DC BUREAU

Our Washington, D.C., bureau reports on congressional delegations and key Supreme Court and administrative decisions that affect our state.

STAFF

Jane Norman

DC Bureau Chief

Jane directs national coverage, managing staff and freelance reporters in the nation’s capital and assigning and editing state-specific daily and enterprise stories.

Jacob Fischler

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jacob covers federal policy as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Based in Oregon, he focuses on Western issues. His coverage areas include climate, energy development, public lands and infrastructure.

Ashley Murray

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

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

Jennifer Shutt

DC Bureau Senior Reporter

Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.

Ariana Figueroa

DC Bureau Reporter

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

STORIES

FEMA disaster relief fund faces August shortfall as feds scramble to find cash

BY: - July 13, 2023

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is on track to run out of money as soon as next month.

Higher taxes on the wealthy would bolster Social Security, U.S. Senate Dems argue

BY: - July 12, 2023

U.S. senators debated how best to resolve a funding cliff within Social Security that will lead to a quarter reduction in benefits in about a decade.

Tuberville concedes ‘white nationalists are racists’ but hangs on to holds on military nominees

BY: - July 12, 2023

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, is drawing intense criticism for his remarks on white nationalism and his hold on military nominees.

Bipartisan health care bills target hospital billing, hidden fees

BY: - July 11, 2023

The bill would require accurate billing practices by hospitals, price transparency and hidden fee disclosures.

White House rolls out strategy to battle deadly drug mixture of fentanyl and xylazine

BY: - July 11, 2023

Overdose deaths involving the presence of the non-opioid sedative and illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl increased 276% from January 2019 to June 2022 in 20 states and D.C.

U.S. House Dems want data on impact of Supreme Court ruling on wetlands protection

BY: - July 10, 2023

Two House Democrats say they fear that the Supreme Court’s ruling would degrade water quality across the country.

Economy adds more jobs in June even as hiring slows

BY: - July 7, 2023

Although hiring inched down in June, the U.S. labor market is still showing signs of strength, with unemployment falling and earnings continuing to rise, the latest jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor showed. The economy added 209,000 jobs as the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in June from 3.7% in May. “In excess of […]

Biden administration to crack down on ‘junk’ health insurance plans, surprise billing

BY: - July 7, 2023

The Biden administration wants to rein in short-term health insurance plans and is advising hospitals how to curb surprise medical billing.

Vulnerable U.S. House Republicans who opposed student debt plan targeted in 2024

BY: - July 6, 2023

Critics take aim at GOP lawmakers in the 2024 election after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Biden’s student debt relief plan.

President Biden calls out Republicans who tout major legislation they opposed

BY: - July 6, 2023

President Biden rebuked Republicans for voting against bills in Congress that are now providing billions in federal dollars. 

US Supreme Court rules against Biden administration student loan debt relief plan

BY: - June 30, 2023

The plaintiffs argued the Biden administration overstepped its reach and that a Missouri college loan authority would be harmed by a loss of profits from federal student loan debt relief.

Summer wildfire threat could imperil unexpected US regions

BY: - June 29, 2023

The Fire Center’s recent summer outlook forecasts atypical wildfire activity for the northern tier of the United States, but a reprieve across much of the West.