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While Newt Gingrich deserves much of the blame for the modern Republican Party — an assemblage of antidemocratic, obstructionist, belligerent contrarians and kooks — Grover Norquist ought to get his due. He is the right-wing anti-tax activist who famously stated, "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." Read moreCynthia Tucker: GOP wants to go easier on tax cheaters

State AP Stories

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More details are emerging about four people killed when a private jet crashed in Virginia after causing a scare over Washington. The victims aboard the Cessna Citation included a caretaker from Jamaica known for her generous portions of plantain porridge. Another was a luxury real estate broker, returning from a family visit with her 2-year-old daughter. The man behind the controls of the plane was a skilled aviator with decades of experience. All four died Sunday after the jet lost contact with air traffic controllers on a planned flight to New York. Military jets scrambled to intercept the flight.

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The promotion of certain beliefs that some North Carolina lawmakers have likened to “critical race theory” is on track to be banned in state government workplaces. A bill that received final legislative approval Tuesday in the General Assembly also would prohibit some hiring managers from pressuring a job applicant to opine about their personal or political beliefs as a condition of employment. The restrictions apply to state agencies, community colleges and the University of North Carolina system. The bill now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who hasn't said whether he will sign it. The initial votes for passage indicate any veto would likely be overridden.

North Carolina Democratic legislators have filed a bill that responds to state Rep. Tricia Cotham’s switch to the GOP two months ago. The bill filed by Senate Democrats Tuesday is unlikely to get traction in the Republican-controlled Legislature and, if passed, wouldn’t apply to Cotham. The bill would force a special election if a lawmaker switches parties and the person has more than six months remaining in the term. The bill also would force a party-switcher to refund recent campaign donations if requested by a donor. A bill sponsor said there should be consequences when someone changes sides. Cotham’s move helped the GOP pass new abortion restrictions over the governor’s veto.

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Cherokee Nation's Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. has won reelection to another four-year term as leader of the nation's most populous tribe. Results certified by the tribe's Election Commission on Monday show Hoskin won nearly 63% of the vote in the four-way race for chief, a position similar to the governor of a state. Hoskin's running mate, Bryan Warner, won reelection to deputy chief with about 62% of the vote. Both needed to secure more than 50% to avoid a runoff. Hoskin ran on a platform of protecting tribal sovereignty, investing in improved health and wellness for tribal citizens and funding efforts to protect its language.

National & World AP Stories

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U.S. stocks are drifting and hovering near the edge of a new bull market for Wall Street. The S&P 500 was 0.2% lower Wednesday. The Dow was up 37 points, while the Nasdaq was 0.6% lower. If the S&P 500 finishes the day with a gain of roughly 0.2%, the U.S. stock market’s main measure of health would be 20% above where it was in mid-October. That would mean the end to its painful bear market, which began early last year. Stocks have charged higher as the economy has defied predictions for a recession and a handful of big technology stocks soared to big gains.

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Pope Francis has been admitted to the hospital for surgery to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. It was the latest malady to befall the 86-year-old pontiff who had part of his colon removed two years ago. The Vatican said Francis was expected to be put under general anesthesia Wednesday for the open abdominal surgery and remain at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for several days. While hernia operations are rarely performed on an emergency basis, the procedure appeared somewhat urgent, scheduled just a day after Francis went to the hospital for tests. The pontiff’s doctors no doubt also wanted to give him ample time for recovery ahead of a busy travel schedule later this summer. The pope was suffering from a hernia that formed over a previous scar.