Author

Ashley Murray

Ashley Murray

Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.

US Supreme Court strikes down use of affirmative action in college admissions

By: and - June 29, 2023

Chief Justice John Roberts said the admissions processes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

US Senate Democrats ask for more specifics on SNAP changes resulting from debt deal

By: - June 27, 2023

The deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling expands work requirements for adults without dependents age 18 to 55, raising the previous cutoff age of 49.

White House unveils $42.5B to connect every American to high-speed broadband internet

By: - June 26, 2023

Twenty-four million people lack access to high-speed internet because networks do not reach their homes or because of affordability issues, the White House said.

Swelling crowd of top military nominees blocked from U.S. Senate vote by Tuberville 

By: - June 16, 2023

Sen. Tommy Tuberville is provoking concern among his own party members as the highest-ranking U.S. Marine is set to retire July 10, and as Pentagon officials warn that the delay on nominations weakens military readiness

Tougher ethics rules for U.S. Supreme Court justices advocated in Senate hearing

By: - June 15, 2023

The series of Senate hearings came after recent revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas’ luxury travel and real estate transactions with a GOP donor.

Statue of renowned author Willa Cather unveiled in U.S. Capitol

By: - June 8, 2023

Cather wrote the widely acclaimed “O Pioneers!,” “My Ántonia” and the Pulitzer-winning “One of Ours,” depicting the human experience in Nebraska and beyond in the years surrounding the turn of the 20th century.

Hate groups’ political influence growing, watchdog says

By: - June 6, 2023

The report attributes some trends to “growing GOP extremism,” citing comments Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia made about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

New work requirements for some SNAP recipients included in debt limit deal

By: - May 30, 2023

Work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and other government benefits were a sticking point during the months of stalemate.

Fentanyl-related drugs permanently made criminal under bill passed by U.S. House

By: - May 26, 2023

The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently categorize lab-made substances with similar chemical structures to fentanyl among the most strictly regulated drugs under U.S. law.

Biden and McCarthy strike positive tone after debt limit talks, but no deal yet

By: and - May 24, 2023

Neither man divulged details about what remains unresolved nor how soon they hope to reach an agreement.

Progressives try to persuade Biden to use the 14th Amendment to resolve debt crisis

By: - May 23, 2023

Supporters of the idea argue that the Reconstruction-era amendment trumps the debt limit statute, or the law that sets the dollar amount of how much the U.S. government can borrow to pay its bills.

Biden and McCarthy strike positive tone after debt limit talks, but no deal yet

By: and - May 22, 2023

The stalemate could soon disrupt Americans’ everyday lives as well as the global economy.