barack obama

British PM Cameron Visits Boston Marathon Memorial

Jaired Crofut — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:55:24 +0000

British Prime Minister David Cameron, accompanied by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, has visited the Boston Marathon bombings memorial.

Earlier this morning, Cameron and Patrick visited the makeshift memorial that includes T-shirts, letters, running shoes and other items.

The memorial grew in the wake of the April 15 explosions at the marathon finish line that killed three people and injured more than 260.

One suspect died in a shootout with police days later, while a second suspect is recovering in a federal prison hospital.

Senate Gun Control Vote Angers Conn. Officials

Jaired Crofut — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:01:44 +0000

Connecticut officials are reacting with shock and anger after the U.S. Senate rejected gun control legislation inspired by the school shootings in Newtown.

State lawmakers recently passed a sweeping bipartisan package of measures including a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines and an expanded assault weapons ban.

State Republican House Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr. appeared stunned the U.S. Senate couldn't pass a background checks compromise. He says "I just don't understand how you could vote no."

Marathon Bombing Update

Jaired Crofut — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:12:29 +0000

There could be a major break in the Boston Marathon bombing case.

A local politician says investigators are looking for a man seen in department store video surveillance dropping off a bag at the site of the bombings.

And a law enforcement official says authorities have spotted an image of someone who could be a potential suspect in the bombings, but they haven't identified that person.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is traveling to Boston this morning to pay tribute to the victims in the Boston Marathon bomb attack.

Obama promoting gun legislation in Connecticut

Jaired Crofut — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:03:57 +0000

President Barack Obama is trying to boost the chances of gun legislation that could be in jeopardy this week with a trip to the home state of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Obama is visiting the Connecticut capital of Hartford, where last week the governor signed a law with widespread restrictions on firearms. The Senate could take up national legislation this week.

Obama plans to meet with Sandy Hook families and argue that lawmakers have an obligation to the children killed and other victims of gun violence to act on his proposals.

Conn. governor signs sweeping gun limits into law

Jaired Crofut — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:37:34 +0000

Connecticut's governor has signed into law some of the country's tightest gun restrictions in response to December's shooting massacre at a Newtown school.

The measure adds more than 100 firearms to the state's assault weapons ban and outlaws the sale of large-capacity ammunition magazines similar to the ones used by the gunman who killed 26 people inside Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Cuomo sees federal budget impact on New Yorkers

Jaired Crofut — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:36:54 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the federal budget fight forcing temporary across-the-board spending cuts will affect New Yorkers including students and seniors.

He says the cuts won't have as big an impact on state government.

The dispute between Democratic President Barack Obama and the Republican-led House over spending cuts and tax increases led to automatic cuts that started Friday.

Linking Dr. King's Dream to Obama's Inauguration

Allison Dunne — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:34:44 +0000

As President Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term today, the nation celebrated the life of civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And January First marked the 150^th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing hundreds of thousands of slaves.

Michael Meeropol: The U.S. Dodged a Bullet on Election Day

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:52:13 +0000

Herbert London: Obama's Ship of State Without a Helmsman

Herbert London — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:32:36 +0000

This presidential campaign season is a time for clarification. If campaigns have any value over and above the megaphone effect of why one candidate is more desirable than the other, it is the chance to use a campaign as an educational forum. From my perspective, even silence or ambiguity can be revealing. In this season, President Obama has indicated the threat and direction of American foreign policy through ellipses.

The Nation's Washington reporter on Obama's acceptance speech

David Guistina — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:11:08 +0000

WAMC's David Guistina speaks with George Nornick, Washington reporter for The Nation magazine, who has been covering the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.