Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Survey finds partisan divide over biggest public-health threats
Republicans view opioids and fentanyl as the greatest threat to U.S. public health, while a roughly equal share of Democrats points to gun or firearm access as the biggest concern, according to a survey Thursday that revealed a partisan divide in health worries. Published February 23, 2023
Sen. Fetterman will rebound from health issues, says Pennsylvania governor
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he will resist any attempt to get Sen. John Fetterman to resign over his health challenges, betting the fellow Democrat will make a full recovery after treatment for depression. Published February 23, 2023
Biden praises Nigerian peace accord ahead of major election
President Biden on Thursday commended presidential candidates in Nigeria for signing a peace accord to accept the results of the West African nation's hotly contested election on Saturday. Published February 23, 2023
Rep. Latta: U.S. must empower prosecutors, tighten border security to show seriousness on fentanyl
Rep. Bob Latta was taken aback by a statistic he learned during a recent visit to Texas to learn about the southern border and the Mexican cartels fueling the fentanyl crisis. Published February 22, 2023
Treasury sanctions Mexicans tied to Sinaloa fentanyl labs
The Treasury Department on Wednesday said it's sanctioning six Mexicans accused of fueling fentanyl super labs by diverting chemicals directly into the hands of the powerful Sinaloa cartel. Published February 22, 2023
Rep. Adam Schiff: DOJ ‘must act’ amid signals from Georgia grand jury
Rep. Adam B. Schiff said the Department of Justice "must act" after a grand jury in Georgia found evidence of criminal activity in former President Donald Trump's actions to undo the results of the 2020 election. Published February 22, 2023
Polydrug use with fentanyl on the rise, study finds
Most fentanyl users have meth, heroin or some other drug in their systems, according to a massive study of drug tests released Tuesday that reveals the complex nature of the crisis. Published February 21, 2023
Trump endorses mental, physical tests for presidency
Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said anyone running for the White House should submit to mental competency and physical tests to show they are up for the job. Published February 21, 2023
Protesters in Poland tell Biden to send F-16s to Ukraine
Protesters greeted President Biden in Poland on Tuesday by pleading with him to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, something the U.S. had ruled out. Published February 21, 2023
Policymakers sound the alarm after Austin chaos, clashes with police
Republican lawmakers say Austin, Texas, is on a perilous path and needs to bolster its police force after street racers blocked a major intersection late Saturday to race and "drift" before throwing bottles and other objects at officers who intervened. Published February 20, 2023
Families hurt by fentanyl want COVID-level drive
Grieving families and advocates say there is an alarming mismatch between the immediate and severe threat posed by fentanyl and the level of awareness across America, especially among young people who do not consume mainstream media. Published February 17, 2023
Sen. Menendez questions Mexican commitment to fentanyl fight: ‘I just don’t see it’
A top Senate Democrat said Wednesday he's running out of patience with Mexico's lagging efforts to uproot cartels and stop the flow of deadly fentanyl, saying the U.S. is "working with kid gloves" when it comes to its southern neighbor even as tens of thousands of Americans die. Published February 15, 2023
Location, location, location: Virginia leaders make case for FBI HQ in Springfield
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and prominent Democrats linked arms Wednesday to outline a "rock-solid case" for putting the new FBI headquarters in their state instead of Maryland, as the General Services Administration nears a long-awaited decision on the site. Published February 15, 2023
Special counsel Jack Smith seeks workaround to Trump’s attorney privilege
The special counsel probing former President Donald Trump's handling of classified material wants one of the ex-president's lawyers to testify before a grand jury under the theory some of their conversations abetted a potential crime. Published February 15, 2023
Rep. Ralph Norman of S.C. endorses Nikki Haley, snubs Trump
Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina is endorsing Nikki Haley over former President Donald Trump, saying the Republican Party and the nation are at a pivotal moment that requires new leadership. Published February 15, 2023
Many COVID-19 hospital patients face problems 6 months after release: NIH study
Many COVID-19 patients who required hospitalization are grappling with coughs or rapid heartbeats, fatigue and financial problems several months after being discharged, according to a federally supported study that examines the lingering toll of the virus. Published February 14, 2023
Former VP Pence to cite Senate role in fighting Jack Smith subpoena
Former Vice President Mike Pence reportedly plans to fight a subpoena from special counsel Jack Smith by saying his role as Senate president shields him from having to testify about former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Published February 14, 2023
Bipartisan House lawmakers relaunch caucus to lift cap on state and local tax deductions
More than 30 House lawmakers from high-tax states are relaunching the SALT Caucus to loosen a $10,000 cap on the amount of state and local taxes that filers can deduct on their federal returns. Published February 14, 2023
China claims, without evidence, that the U.S. sent over its own balloons
China claimed Monday the U.S. flew its own high-altitude balloons over its airspace, though it provided no evidence. Published February 13, 2023
Trump decries ‘worst’ Super Bowl halftime show, not a fan of Rihanna
Rihanna returned to the big stage for the first time in years late Sunday, running through her hits from an elevated stage at the Super Bowl and surprising the world by revealing she is pregnant again. Published February 13, 2023