National politics: The latest news from Washington D.C.

Elections

Arizona indicts 18 in case over 2020 election in Arizona, including Giuliani and Meadows

Eleven Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump won Arizona in 2020 are among those indicted. Trump is described as an unindicted co-conspirator.

By Associated Press

Editorials

In blocking April Perry from U.S. attorney post, J.D. Vance shows he's pro-Trump, pro-crime

April Perry has instead been nominated to the federal bench. But it’s beyond disgraceful that Vance, a Trump acolyte, used the Senate’s complex rules to block Perry from becoming the first woman in the top federal prosecutor’s job for the Northern District of Illinois.

By CST Editorial Board

A TikTok content creator, sits outside the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington as Senators prepare to consider legislation that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers.

Technology

What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for you

It would be at least a year before a ban goes into effect — but with likely court challenges, this could stretch even longer, perhaps years.

By Associated Press

President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion Ukraine aid package that also includes support for Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington.

Nation/World

Biden signs a $95 billion war aid measure that forces TikTok to be sold or banned in the U.S.

The Democratic president Wednesday reached the end of a long, painful battle with Republicans to secure urgently needed replenishment of aid for Ukraine.

By Aamer Madhani | AP and Seung Min Kim | AP

April Perry, nominated by President Joe Biden to be Chicago's U.S. attorney. | Provided

Politics

April Perry's bid to be city's first female top federal prosecutor to end, Biden will tap her to be federal judge

The White House on Wednesday will officially announce Biden’s intention to nominate April Perry to be a U.S. District Court judge. For months, the effort to confirm Perry as Chicago’s new U.S. Attorney was stalled by Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio.

By Lynn Sweet and Jon Seidel

News conference announcing the start of construction on renovating Terminal 3 at O’Hare Airport on Monday April 22, 2024.

Transportation

Makeover of O'Hare's Terminal 3 takes off as airlines mull deal on expansion, Global Terminal

The Terminal 3 project, made possible by $90 million in federal grants, includes wider concourses, renovated restrooms, a revamped baggage claim area, more concession space and a host of other passenger amenities.

By Fran Spielman

FILES-US-JOURNALIST-CAPTIVE(FILES) Former US hostage Terry Anderson and his fiancee Madeleine Bassil arrive at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on December 10, 1991. American journalist Terry Anderson, who was snatched by Islamic militants in Lebanon in 1985 and held hostage for six years, died at age 76 on April 21, 2024, his former employer the Associated Press (AP) said. Anderson, then the AP's Beirut bureau chief, was the longest-held Western hostage in Lebanon when he was finally released in 1991. (Photo by Ted HORODYNSKY / AFP) (Photo by TED HORODYNSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Obituaries

Terry Anderson, AP reporter abducted in Lebanon and held captive for years, has died at 76

Terry Anderson was chief Middle East correspondent for the AP when he was kidnapped in Beirut in 1985 by the militant group Hezbollah, who suspected he was a spy. His 1991 best-seller ‘Den of Lions’ chronicles his torture and time in captivity.

By Associated Press

Columnists

Congress backs billions in aid for Ukraine, Israel. How did Illinois members vote?

Chicago Reps. Delia Ramirez, Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia and Jonathan Jackson, all Democrats and the most pro-Palestinian members of the Illinois delegation, voted no on aid to Israel. GOP Rep. Darin LaHood split from his party to support aid to Ukraine.

By Lynn Sweet

image (3).pngHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., autographs a book for Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, in the Capitol.

Washington

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch travels to Washington on fundraising trip

On Monday afternoon, Welch raises money for the People for Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch committee, with the ask ranging from $1,000 for a ticket to $68,500 from a political action committee.

By Lynn Sweet

Black and picture of a soldier standing in front of a jeep.

Nation/World

Remains of Illinois soldier who died in Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during WWII identified

Harry Jerele, 26, of Berkeley, died of pneumonia at a prison camp in the Philippines in 1942. Military scientists used DNA analysis and historical records to officially identify his remains in December. His remains will be interred in Elwood in October.

By Jessica Ma

Iranian women without wearing their mandatory Islamic headscarf walk past a banner showing missiles being launched from Iranian map in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 19, 2024. Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones early Friday morning, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.

Nation/World

Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site

The strike came just days after Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel.

By Associated Press

2024 Democratic National Convention

No cracks in Blue Wall? Top Democrats vow Chicago is ready for convention, despite party divisions

Democrats are deeply focused on Wisconsin and Michigan to help bolster President Joe Biden’s re-election chances — and officials, in town for meetings hosted by the Democratic National Convention Committee, say they plan on showing voters a deep party contrast.

By Tina Sfondeles

Politics

Watchdog group asks feds to probe Trump over $50 million 'nonexistent' loan to his Chicago company

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said in a letter to the FBI and Justice Department that it’s possible the loan, connected to the development of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, may be “nonexistent.”

By Lynn Sweet

Columnists

$2 million federal grant to address damage to the West Side by the Eisenhower Expressway

The apartment where Lynn Sweet’s father once lived was demolished to make way for the expressway. President Joe Biden has launched a new program to reconnect communities split by expressways such as the Eisenhower.

By Lynn Sweet

FBI agent James Rudisill takes down a flag at sunset at his home. The Army veteran and his Chicago lawyer are asking the Supreme Court to take his case, which could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

GI Bill

Supreme Court ruling in GI Bill case could force VA to give more than 1 million vets greater college benefits

The ruling Tuesday in favor of Rudisill, who’s now an FBI agent, also could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Crime

New Chicago intelligence hub aims to ‘squeeze every last piece of evidence’ out of guns used in crimes

A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives facility is the latest effort to disrupt violent crime in Chicago, where police have been taking 12,000 guns off the street every year.

By Jon Seidel

Politics

In Chicago, Ukrainian prime minister seeks urgent military aid from Congress, Illinois investment

Ukrainian Prime Minster Denys Shmyhal joined Gov. J.B. Pritzker and President Joe Biden’s special representative Penny Pritzker to tout the importance of American investment in Ukraine.

By Tina Sfondeles

*** BESTPIX *** Texas National Guard Works To Secure Southern Border In El Paso

Editorials

Work permits for all undocumented immigrants? That's asking too much.

Advocates pushing President Biden to make this drastic, legally questionable move should stick with more reasonable measures to help a smaller number of undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients.

By CST Editorial Board

Immigration

Feds send $19.3 million for Chicago, state of Illinois to cover soaring migrant costs

“This announcement will help equip the City of Chicago and our state in receiving asylum seekers in a safe and orderly fashion. It’s important to remember the gravity of this situation,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said on Friday.

By Lynn Sweet

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a gathering in Manchester, N.H., last year.

Columnists

No dice for No Labels? How Chris Christie almost made third-party presidential run — but didn't

In an exclusive interview, Dan K. Webb, who was in charge of creating the vetting process for the No Labels third-party run, tells Michael Sneed “the ticket came this/close to reality weeks ago.”

By Michael Sneed