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.

Lila Bonow, Alana Edmondson and Aiyana Knauer prepare to take abortion pill while demonstrating in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as

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 […]

Close-up Of A Woman's Hand Taking Medicine Over Wooden Desk

Appeals court rules that abortion pill can stay on the market, but limits access

By: - April 13, 2023

An appeals court in New Orleans late Wednesday partly blocked a judge’s order that would have overturned federal approval of the abortion pill — which means the pill remains available across the nation for now. But the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals also let part of the Texas judge’s order stand. The effect of the […]

How Medicare prescription drug coverage would change under U.S. Senate Democrats’ bill

By: - August 6, 2022

WASHINGTON — A major spending bill from U.S. Senate Democrats would allow Medicare for the first time in its history to begin negotiating the prices of certain high-priced prescription drugs — a proposal that’s been around for years but has never come so close to the finish line. Under the legislation, Medicare would start negotiating […]

President Joe Biden

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

By: - December 21, 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 […]

A hospital with doctors surrounding a patient

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 […]

A mob of pro-Trump supporters attack the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2020

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

By: - May 19, 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 […]

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

By: - March 15, 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 […]

Feds ramp up emergency help for states hit by extreme weather

By: - February 18, 2021

WASHINGTON—White House officials said Thursday that they have been in close touch with governors in storm-stricken states including Louisiana and Kansas to extend emergency assistance—but they also stressed the role of climate change in the weather crisis that has gripped large swaths of the nation. “The extreme weather events that we’re experiencing this week across […]

State, local leaders ask Biden for direct aid in COVID-19 relief

By: - February 12, 2021

WASHINGTON—Bipartisan mayors from Detroit and Miami who met at the White House on Friday with President Joe Biden emerged saying they back his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package and urged it be passed. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican, defended the need for $350 billion in the Biden plan for states and localities, which has […]

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 […]

COMMENTARY

Our home was attacked Wednesday. It may never be the same.

By: - January 8, 2021

WASHINGTON—Many of us in our working lives have places away from the office that feel like a second home. It could be a back room at a business, a warehouse, a barn, even the front seat of a car. For me, that place for years was the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of people’s lives are tied […]

Trump in ‘good spirits’ after testing positive for COVID-19; Biden tests negative

By: , and - October 2, 2020

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump tweeted early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19, throwing the presidential campaign into a new uproar. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump tweeted. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters Friday morning that […]