Politics

The Peoria Journal-Star reports: Attorneys for former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock plan on asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the former congressman’s ongoing public corruption case. In a motion filed Monday afternoon, Schock’s attorneys asked the Urbana-based U.S. District Judge Colin Bruce to continue a stay in the case while they file the paperwork asking the high court …

The New York Times reports: Chancellor Angela Merkel, who staked her legacy on welcoming hundreds of thousands of migrants into Germany, agreed on Monday to build camps for those seeking asylum and to tighten the border with Austria to save her government. It was a spectacular turnabout for a leader who was once seen as the standard-bearer of the liberal …

The New Zealand Herald reports: Graduating from police college will be a day Hawke’s Bay-born Constable Erik Meechan never forgets – but not for the obvious reason. It was the day he got down on one knee and proposed to his partner of five years, Matty Judd, in front of fellow graduating recruits, their families and Commissioner Mike Bush and …

The Capital Gazette reports: President Donald Trump has declined a request from Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley to lower American flags in honor of the fatal shooting of five employees of The Capital newspaper last week. “Obviously, I’m disappointed, you know? … Is there a cutoff for tragedy?” Buckley said Monday afternoon. “This was an attack on the press. It was …

The Burlington Free Press reports: As of today, recreational use of marijuana is legal in Vermont — within boundaries of some clear and not-so-clear rules. Vermont becomes the ninth state to legalize marijuana and the first state to do so through its state legislature. Gov. Phil Scott signed the law in January with “mixed emotions.” But authorities can’t answer some …

The Louisville Courier reports: Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration has abruptly cut Medicaid dental and vision benefits to nearly half a million Kentuckians, prompting an outcry from Democrats who called the Republican governor’s decision “rash.” Louisville Democrats will hold a press conference Monday to denounce the decision over the weekend to cut benefits after Bevin’s Medicaid overhaul plan was rejected Friday …

Talking Points Memo reports: Top Republican donor Elliott Broidy will end hush money payments to his onetime mistress in a situation arranged by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, claiming a breach of the nondisclosure agreement. According to a Sunday Wall Street Journal report, Broidy agreed last year to pay Playboy model Shera Bechard $1.6 million in installments in exchange for …

Politico reports: A man who mimicked the derisive remarks of former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and brandished a handgun at immigration protesters in Alabama over the weekend was charged with menacing and reckless endangerment, AL.com reported Sunday. With a gun tucked into the waistband of his pants, Shane Ryan Sealy shouted “womp womp” and carried a sign that said …

The Hill reports: Legal experts say it’s likely special counsel Robert Mueller secretly gained access to the National Rifle Association’s tax returns as part of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, according to a McClatchy report. Mueller’s team is reportedly looking into NRA donors with links to Russia and investigating whether some donors used the organization to …

The Associated Press reports: Canada began imposing tariffs Sunday on $12.6 billion in U.S. goods as retaliation for the Trump administration’s new taxes on steel and aluminum imported to the United States. Some U.S. products, mostly steel and iron, face 25 percent tariffs, the same penalty the United States slapped on imported steel at the end of May. Other U.S. …

ABC News reports: Michael Cohen — President Donald Trump’s longtime personal attorney and a former executive vice president at the Trump Organization — has always insisted he would remain loyal to the president. He was the fix-it guy, the pit bull so fiercely protective of his boss that he’d once described himself as “the guy who would take a bullet” …

CBS news reports: Angry and frustrated over corruption and violence, Mexican voters delivered a tidal wave presidential election victory to leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, giving him a broad mandate to upend the political establishment and govern for the poor. An official quick count from electoral authorities late Sunday forecast that Lopez Obrador would win with between 53 percent and …

The Washington Post reports: John C. Whitbeck resigned Saturday as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, weeks after Corey Stewart won the party’s nomination to take on Sen. Tim Kaine (D) in the November election. “Other political opportunities have arisen for me that I am thinking about pursuing,” he told members of the party’s governing board at a meeting. …

The Oregonian reports: Portland Police declared a riot Saturday after tensions between the right-wing Patriot Prayer group and local anti-fascist activists came to a head and broke out in violence. The afternoon began with a permitted rally at Terry Schrunk Federal Plaza organized by Joey Gibson, U.S. Senate candidate for Washington and leader of the right-wing, Vancouver-based group. A counter-demonstration …

The Hill reports: “I’m going to have an in depth discussion with the nominee and I believe very much that Roe v. Wade is settled law, as it has been described by Chief Justice Roberts,” Collins said. “It has been established as a constitutional right for 46 years — 45 years, and was reaffirmed 26 years ago.” Collins, who will …

The CBC reports: The manager of a popular Vancouver tourist restaurant has been fired after refusing service to a supporter of Donald Trump. A man wearing one of the U.S. president’s “Make America Great Again” hats was refused service at the Teahouse in Stanley Park on Tuesday by Darin Hodge. According to the restaurant’s general manager, the man was seated …

Buzzfeed News reports: California Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters told would-be assassins to “shoot straight” Saturday in response to death threats she says she’s received since encouraging people unhappy with the president’s immigration policies to publicly confront members of the Trump administration. Waters, who has long been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, made the comments during a speech at …

The Washington Post reports: The Pentagon is analyzing the cost and impact of a large-scale withdrawal or transfer of American troops stationed in Germany, amid growing tensions between President Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to people familiar with the work. The effort follows Trump’s expression of interest in removing the troops, made during a meeting earlier this year …

Mediaite reports: Prankster/Comedian John Melendez may have to make a run for it after pranking the White House staff into speaking with President Donald Trump. Melendez defied the odds this week by posing as Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and after nearly twenty minutes, he managed to get a hold of the Commander in Chief from Air Force One. However, the …

The New Jersey Advance reports: The Democrats who lead New Jersey agree: They want to raise somebody’s taxes. But the debate over exactly who pays could shut down state government at midnight. Again. So the stage is set Saturday for another dramatic day in Trenton, one that could hit people across New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders remained …