Oil, money and politics; EPA snags Keystone XL pipeline
(CNN) -- The politics of oil and ecology have put President Obama between a rock and hard place, as he faces a decision on whether or not to permit construction of a new pipeline.
Ricin suspect freed, marshals say; attorney says he was set up
(CNN) -- The Mississippi man accused of sending ricin-tainted letters to President Barack Obama and other officials has been released from federal custody, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service said Tuesday.Paul Kevin Curtis, an Elvis impersonator from Corinth, Mississippi, was charged with sending a threat to the president last week after letters containing the poison triggered security scares around Washington.
TEXT: Pres. Obama's statement after the capture of Boston bombing suspect
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WITI) -- Shortly after Boston authorities announced they had captured the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, President Obama spoke to the nation.
FBI confirms suspicious letters to Obama, others contained ricin
(CNN) -- The FBI said Thursday it confirmed the presence of the deadly poison ricin in letters sent to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator and a judge.Earlier, an Elvis impersonator charged in the case appeared in federal court in Oxford Mississippi.During a four-minute hearing, Magistrate Judge S.
Hundreds take in Pres. Obama's message of hope in Boston
BOSTON (WITI) -- President Barack Obama spoke in Boston on Thursday, April 18th, as the city is still reeling from two explosions that went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Obama's message in Boston: Defiance mixed with reassurance
(CNN) -- President Obama brought a mixture of reassurance and defiance to Boston on Thursday to help heal a city hit hard by terrorist bombs."Every one of us stands with you," the president said at an interfaith service inside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. "Boston may be your hometown -- but we claim it, too. ...
TEXT: Read Pres. Obama's speech given at Boston service
BOSTON (WITI) -- If you missed President Obama's speech at the Boston service on Thursday morning, April 18th, we have posted the entire text of the speech just below.Pres.
Mississippi entertainer charged in ricin scare
(CNN) -- The FBI said Thursday it confirmed the presence of the deadly poison ricin in letters sent to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator and a judge.Earlier, an Elvis impersonator charged in the case appeared in federal court in Oxford Mississippi.During a four-minute hearing, Magistrate Judge S.
Feds: Mississippi man arrested in ricin scare
(CNN) -- The letter received by the Mississippi judge has notable "similarities" with letters directed to Sen.
Pres. Obama calling Boston bombings "an act of terrorism"
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The bomb attacks at the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon were a "heinous and cowardly act" that the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism, President Barack Obama said Tuesday."Any time bombs are used to target civilians, it is an act of terrorism," Obama said, adding that it remained unclear who carried out the attack and why.
Flags at half-staff following Boston bombings
MADISON (WITI) -- Earlier Tuesday, April 16th, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation ordering flags to half-staff at all federal buildings, military posts, and installations until sunset on April 20, 2013, in remembrance and mourning of the tragic events in Boston.In accordance with the President’s proclamation, the flags of the United States and State of Wisconsin will be flown half-staff at all buildings, grounds, and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning Tuesday, April 16, 2013, and ending at sunset on April 20, 2013.On Monday, Governor Walker issued the following statement regarding the tragedy in Boston:"There is no explanation for the kind of evil that seeks to destroy.
Pres. Obama issues statement on deadly explosions in Boston
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama said Monday he ordered the "full resources" of the federal government to respond to the Boston bombings on Monday, including increased security around the United States as necessary.Pledging a full investigation to find out what happened, Obama said any individuals or groups responsible for what he called the "senseless" loss will "feel the full weight of justice."The president spoke to reporters at the White House a few hours after explosions rocked an area near the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon."I've directed the full resources of the federal government to help state and local authorities protect our people, increase security around the United States, as necessary, and investigate what happened," Obama said.Saying that "we still do not know who did this or why," Obama urged against jumping to conclusions in his statement that refrained from calling the explosions terrorism."But make no mistake: we will get to the bottom of this, and we will find out who did this," Obama said. "We'll find out why they did this.
Tax day: Where did the money go in 2012?
(CNN) -- Monday is tax day, and in case you're wondering where your money went last year, President Barack Obama is eager to let you know.
Pres. Obama's tax returns: Income drops
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- President Obama and the first family saw their income drop slightly in 2012, according to tax returns released by the White House on Friday.The returns show the president and First Lady Michelle Obama earned $608,611 last year, and paid $112,214 in taxes.
President Obama proposes $3.77 trillion budget for 2014
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- President Obama on Wednesday proposed a $3.77 trillion budget for 2014 that would cut deficits by $1.8 trillion over the next decade.Obama's budget blueprint -- which has already drawn criticism from the left and the right -- offers changes to Medicare and Social Security.
Obama budget adds domestic same-sex partners to Obamacare
(CNN) -- Buried deep inside President Obama's 2014 budget released on Wednesday is a new proposal to expand federal health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners.Framed as a measure to reduce the deficit, the proposal would amend the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program beginning in 2015 to add a "self plus one" enrollment option in addition to the "self" and "family" options.
Pres. Obama calls for cigarette tax hike of 94 cents a pack
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- President's Obama's call for a 94-cent-a-pack hike on federal cigarette taxes to fund early childhood education programs is controversial.Anti-smoking groups applaud the proposal, but some tax experts and tobacco companies are against it.The case for the tax.
Pres. Obama proposes limits on IRAs for the rich
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- President Obama on Wednesday announced a plan that would prohibit individuals from reaping tax advantages on IRAs and other tax-preferred retirement accounts when funds exceed $3 million.By proposing the cap as part of his 2014 budget, Obama is taking aim at those who stash many millions of dollars in tax-advantaged retirement accounts -- which it argues is more than enough to retire comfortably.A $3 million balance in a tax-preferred account like an IRA would currently allow a saver to finance an annuity of $205,000 per year in retirement.
U.S. believes North Korea could test fire missiles at any time
(CNN) -- The Obama administration calculates it's likely North Korea may test fire mobile ballistic missiles at any time, based on the most recent intelligence showing Pyongyang probably has completed launch preparations, a U.S. official said Tuesday.The administration believes a test launch could happen without North Korea issuing a standard notice to commercial aviation and maritime shipping warning them to stay away from the missile's path, according to the official, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the information.He cautioned most of the information comes from satellite imagery, so it's impossible to reach a definitive conclusion because the United States has no means to gather information on the ground."We hope they issue a notification, but at this point we don't expect it.
Obama scolds lawmakers for reticence in passing gun control
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama angrily chided lawmakers reluctant to back gun control legislation on Monday, saying the overwhelming support for measures like universal background checks among the American people should force action in Congress.The president was speaking in Hartford, not far from the site of the massacre in Connecticut that left 20 children and six adults dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.Obama's calls for tighter gun control laws began in the aftermath of that shooting, though measures he proposed appear to be stalled in Congress.His message on Monday was crafted as much for lawmakers as it was for the Newtown victims' families, who sat behind him on stage and who will travel to Washington with him on Air Force One to further lobby members of Congress on passing new gun laws."Newtown, we want you to know that we're here with you," Obama said. "We will not walk away from the promises we've made.