News

USA Today reports: By the 2020 presidential election, 16 and 17-year-olds may be able to vote in the nation’s capital. Washington, D.C. may lower the voting age for federal and local elections to 16. The legislation was introduced last Tuesday by D.C. council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who said he was inspired by the high schoolers that came to …

CBS News reports: Some 1,500 guests are expected Saturday at a private funeral for Barbara Bush at the nation’s largest Episcopal church. First lady Melania Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Cliuton, and former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are among those expected to attend the by-invitation-only service at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. Burial will follow …

The Hill reports: CIA Director Mike Pompeo is officially short of the votes needed to clear the Senate Foreign Relations Committee next week. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said Friday that “after carful consideration” he will oppose Pompeo’s nomination to lead the State Department. “I remain concerned that Director Pompeo will not challenge the President in critical moments,” he said in …

Mediaite reports: The Trump campaign has responded to the lawsuit filed by the DNC against the Trump campaign, Wikileaks, and Russia. In a Trump campaign press release, Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said, “This is a sham lawsuit about a bogus Russian collusion claim filed by a desperate, dysfunctional, and nearly insolvent Democratic Party. With the Democrats’ conspiracy theories against …

CNBC reports: Federal authorities are urging people who bought chopped romaine lettuce in the United States to throw it away because it could get them sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the nationwide E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from Yuma, Ariz., has expanded to 53 cases in 16 states. The CDC warning is clear: …

Billboard Magazine reports: Swedish DJ Avicii, real name Tim Bergling, died at age 28 on Friday, April 20, his publicist confirmed. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” his publicist Diana Baron said in a statement. “He was found dead in Muscat, Oman this Friday afternoon local time, April 20th. …

Law & Crime reports: President Donald Trump used to hail his appointment of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch as one of his presidency’s big accomplishments. Now, apparently, Trump is having a bit of buyer’s remorse, according to a Washington Post report. Administration officials told the newspaper that Trump has recently complained that Gorsuch has been too liberal lately. This comes …

Politico reports: President Donald Trump will not join first lady Melania Trump in attending the funeral services for Barbara Bush, the White House said in a statement, citing a desire to “avoid disruptions” stemming from the increased security presence and “out of respect for the Bush Family and friends.” “First Lady Melania Trump will attend the memorial service for Barbara …

Well, this should generate quite an enraged tweetstorm: The Democratic National Committee filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit Friday against the Russian government, the Trump campaign and the WikiLeaks organization alleging a far-reaching conspiracy to disrupt the 2016 campaign and tilt the election to Donald Trump. The complaint, filed in federal district court in Manhattan, alleges that top Trump campaign officials conspired …

CNN reports: Passengers aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 received a $5,000 check after a deadly engine failure that led to an emergency landing in Philadelphia. In a letter to passengers, the airline expressed “sincere apologies” for the fatal incident and included the check, said Kamau Siwatu, who was aboard the flight. He was one of at least three passengers who …

AM New York reports: A car ban in Central Park will go into effect in June, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Twitter Friday morning. “Central Park goes car free in June. 24/7, 365 days a year — because parks are for people, not cars,” he wrote. Motorists will not be allowed on the “loop drives” below 72nd Street, the …

Well, this is encouraging: Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is leading all Republican candidates in head-to-head match-ups in the Arizona Senate race, according to a poll released Thursday. A poll from OH Predictive Insights (OHPI) and ABC15 Arizona found that Sinema leads Rep. Martha McSally (R) by 6 points, 48 to 42 percent. Sinema’s margin increases by double digits when pitted …

“There’s no question that Michael Cohen knows where many, many bodies are buried. They’re going to turn him, and when they turn him, the president is going to be in a very, very bad place. And I’m going to make a prediction now. I do not think the president will serve out his term.” – Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti, …

The Associated Press reports: Lance Armstrong has reached a $5 million settlement with the federal government in a whistleblower lawsuit that could have sought $100 million in damages from the cyclist who was stripped of his record seven Tour de France victories after admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs throughout much of his career. The deal announced Thursday came as the …

The Washington Post reports: The Justice Department inspector general referred its finding that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe repeatedly misled investigators who were examining a media disclosure to the top federal prosecutor in D.C. to determine whether McCabe should be charged with a crime, according to people familiar with the matter. The referral to the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office …

The New Jersey Record reports: To most people, the image that sums up Chris Christie’s time as governor is the picture of him on that beach closed to everyone else, in that chair with his family and friends while the public was shut out of state parks on a holiday weekend during a government shutdown. The image that Christie wants …

The Minnesota Star-Tribune reports: Carver County Attorney Mark Metz announced Thursday that he was closing the investigation into the death of musician Prince Rogers Nelson without issuing any criminal charges. Metz said county, state and federal investigators undertook an “extensive, painstaking and thorough” investigation but were unable to determine who provided Prince the fentanyl painkillers, disguised as counterfeit Percocet tablets, …

Ronan Farrow reports at The New Yorker: When I mentioned the White House’s role in escalating rumors of his demise, Tillerson appeared to have been waiting for the question. “Mm-hmm,” he said, nodding. “When you say ‘the White House,’ who are you talking about?” he asked. “The White House is comprised of how many people?” Hook, the director of policy …

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: The federal indictment hanging over the head of former congressman Aaron Schock repeatedly references the official rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. Trouble is, some of them are pretty vague. Or so says Schock. And his attorneys insist the judicial branch has no business deciding what they really mean. To do so would be a …

The Hill reports: The Tampa Bay Times announced that it would cut about 50 jobs after new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration caused the cost of newsprint to dramatically rise. A spokeswoman for the Times confirmed the layoffs to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, saying they are directly in response to the tariffs imposed on newsprint imported from Canada. …