If the $6.5M hat isn’t Lincoln’s, why not ask for a refund?

By JOHN O'CONNORJanuary 25, 2020 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — In 2007, Springfield's gleaming new shrine to Abraham Lincoln was open, but it lacked touchstone pieces to show off, so organizers paid $6.5 million for the most symbolic...

GOP congressman who backed Nixon impeachment dead at 87

HERBERT G. McCANNJanuary 22, 2020 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Thomas Railsback, an Illinois Republican congressman who helped draw up articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon in 1974, has died at age 87.

Ray LaHood named chairman of Abraham Lincoln Library board

September 26, 2019 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Former Illinois congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been named chairman of the board of directors of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and...

Ex-transportation czar to oversee utility’s safety efforts

March 14, 2019 GMT

LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will help oversee efforts to improve safety and reduce risk at NiSource, the utility company blamed for natural gas...

Lawmakers reject tax increase proposal for Metro funding

April 18, 2018 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers have rejected a proposal by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam to raise taxes to help improve the Washington-area's struggling public transit system.

House Republicans voted Wednesday against small increases on real estate and hotel taxes in Northern Virginia to fund Metro. The new taxes would have raised about $30 million a year.

Virginia lawmakers approve new Metro funding

March 10, 2018 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers have approved a plan to pay for the state's share of $500 million a year in new funding to improve the Washington-area's struggling public transit system.

Lawmakers approved the legislation Saturday directing about $150 million to Metro, with supporters saying it would use existing transportation money for Northern Virginia and not raise new taxes. Opponents said the funds could be better spent on roads.

Ex-transportation chief to lead probe into JFK flight fiasco

January 10, 2018 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The investigation into a slew of problems at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport that caused days of cancellations and delays will be led by Ray LaHood, the former head of the Department of Transportation during the Obama administration, officials said Wednesday.

McAuliffe: Metro reform report to be released next week

November 30, 2017 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says a report on reform proposals for the Washington-area's struggling public transit system will be publicly released next week.

Maryland official raises new objections to Metro proposal

November 27, 2017 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland's transportation chief has raised new objections to former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood's reform proposal for the Washington-area's struggling public transit system.

McAuliffe announces ‘top-to-bottom’ review of Metro

By ALAN SUDERMANMarch 23, 2017 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he's asked former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to conduct a "top-to-bottom" review of the Washington-area's struggling public transit system, which on Thursday approved fare hikes and service cuts.

McAuliffe said there needs to be an independent assessment of what's troubling Metro and how much it will cost to fix those problems before substantive improvements can be made.