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John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence under then-President Donald Trump, said on Sunday that the Biden administration’s efforts to purchase Chinese-made drones for federal law enforcement agencies make no sense because it’s a risk to U.S. national security.In an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Ratcliffe, also a former U.S. lawmaker from Texas, said the Trump administration tagged the Chinese company in question after intelligence officials discerned with “moderate confidence” the firm was spying on critical U.S. infrastructure electronically and sending the collected data to the Communist leadership in Beijing.“Yeah, those reports are accurate as reflected, the Biden...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - State officials improperly handled bid documents concerning the award of a multimillion dollar purchasing contract that eventually went to a Virginia company with no experience in the field, according to testimony Wednesday before a Senate panel. Officials also said they changed scores from pass to fail for the company's only rival for the work, which caused the competitor's disqualification. That led Sen. Joe Dunn, a Garden Grove Democrat leading the investigation into the state's "strategic sourcing" contract, to say "there's something more than meets the eye with the bidding" and call for more hearings. At issue is...

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 31, 2004 President's Radio Address      Audio THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week we received encouraging reports that show our economy is gaining strength. Consumer confidence hit a two-year high in July. Existing home sales hit an all-time new record in June. The home ownership rate has hit a new all-time high. And since last summer, our economy has grown at a rate as fast as any in nearly 20 years.  Radio Address 2004200320022001  Radio Interviews 2004 These gains in our economy have come at a time when Americans are benefiting...

American manufacturing activity rose to its highest level in nearly 20 years last month as factories raced to keep up with demand and indicated a readiness to expand their work forces for the first time in three years, according to a survey published on Monday. In the latest good economic news, the Institute of Supply Management reported that its November survey of purchasing managers showed a surge in new orders and a big jump in production in almost every industry. The institute said its overall index of manufacturing activity climbed to the highest level since December 1983, an increase much...

As baby boomers head into their 40s and 50s, the bill for their glory days is coming due. Musicians and their fans are discovering that their ears don't work as well as they used to, and the loud rock music they reveled in is at least partly to blame. It's a frightening prospect. Once you've battered some of the thousands of inner-ear hair cells that transmit sounds to the brain, they are lost forever. And the only remedy for most people is hearing aids. Bill Clinton owned up to his rock 'n' roll past when he was fitted with hearing...

Chicago PMI index 55.9 in July vs 52.5 in June Thursday July 31, 10:05 am ET NEW YORK, July 31 (Reuters) - The National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said on Thursday its index of Midwest manufacturing activity came in at 55.9 in July, up from 52.5 in June and above analyst expectations of 54.0. The reading remained above the critical threshold of 50, which separates growth from contraction in the sector. . July June May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec (seasonal adj) NAPM-Chicago 55.9 52.5 52.2 47.6 48.4 54.9 56.0 51.7 Production* 58.4 56.5 60.5 51.0 49.1 62.4 63.1 52.6...