John Thune

— There are many reasons why Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker seems bound for the top job at the Commerce Department, after dodging potential conflict during a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday. Pritzker, 54, a Democratic mega-donor who...

WASHINGTON -- The prospects seemed strong Thursday for Penny Pritzker becoming Commerce secretary after a two-hour confirmation hearing, as she drew praise from both Democrats and Republicans. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the top Republican on the Senate...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker on Thursday appeared on her way to becoming U.S. commerce secretary, after a top Republican lawmaker said she had answered most of his questions about her role in the failure of an Illinois bank...

WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Department of Commerce faced questions on Thursday about her role in the failure of a Illinois bank in the early 2000s and her billionaire family's use of offshore tax havens to...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Republican senator on Thursday said that Commerce Secretary nominee Penny Pritzker had satisfactorily answered most of his questions about her role in the failure of an Illinois bank and her family's use of offshore tax...

By Doug Palmer WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's choice to be transportation secretary promised on Wednesday to work with Congress to figure out how to fund U.S. transportation needs during a time of tight budgets and faced...

WASHINGTON Anthony Foxx avoided the controversy of other Capitol Hill hearings Wednesday, receiving a mostly warm reception from senators who considered his nomination to become transportation secretary. Foxx probably will get easy confirmation by the...

The Friday incident of strange substances sent to Congressional members' Aberdeen offices is the most recent example of journalists "showing their work."  Rather than slowly file a story for the next day's print version and maybe — just maybe...

Three envelopes without return addresses were sent to Aberdeen offices of South Dakota's congressional delegation, causing emergency officials to block off streets and a hazardous materials team to investigate Friday.  About 20 people were evacuated...

Tests conducted by the South Dakota State Health Department's laboratory revealed there were no hazardous materials in the envelopes sent to Aberdeen offices of South Dakota's congressional delegation, said Capt. Dave McNeil of the Aberdeen Police...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A Senate bill that would transfer the ownership of nine historic cemeteries in the Black Hills from the U.S. Forest Service to local communities has passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.   Sens. Tim Johnson and John...

Congress needs to pass a farm bill this summer -- not only to support agriculture, but to ensure national independence and self-reliance, Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., said on May 9. "I believe we have a national security interest in ensuring we can produce...