INSIDER
US announces $275M in new military assistance for Ukraine
Read full article: US announces $275M in new military assistance for UkraineThe Biden administration has, as expected, announced an additional $275 million in military aid for Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region.
Protesters against war in Gaza interrupt Blinken repeatedly in the Senate
Read full article: Protesters against war in Gaza interrupt Blinken repeatedly in the SenateSecretary of State Antony Blinken has denounced the chief prosecutor of the world’s top war crimes court for seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky-high again in latest survey of federal employees
Read full article: What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky-high again in latest survey of federal employeesExploring the cosmos makes for happy employees, federal workers like to work from home like everyone else, and an agency that has struggled with low morale is showing improvement.
Top former US generals say failures of Biden administration in planning drove chaotic fall of Kabul
Read full article: Top former US generals say failures of Biden administration in planning drove chaotic fall of KabulThe former top military chief Gen. Mark Milley and former head of U.S. Central Command testified before Congress Tuesday on policy failures by the Biden administration to adequately plan for or direct an evacuation in time to avoid the chaotic final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Pennsylvanians scurry to fix mail-in ballots after ruling
Read full article: Pennsylvanians scurry to fix mail-in ballots after rulingSome of Pennsylvania’s largest counties are working to help voters fix mail-in ballots that have fatal flaws such as incorrect dates or lack of signatures on the envelopes used to send them in.
Michigan SOS lifts driver’s license suspensions for more than 150,000 residents
Read full article: Michigan SOS lifts driver’s license suspensions for more than 150,000 residentsThe Michigan Secretary of State says it has lifted suspensions on more than 150,000 driver’s licenses as part of a new law that took effect last month.
Michigan SOS announces non-binary option for state IDs, driver’s licenses
Read full article: Michigan SOS announces non-binary option for state IDs, driver’s licensesMichigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on Tuesday that the state would begin offering a non-binary option for state identification cards and driver’s licenses.
Afghan evacuation raises concerns about child trafficking
Read full article: Afghan evacuation raises concerns about child traffickingU.S. officials are looking into reports that in the frantic evacuation of desperate Afghans from Kabul, older men were admitted together with young girls they claimed as “brides” or otherwise sexually abused.
Trump State Department aide charged with assault at Capitol
Read full article: Trump State Department aide charged with assault at CapitolA former State Department aide in President Donald Trumps administration has been charged with participating in the deadly siege at the Capitol. Authorities say Klein pushed his way toward the doors, where he physically and verbally engaged with officers trying to keep the mob back. AdKlein became a staff assistant in the State Department shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2017, according to a financial disclosure report. One of Klein's State Department coworkers helped authorities identify him, officials said. The Department of State official identified Klein in photos and video shown by the FBI, officials said.
US diplomats in extraordinary protest against Trump for riot
Read full article: US diplomats in extraordinary protest against Trump for riotThe cables were an extraordinary protest against a sitting U.S. president by American diplomats, who have long complained that the Trump administration has ignored and diminished their role and expertise. The cables also reflect anger at the response to the riot by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a loyal Trump ally. Trump himself has railed about what he sees as disloyalty at the State Department. It was not immediately clear how many diplomats signed the cables, both of which were viewed by The Associated Press. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MDOS, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness provide voting resources to less fortunate Michiganders
Read full article: MDOS, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness provide voting resources to less fortunate MichigandersLANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of State announced Wednesday it will be providing resources to educate Michiganders facing homelessness about their voting rights. The outreach includes an online toolkit curated to provide accurate information about homelessness and voting, a webinar hosted in partnership with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness and voter registration drives at shelters. "Our work to provide resources and information to voters in this community will help ensure they can vote with confidence that their ballot will count.”A new toolkit will dispel misconceptions and provide accurate voting information and guidance for homeless individuals. The department joined with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness to promote voter education and registration. As part of this partnership, MDOS will join the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness and Communities First, Inc. to host a webinar aimed at educating homelessness advocacy organizations in how to assist their clients with voter registration, early voting and getting to the polls on Election Day.
Michigan bill could make driver lines shorter, save money
Read full article: Michigan bill could make driver lines shorter, save moneyMichigan drivers would no longer need a hard copy of a vehicles registration or an annual sticker on license plates under pending legislation. The bill's sponsor testified in a state House Transportation Committee this past week that the change would shorten lines at secretary of state branches and save the state money. The Department of State estimates in the bills analysis that the state could save $500,000 by eliminating the physical requirements of registration. Michigan State Police legislative liaison Sgt. Department of State spokesman Matt Levin said the department opposes allowing financial institutions to provide secretary of state services.
Watch: Michigan Secretary of State discusses customer service challenges
Read full article: Watch: Michigan Secretary of State discusses customer service challengesLANSING, Mich. – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson held a news conference Thursday to discuss the Department of State’s progress in addressing customer service challenges. Benson said the focus has been on getting more people to use the Secretary of State’s online services so they don’t have to go to a branch office. She also said the goal is to have anyone who makes an appointment at a branch wait in line no longer than 30 minutes. Benson is working to build the branch office of the future, which involves bringing pieces of the branch to the people. At the kiosks, users can handle vehicle transactions, and registration renewals for cars, boats and motorcycles.
Top US diplomat struggles to shrug off impeachment inquiry
Read full article: Top US diplomat struggles to shrug off impeachment inquiryWASHINGTON, DC Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tries to shrug off the impeachment inquiry that has ensnared the State Department and raised questions about his leadership. Pompeo portrays the inquiry, which centers on President Donald Trump's attempt to link U.S. military aid to Ukraine to a corruption probe of a political rival, as unworthy of his attention. But behind the scenes, officials say morale is plummeting at the State Department over the whole affair. Steven Pifer, a retired career diplomat and former ambassador to Ukraine who now teaches at Stanford University, shared the frustration of his former colleagues. Pompeo has said the impeachment process is unfair to State employees because they are not allowed to have department lawyers with them when they testify.