Washington — The Federal Reserve will start dialing back its ultra-low-rate policies this year as long as hiring continues to improve, Chair Jerome Powell said Friday, signaling the beginning of the end of the Fed’s extraordinary response to the pandemic recession. The Fed’s move could lead, over time, to somewhat …

U.S. Senator Rand Paul has been suspended from YouTube for seven days after posting a video claiming masks are ineffective against COVID-19, a spokesperson for the platform said.  “This resulted in a first strike on the channel, which means it can’t upload content for a week, per our longstanding three …

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas has identified 177 fatal encounters with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel dating back to January 2010 – including 34 deaths in custody. A new database launched Friday by the non-profit organization tracks fatal encounters with CBP officials, including U.S. Border …

Yellowstone and Yosemite will continue to be overcrowded unless officials implement a reservation system at more national parks and hire additional staff to handle the influx of visitors, federal lawmakers said Wednesday.  Those were two suggestions made by Angus King, a U.S. Senator from Maine, during a Congressional hearing about how to …

Washington — Former President Donald Trump claimed the crowd of his supporters who gathered outside the White House for a rally on January 6 before the assault on the U.S. Capitol was “loving,” according to published audio of an interview he conducted with a pair of Washington Post reporters. Mr. …

Congressman John Lewis’ death last year galvanized many Democrats to honor the memory of the civil rights icon by working to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation, and inspired some to endorse eliminating the filibuster to allow these measures to be approved by a simple majority. During his eulogy at Lewis’ funeral, former …

Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor who won a crowded primary by focusing on what he called his more conservative plans to combat the Big Apple’s recent surge in gun violence, is scheduled to meet with President Biden on Monday at the White House, multiple people …

NFL star Rob Gronkowski and his youth foundation are donating $1.2 million to help restore a beloved playground in Boston. The funds will help renovate the Charlesbank Playground on the city’s Charles River Esplanade and create a trust to maintain the property. Gronkowski, 31, made the donation through his organization, the …

Pharrell Williams said on Monday that his cousin was killed by police in Virginia Beach, Virginia, last week. The Virginia Beach police said Williams’ cousin was brandishing a handgun, and the city’s police chief announced Tuesday he asked the Virginia State Police to investigate the shooting. Williams’ cousin, 25-year-old Donovon …

New York’s Guggenheim Museum has appointed its first-ever Black deputy director and chief curator. Naomi Beckwith, formerly the senior curator at Chicago’ museum of contemporary art, was named to the role Thursday after former artistic director and chief curator Nancy Spector stepped down amid accusations of racism. “I’m excited to …