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WASHINGTON — The House ethics committee laid out 13 charges of House rules violations against Representative Charles Rangel on Thursday, and began the process for a rare public trial on the charges.

The move came after Mr. Rangel, a veteran congressman, failed to reach a settlement …

We’ve shaken things up. Thought outside the box. Colored way outside the lines.

And this is what we came up with - The Midwest Democracy Project. What is it? A comprehensive election portal crammed with political news, blogs, commentary and hundreds of candidate pages and survey responses. It just needs you. Come inside and check it out.

Democrats are critical this afternoon of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, who recently told voters in Michigan that Barack Obama’s support comes from “unmarried women” who get welfare.

“Do you know what the second-biggest demographic group that voted for Obama — obviously the blacks were the …

Fred Arbanas wants to make one thing perfectly clear — he never accepted a campaign donation from Local 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

A July report filed by Taxpayer’s Unlimited, the firefighter’s political committee, listed a $2,500 contribution to Arbanas …

About two years ago at this time, a federal judge ordered a Missouri social service agency to take concrete steps to help clients register to vote.

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the now-well-known Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now …

JEFFERSON CITY | Missouri state auditor candidate Allen Icet picked up a late-breaking endorsement today: former Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof.

In a statement, Hulshof played up the four-term state representative’s fiscal bona fides and conservative credentials.

“Allen has worked tirelessly in his effort …

Interesting move today by Kansas’ county clerks.

The Kansas County Clerks and Election Officials Association today — for the first time in the group’s history — endorsed a candidate for secretary of state.

The pick: Elizabeth Ensley, the Shawnee County election commissioner.

Yes, Ensley is a …

Kansas House Minority Leader Paul Davis, a Lawrence Democrat, wades into the Democratic Secretary of State primary by endorsing incumbent Secretary of State Chris Biggs over his challenger, state Sen. Chris Steineger of Kansas City, Kan.

Chelsea Clinton’s wedding: $3 - $5 million. Sprint’s second quarter losses: $760 million. A missing murder weapon turning up in the trunk of a KCPD patrol car: priceless. Enjoy…

It’s classic campaign strategy.

Begin your ad campaign with fuzzy, feel-good introductory bio ads.

Follow it up with the hard-hitting stuff on your opponent.

End with more fuzzy, feel-good asking for the vote.

Jerry Moran does exactly that with his new spot.

The debate continues over the Americans With Disabilities Act, a new poll shows that President Barack Obama’s approval rating has plummeted to 30 percent in Kansas, and is John Crawford considering a run for City Council.

No Particular Place To Go

The immortal Chuck Berry rocks and rolls tonight for members of the Democratic National Committee considering St. Louis as the site for the 2012 party convention.

Normally, we don’t like St. Louis, mostly because they still whine about The …

In a release, KS-03 GOP House candidate Patricia Lightner’s campaign calls opponent Kevin Yoder’s “pink elephant” mailer “sexist and insulting.”

The mailer depicts a donkey in an elephant suit, with a pink ballerina costume, and claims Lightner supports positions taken by Speaker Nancy …

Longtime Jackson County legislator Fred Arbanas bares some knuckles in a new TV ad.

In the ad, Arbanas questions why his opponent, Terry Riley, has “distorted” his record.

The ad also calls out Riley as a city politician and former school board member who “must …