In what could be a significant realignment of political allegiance, Asian-Americans are identifying as Democrats at a quicker pace than any other racial group. And many Republicans worry this election will only accelerate that trend, damaging their party for years to come with what is now the fastest-growing minority in the country.   read more

The Supreme Court is set to begin its new term as it ended the last one, down one justice and ideologically deadlocked on a range of issues. The absence of a ninth justice since Antonin Scalia's death in February has hamstrung the court in several cases and forced the justices to look for less contentious issues on which they are less likely to divide by 4-4 votes. It could be several months, at least, before the nation's highest court is again operating at full strength.   read more

A federal control board on Friday took over Puerto Rico’s finances and several government agencies for the first time in the U.S. territory’s history in a bid to haul the island out of an acute economic crisis. It ordered Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla to produce a fiscal plan in two weeks and submit weekly and monthly revenue reports that detail how the government is adhering to its budget.   read more

The Drug Enforcement Administration does a poor job overseeing the millions of dollars in payments it distributes to confidential sources, relies on tipsters who operate with minimal oversight or direction and has paid informants who are no longer meant to be used, according to a government watchdog report issued Thursday.   read more

The U.S. is sending 615 more troops to Iraq as the stage is set for an Iraqi-led battle to reclaim Mosul, the northern city that has been the Islamic State group’s main stronghold for more than two years. The offensive, starting as soon as October, looms as a decisive moment for Iraq and for President Barack Obama’s much-criticized strategy to defeat IS.   read more

California doctors will be required to check a database of prescription narcotics before writing scripts for addictive drugs under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed Tuesday that aims to address the scourge of opioid abuse. The measure attempts to crack down on a practice known as “doctor-shopping,” in which addicts visit multiple providers to obtain prescriptions for addictive drugs.   read more

Unless it does more, the United States probably will fall short of goals set under last year’s Paris agreement to dramatically reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases, according to a new study. The U.S. pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels. But taking into account current efforts by state and local governments, the nation will only reach about four-fifths of that goal, according to a study in Monday’s Nature Climate Change.   read more

To much of the world, Charlotte is the Queen City — a gleaming downtown, state-of-the-art stadiums, sparkling new mass transit, the nation’s banking capital. But a very different Charlotte came into the spotlight in the past few days. Move outside the city’s core and there are neighborhoods such as the one where a black police officer shot and killed a black man, Keith Scott, setting off violent protests.   read more

President Barack Obama rejected a bill Friday that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, arguing it undermined national security and setting up the possibility Congress may override his veto for the first time in his presidency. The president said the bill, which doesn’t refer specifically to Saudi Arabia, could backfire by opening up the U.S. government and its officials to lawsuits by anyone accusing the U.S. of supporting terrorism.   read more

One of the biggest worldwide public health triumphs in recent years has been maternal mortality. Global death rates fell by more than a third from 2000 to 2015. The United States, however, is one of the few countries in the world that has gone against the grain, new data show. Its maternal mortality rate has risen despite improvements in health care and an overwhelming global trend in the other direction.   read more

The ocean's endless motion packs enough power to meet a quarter of America's energy needs and dramatically reduce the nation's reliance on oil, gas and coal. But wave energy technology lags well behind wind and solar power, with technical hurdles still to be overcome. To that end, the Navy has established a test site in Hawaii, with hopes the technology can someday be used to produce clean, renewable power for coastal communities in fuel-starved places around the world.   read more

AP VP Paul Colford said the news cooperative was "deeply disappointed with the inspector general's findings, which effectively condone the FBI's impersonation of an AP journalist in 2007. Such action compromises the ability of a free press to gather the news safely and effectively and raises serious constitutional concerns. Once again, AP calls on the government to refrain from any activities involving the impersonation of the news media..." FBI Director Comey defended the tactic in 2014.   read more

The bill is an opportunity for Republicans to put Democrats on record and use their votes against them in campaigns. Within minutes of the vote, Republicans sent out a news release saying, "Democrats vote to close GITMO and bring terrorists to U.S. soil (again)." Said White House press secretary Josh Earnest: "When it comes to America's national security, at some point that should rate higher on the priority list than an individual's re-election prospects."   read more

Medicare beneficiaries often hear such rationales for denying coverage: They’re not improving. They’ve “reached a plateau.” They've achieved “maximum functional capacity.” But the so-called improvement standard is no longer in effect. What matters is maintenance. Medicare must cover care to "maintain the patient’s current condition or prevent...deterioration.” But providers have still frequently invoked the improvement standard.   read more

"I feel we need to make small sacrifices — and money is a small sacrifice — to make life better for future generations," said teacher Sarah Griffin. Post-grad student Greg Davis agreed: "It's far more important to protect the environment than to save money. I think that's true for businesses as well as individuals." That a majority is willing to pay more is a new phenomenon, said professor Tom Dietz. "While the amounts may seem small, the willingness to take action...is encouraging."   read more

When Adam’s father found out the police had taken his son’s DNA, he immediately contacted the Melbourne Police Dept. to ask what they intended to do with the sample and on what legal basis it had been taken. As a doctor, he understood what had happened could have far-reaching implications. “My concern, being in the medical field, is that it’s not just Adam’s DNA,” he said. “It’s my DNA, it’s my wife’s DNA, and our parents. Not to sound bad, but... There’s some collateral damage there.”   read more