WASHINGTON — The Senate has approved the nomination of Army Gen. Martin Dempsey for another two-year term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Senate voice vote on Thursday came as lawmakers prepared to leave Washington for the August summer recess. They also approved the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. James Winnefeld.
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona had threatened to block Dempsey's nomination until he received additional information on Syria. Dempsey responded to the request, clearing the way for a vote.
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Politics
Politics
Arizona Republican drops reelection effort after accusation he forged signatures
A leader of the conservative group Turning Point Action resigned from the organization Thursday and dropped his bid for reelection to the Arizona House of Representatives after he was accused of forging signatures on his nominating petitions.
Nation
Pennsylvania House Dems propose new expulsion rules after remote voting by lawmaker facing a warrant
Pennsylvania House Democrats on Thursday proposed a process to determine if state representatives are ''incapacitated'' and to sanction or expel them, moving in the wake of intense criticism after one of their members voted remotely this week while being sought on charges he violated a restraining order.
Business
Nevada Supreme Court rulings hand setbacks to gun-right defenders and anti-abortion activists
Nevada's Supreme Court upheld a state ban on ghost guns Thursday, overturning a lower court's ruling that sided with a gun manufacturer's argument that the 2021 law regulating firearm components with no serial numbers was too broad and unconstitutionally vague.
Nation
Iraq's prime minister heads to Michigan to meet Arab Americans at a tense time for the Middle East
The leader of Iraq traveled to Michigan on Thursday following a sit-down with President Joe Biden to meet with the state's large Iraqi community and update them on escalating tensions in the Middle East following Iran's weekend aerial assault on Israel.
Business
Biden administration moves to make conservation an equal to industry on US lands
The Biden administration on Thursday finalized a new rule for public land management that's meant to put conservation on more equal footing with oil drilling, grazing and other extractive industries on vast government-owned properties.