Author

Jane Norman

Jane Norman

As the Washington Bureau Chief of States Newsroom, Jane directs national coverage, managing staff and freelance reporters in the nation’s capital and assigning and editing state-specific daily and enterprise stories. Jane is a veteran of more than three decades in journalism.

Drawing of female reproductive system with judge's gavel and stethoscope

U.S. Justice Department to ask Supreme Court to reject limits on access to abortion pill

By: and - April 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday it will ask the Supreme Court on an emergency basis to keep access to the abortion medication mifepristone exactly as it is now, amid the appeals process in a much-watched case out of Texas. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the department “strongly disagrees” with […]

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event on February 10, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Report: Biden says South Carolina should be first primary state, Michigan first in Midwest

By: - December 1, 2022

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is recommending to the Democratic National Committee that South Carolina become the first primary state in the presidential nominating process in 2024, and that New Hampshire and Nevada follow a week later — leaving Iowa out of the early lineup, the Washington Post reported on Thursday night. Georgia and Michigan […]

Novel coronavirus SARS CoV2, which causes COVID-19. Meanwhile, new COVID mutations called variants are now spreading across the U.S., including the Delta variant. Microphotography by National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Biden tests positive for COVID-19 again in ‘rebound’ infection

By: - August 1, 2022

WASHINGTON — The White House announced that President Joe Biden tested positive again for COVID-19 this past weekend in what his physician said represented “rebound” positivity. “The President has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and continues to feel quite well,” his physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, said in a letter to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre […]

President Joe Biden walks along the Colonnade Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, to the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Biden slams COVID-19 vaccine ‘lies,’ announces free at-home tests

By: - December 23, 2021

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged that COVID-19 vaccine doubters stop “peddling lies” on TV and online, as the nation grapples with a rising number of cases due to the highly transmissible omicron variant. Biden also announced new federal help for testing and treatment in the states, including 500 million at-home rapid test […]

Young woman receiving a vaccine shot against a virus

Vaccine mandate for health care workers halted nationwide by Louisiana judge

By: and - December 1, 2021

WASHINGTON—A federal judge in Louisiana on Tuesday issued a ruling blocking nationwide the Biden administration mandate requiring millions of health care workers be vaccinated against COVID-19. A suit challenging the mandate was led on behalf of multiple states by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican, and U.S. Judge Terry Doughty granted the states’ request […]

Biden walks by a Wisconsin flag to tout American Jobs Plan

How Congress will attempt the biggest expansion of U.S. social programs since FDR

By: and - August 16, 2021

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate this week passed a massive bipartisan infrastructure bill and an even larger budget blueprint that would pave the way for historic changes in U.S. health, education, climate and tax policies. The two measures are roped to each other, reflecting Democrats’ strategy to pass what they can on a bipartisan basis with Republicans […]

Juneteenth logo

Biden signs law making Juneteenth a new federal holiday

By: - June 17, 2021

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law legislation declaring a legal public holiday annually on June 19, the date of the end of slavery in the U.S. known as Juneteenth. “Throughout history, Juneteenth has been known by many names—Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Liberation Day,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at the White […]

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

U.S. House OKs commission to probe Capitol attack, but McConnell objections may doom it

By: - May 20, 2021

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House voted Wednesday 252-175 to give the go-ahead to the formation of an independent, bipartisan commission that would investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, despite objections from Republican leaders that the scope of the commission was not wide enough and other investigations are ongoing. Thirty-five Republicans joined with Democrats in […]

WILMINGTON, DE - DECEMBER 19: Nominee for Secretary of Interior, Congresswoman Deb Haaland, speaks after President-elect Joe Biden announced his climate and energy appointments at the Queen theater on December 19, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Haaland is the first Native American nominated to serve on the presidential cabinet. (Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

Senate confirms Haaland as first-ever Native American to serve in the Cabinet

By: - March 16, 2021

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland made history on Monday when she became the first Native American to ever be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold a position in a president’s Cabinet. In a narrow 51-40 vote, senators confirmed Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, to serve as secretary of Interior, where she will run a $21 […]

Inauguration Day Sunrise by Geoff Livingston.

Excerpts from President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech

By: - January 20, 2021

Below are excerpts from President Joe Biden’s inaugural address, following his swearing-in as the nation’s 46th president: We’ll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. Few […]

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: The U.S Capitol Building is prepared for the inaugural ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden as American flags are placed in the ground on the National Mall on January 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. The approximately 191,500 U.S. flags will cover part of the National Mall and will represent the American people who are unable to travel to Washington, DC for the inauguration. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Here’s what Biden plans to do on his first day as president

By: - January 20, 2021

WASHINGTON—Joe Biden early Wednesday unveiled the list of executive orders, memos and directives he will make when he assumes the presidency later in the day, reversing a slew of Trump administration actions and laying out new policies of his own. “These actions are bold, begin the work of following through on President-elect Biden’s promises to […]

President Donald Trump speaks at a Duluth airport hangar for a campaign rally on Sep. 30, 2020. Photo by Ricardo Lopez.

Trump taken to Walter Reed hospital; Biden tests negative

By: , and - October 2, 2020

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Maryland late Friday afternoon, where White House officials said he is expected to stay for “the next few days” for treatment of COVID-19. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany described Trump, who disclosed his diagnosis earlier Friday, as having mild symptoms […]