery standards could cause problems such as late bill delivery while more broadly undermining the public's faith in the USPS... On Friday, a bipartisan group of 40 lawmakers asked… Read more »

Suzan DelBene is calling on the Biden administration to reopen the northern border to vaccinated Canadians. BLAINE, Wash. — It will be at least another month before Canadians can drive into the United States following the decision in the White House to extend the border restrictions Monday.  The restrictions, which would have otherwise been lifted Sept. 21, were extended… Read more »

The United States will extend its border closure with Canada to non-essential travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic another month, the White House announced Monday, Sept. 20. White House Response Coordinator Jeff Zients announced the closure will be extended until Oct. 21, USA Today reported along with several other national news sources. Homeland Security has yet not made a similar… Read more »

Some legislators are calling for action in the wake of a federal report on the apparent sabotage of an oil train north of Bellingham last year. That train derailed and caught fire after it split apart, then slammed into itself. A Federal Railroad Administration investigation published last week found that the train’s brakes and couplers had apparently been tampered… Read more »

SEATTLE — A new restrictive abortion law in Texas has caused a tidal wave of controversy across the United States, causing people like Sammy Detzer in western Washington to tell their story. "I had an abortion on May 20, 2015. I was nine weeks pregnant,” Detzer said. Detzer said her choice to have an abortion isn't something she looks back on in shame. So, when she heard… Read more »

Moderates are more focused on expanding Obamacare than on expanding Medicare The health-care battle is on.   Democrats are tussling over which health priorities will get the most cash in President Biden’s massive social spending package. Liberals are pitching a wide-ranging agenda — one that centers on a massive expansion of Medicare for older… Read more »