Author: Ethan Johnson

Washington – Congressional leaders announced a widely anticipated government funding package early Thursday, ending a months-long funding row that lawmakers hope will end a partial government shutdown ahead of a Friday night deadline. It opened a way to avoid it.The $1.2 trillion package includes six bills, more than 1,000 pages, and provides funding for the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Defense, Labor, and Health and Human Services, as well as foreign operations, financial services, and the Legislature. Also includes funds for. . If approved, the package would avert the threat of a government shutdown until October 1, when the next…

• The Senate Housing Committee approved the Transitional Housing Act of 2024 (SB 1395), authored by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park.This bill would address California's housing and homelessness needs by expanding access to transitional housing at the statewide level. The bill would encourage the development of transitional housing and clarify that relocatable non-multifamily housing is subject to streamlined zoning, reducing construction time and costs. Empowering local governments who want to build transitional housing by cutting out bureaucracy and speeding up approvals. Extending the deadline for existing streamlining authorities to provide local residents with confidence that existing tools can be…

Last year, the Office of Management and Budget announced a “reset” on how government agencies manage workplaces. It may be hard to believe, but the civil service system has remained largely unchanged today since its introduction in 1948 (aside from the introduction of local allowances). Now, with mass retirements, a dramatically changed labor market, and serious staffing issues in several government agencies, change is definitely warranted. We are seeing similar changes in the private sector, led by an expanded role for human resources. This supports strengthening the federal workforce, a top priority on the President's management agenda. Change is necessary,…

Following confirmation of the final tally, Rebelo de Sousa early Thursday called on Montenegro to form a government. The centre-right politician is expected to announce his cabinet next week and be sworn in as prime minister on April 2. “We will have a strong economy and public services that give hope to young people and address people's problems,” Montenegro said on social media. “We make a difference.” March's election, which had an above-average turnout, was held after the sudden resignation of Socialist Party leader Antonio Costa following an influence investigation last fall. The election result was a blow to the…

Written by Barry Hutton LISBON, Portugal (AP) – A center-right coalition led by the Social Democratic Party narrowly won Portugal's general election and is on track to form a minority government, in a vote that could make its term as a radical right-wing populist party difficult. The companies that came in third place are looking to seize power. The results were announced late Wednesday after overseas votes were counted to determine the final four members in the March 10 vote, giving the Democratic Alliance a final 80 seats in Portugal's 230-member parliament. Obtained. The centre-left Socialist Party came in second…

Congress is desperately trying to prevent a government shutdown ahead of a March 22 deadline, leaving little time to focus on passing aid to Ukraine. A two-week Easter recess is scheduled to begin immediately afterwards and extend until April 8, potentially delaying a potential vote on the issue further. After months of delays, the U.S. Senate passed an aid bill in February that included about $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far said refused to vote on the floorDespite pressure from the White House and other lawmakers.The Department of Defense was able to…

Written by Regina Garcia CanoAssociated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle have been the targets of several plots since last year that could have resulted in injury or worse, as the Venezuelan government believes. Few details about the alleged plot have been released. But the government has named them in more than 30 arrests since January, including prominent human rights lawyers and staffers of the main opposition presidential candidate. Local and international non-governmental groups, the United Nations and foreign governments say the crackdown comes ahead of a July 28 presidential election in…

MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle have been the targets of several plots since last year that could have resulted in injury or worse, as the Venezuelan government believes.Few details about the alleged plot have been released. But the government has named them in more than 30 arrests since January, including prominent human rights lawyers and staffers of the main opposition presidential candidate.Local and international nongovernmental groups, the United Nations, and foreign governments say the crackdown is a pretext to preemptively suppress political opposition. Presidential election on July 28th President Maduro, who has…

Mexico City – President Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle have been the targets of several plots since last year that could result in injury or worse, as the Venezuelan government believes.Few details about the alleged plot have been released. But the government has named them in more than 30 arrests since January, including prominent human rights lawyers and staffers of the main opposition presidential candidate.Local and international non-governmental groups, the United Nations and foreign governments say the crackdown comes ahead of a July 28 presidential election in which Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, is…

19 minutes agoimage source, shutter stockimage caption, Luis Montenegro has repeatedly insisted that he will not cooperate with the far-right party ChegaPortugal's president has invited center-right politician Luis Montenegro to form a minority government.The Democratic Alliance (AD) won a snap election this month, but fell short of gaining a majority in parliament. The party refused to cooperate with the far-right Chega party, which won a record number of seats.Portugal, ruled by the Socialist Party since 2015, currently has the most divided parliament since the fall of the dictatorship half a century ago. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa invited Mr. Montenegro…