Tom Howell Jr.

Biden uses tour of storm devastation to tout climate change agenda

President Biden on Tuesday used a trip to survey the destruction across New York and New Jersey from the remnants of Hurricane Ida to push his climate agenda.

September 7, 2021

Odds of a ‘breakthrough’ COVID-19 infection worsen with delta variant

People who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 seem to be getting infected with alarming frequency, from Georgia Bulldog football players to people you might follow on social media, and this is driving talk of booster shots before waning protection against the virus grows into a crisis that fills hospitals.

September 7, 2021

Biden: Infrastructure bill can fix flood-damaged towns ‘permanently’

President Biden said Tuesday he will use his tour of flood damage in New York and New Jersey to focus on things that could be overhauled by an infrastructure plan that is working its way through Congress.

September 7, 2021

Propane explosion blows out Maryland home, injures two in Laytonsville

Montgomery County firefighters responded to a home explosion in Laytonsville, Maryland, early Tuesday.

September 7, 2021

Ex-FBI deputy chief: Law enforcement should take U.S. Capitol rally ‘very seriously’

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is urging law enforcement to take an upcoming right-wing rally on Capitol Hill "very seriously" after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

September 7, 2021

Biden’s ‘beat COVID-19’ optimism battered by variant, vaccination resistance

The U.S. feels stuck in neutral as it watches another surge and girds for what might be a difficult winter, poking holes in the economic recovery and Mr. Biden's campaign pledge to "beat COVID-19."

September 5, 2021

Giuliani rips ‘mentally impaired’ Biden over Afghan chaos ahead of 20th anniversary of 9/11

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said Sunday he is "very upset" on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks because the Taliban is back in charge in Afghanistan, faulting President Biden in harsh terms on the sidelines of an event honoring a 9/11 nonprofit.

September 5, 2021

Gov. Phil Murphy: All N.J. storm deaths due to flooding, not tornadoes

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that all 25 deaths in his state from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida were due to flooding, and everyone hit by tornadoes managed to survive.

September 3, 2021

Dr. Fauci: Three-dose program could become standard for COVID-19 vaccine

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday he would not be surprised to see a three-dose regimen of the COVID-19 vaccine be considered the norm for protecting the population against the virus, citing positive data on boosters from Israel and its potential durability.

September 2, 2021

Death toll climbs after Northeast lashed by remnants of Hurricane Ida

Mid-Atlantic states spent Thursday mourning the dead and cleaning up debris-strewn downtowns, flooded basements and downed trees after the remnants of Hurricane Ida thrashed the region.

September 2, 2021

Heavy U.S. rains renew focus on climate change, infrastructure package

The New York City region awoke Thursday to debris-strewn downtowns, soggy basements and crippled transit after a "historic" overnight downpour from the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least eight people.

September 2, 2021

Maderna? Misspelled COVID-19 vaccine card leads to charges in Hawaii

A 24-year-old Illinois woman was arrested and charged with suspicion of falsifying a vaccine document in a bid to avoid quarantine rules in Hawaii as detecting COVID-19 fraud becomes a new focus for law enforcement.

September 1, 2021

Biden focused on ‘perception’ of Afghan forces in final call with Ghani: Report

President Biden told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in late July that Afghanistan had a "perception" problem that should be manipulated for the public, suggesting Mr. Biden was aware of Afghan forces' weaknesses even as he assured Americans they could defend their nation against the Taliban.

September 1, 2021

North Korea reportedly rejects COVID-19 vaccine doses from Chinese drugmaker

North Korea reportedly rejected 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese drugmaker Sinovac BioTech Ltd., claiming they should go to countries facing bigger problems from the coronavirus.

September 1, 2021

White House announces plan to build 100K affordable homes

The White House said Wednesday it will use existing federal funds to build and provide 100,000 homes to low- and middle-income buyers and nonprofits over the next three years to bolster supply that is often snapped up by deep-pocketed investors.

September 1, 2021

White House defends COVID booster plan amid staff upheaval, CDC skepticism

The White House defended its COVID-19 vaccine booster shot campaign Tuesday after outside advisers complained of limited data on the need for third doses and senior Food and Drug Administration officials abruptly retired amid criticism of President Biden's decision to trumpet the plan before regulators had signed off on it.

August 31, 2021

Nearly 90 retired military figures call for Austin, Milley to resign over chaotic evacuation

Nearly 90 retired generals and other military figures told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark A. Milley to resign Tuesday for "negligence in performing their duties" ahead of the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan.

August 31, 2021

Taliban fighters celebrate at Kabul airport; helicopters, supplies left behind

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers celebrated Tuesday on the tarmac at the Kabul airport that had served as a global focal point until the last U.S. planes flew out around midnight.

August 31, 2021

Biden pledges support to Gulf Coast ‘as long as it takes for you to recover’

President Biden said Monday the federal government is doing what it can to support search-and-rescue efforts, restore power and cellphone service and clear roads after Hurricane Ida ripped through Louisiana as a Category 4 storm before moving into neighboring states.

August 30, 2021

White House: U.S. combing lists, rooting out remaining Americans in Afghanistan

The White House said it thinks a "small number" of Americans remain in Afghanistan and want to leave, but it was unable to provide a concrete figure as a Tuesday deadline nears to leave the Taliban-ruled country.

August 30, 2021