Three Dead In Tour Helicopter Crash At Grand Canyon

By ALINA HARTOUNIAN, Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — A tour helicopter carrying seven people on board crashed in the Grand Canyon, killing three people and injuring four others. Six passengers and a pilot were on board the Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopters chopper when it crashed around 5:20 p.m. Saturday on the Hualapai Nation near Quartermaster Canyon,…

Trump Won’t Declassify Democratic Memo On Russia Probe

By CHAD DAY and MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Citing national security concerns, the White House has notified the House Intelligence Committee that President Donald Trump is “unable” to declassify a memo drafted by Democrats that counters GOP allegations about abuse of government surveillance powers in the FBI’s Russia probe. White House counsel…

With Extraordinary Political Optics, Winter Olympics Begin

By FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) — In an extraordinary show of unexpected unity, North and South Korea sat side by side Friday night under exploding fireworks that represented peace, not destruction, as the 2018 Winter Olympics opened on a Korean Peninsula riven by generations of anger, suspicion and bloodshed. The sister of…

Congress Votes To Reopen Government, Passes Budget Deal

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The House moved swiftly early Friday to reopen the federal government and pass a $400 billion budget deal, overcoming opposition from both liberal Democrats and tea party conservatives to endorse enormous spending increases despite looming trillion-dollar deficits. The 240-186 vote came in the pre-dawn hours, putting to bed…

Senate Celebrates Budget Deal, But Shutdown Still Possible

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate leaders brokered a long-elusive budget agreement Wednesday that would shower the Pentagon and domestic programs with an extra $300 billion over the next two years. But both Democratic liberals and GOP tea party forces swung against the plan, raising questions about its chances just a day before…