US agency to study protecting more habitat for rare North Pacific right whales
Story at a glance The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries is considering increasing critical habitat in Alaska for the endangered North Pacific right whale. The whale is the most endangered large whale species on the planet with NOAA estimating that there are only 30 left in the wild. The decision comes rou
Read MoreThe Hill's Morning Report — Jan. 6 panel piles evidence against Trump
The House committee investigating the events of Jan. 6 on Tuesday said former President Trump recklessly stoked a mob to attack the Capitol in a brazen attempt after weeks of desperate efforts to retain presidential power by force and intimidation. In a bombshell disclosure in the final minutes of the hearing, committee Vice Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Trump phoned an unnamed witness set to appear at a future hearing. The individual did not take the call and reported it to the committee through a lawyer, and the committee, in turn, reporte
Read MoreWhy sharks aren’t out to get you
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Read MoreWhy the Fed is taking a hammer to the housing market
The Federal Reserve’s rapid interest rate hikes are taking a serious toll on the housing market. Home prices and sales have fallen throughout the year as buyers recoil from rising mortgage interest rates — one of the first sectors of the economy affected by Fed rate hikes. As the Fed boosts its baseline interest rate range, borrowing costs for consumers and businesses rise along the way. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 5.3 percent at the end of last week, according to Freddie Mac, up from 3.1 percent at the start of the year.
Read MoreMcConnell ultimatum endangers China competition bill
The fate of bipartisan legislation to boost U.S. competitiveness with China could be imperiled by political battles. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) aims to pass a party-line economic package to lower drug prices and raise taxes on high earners despite Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) threat to block the China-centric measure if Democrats move forward with a reconciliation bill. The push and pull between Senate leaders could undermine legislation that would provide $52 billion in subsidies to restore domestic semiconductor manu
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