BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. senators from Idaho and Oregon on Thursday touted legislation they introduced to create an endowment to replace revenue lost by rural counties due to declines in timber...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's nominees to the nation's largest federal appeals court (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

The U.S. Senate has narrowly confirmed one of President Donald Trump's nominees to the nation's largest federal appeals court.

Senators voted 51-44 on Thursday to appoint Idaho attorney Ryan Douglas Nelson to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The San Francisco-based court hears cases from nine Western states.

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — Authorities in north-central Idaho say a suspicious letter mailed to Sen. Mike Crapo's Lewiston office on Friday didn't contain any hazardous materials.

The Lewiston Tribune reports the letter had indications on the envelope that caused staff to believe it could possibly contain dangerous materials.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — U.S. Sen. Angus King is among a group of lawmakers who wants the Congressional Budget Office to prioritize the role of prevention in health care.

King, a Maine independent, is joining Idaho Republican Sen. Mike Crapo, Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin and New Mexico Democratic Sen. Tom Udall in proposing the Preventive Health Savings Act. The senators say the proposal would direct the CBO to more accurately reflect the cost savings associated with preventive health care.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's U.S. Sen. Jim Risch has changed his stance on Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore and now says the Republican should step aside.

Risch had issued a statement last week saying Moore should step away from the election only if the allegations that he sexually molested an underage girl and groped another teen proved true.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators on Monday announced a deal on legislation to provide banks and credit unions relief from some of the stricter regulatory requirements approved after the 2008 financial crisis.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The top spokesman for Arkansas' attorney general is leaving to take a job in the Trump White House.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says he had too many concerns about the latest GOP effort to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law to join other Republican governors in a letter backing the bill.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee narrowly passed a resolution on Tuesday night favoring friendlier relations with Russia and condemning the Russian sanctions bill that was sponsored by Idaho GOP Sen. Mike Crapo and passed overwhelmingly by both the U.S. House and Senate.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican lawmakers have overturned more than a dozen regulations issued under President Barack Obama. Now, they're looking to do the same to a rule issued Monday that would let consumers band together to sue their banks or credit card companies rather than use a mediator to resolve a dispute.

The effort would be a first for this Republican-led Congress — overturning a rule issued during the presidency of Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate panel has cleared the nomination of Jay Clayton, the Wall Street attorney chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The vote was 15-8 Tuesday by the Senate Banking Committee, as three Democrats joined the panel's Republicans in approving Clayton. The confirmation of Clayton to head the independent agency that oversees Wall Street and the financial markets now goes to the full Senate, where approval is expected.

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine's U.S. senators are reintroducing legislation to try to find new and innovative uses for wood as a building material.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, and Sen. Angus King, an independent, say the legislation would speed up the research and development of wood for use in construction. It would focus specifically on buildings that are more than 85 feet tall.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A pair of senators including Maine's Sen. Angus King is renewing its efforts to get protections for the country's energy infrastructure against cyber-attacks.

King, an independent, is partnering with Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch on the push to pass the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act. They say the proposal seeks to examine ways to defend the energy grid.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Two of Idaho's Republican four electors are set to be replaced Monday before casting their ballots for the president of the United States.

The Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/2hTGmmO ) reports that Layne Bangerter of Melba and Melinda Smyser of Parma will be replaced because they are constitutionally barred as federal employees from serving as electors.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's U.S. senators say they will push for a confirmation vote on a federal judge nominee during the lame duck session of Congress.