The Blue Ridge Times

​ House Majority Whip Steve Scalise underwent surgery for the management of infection on Thursday and remains in serious condition after being readmitted to the intensive care unit at MedStar Washington Hospital on Wednesday, according to the hospital. "He tolerated the procedure well," the hospital said in an update on behalf of the Scalise family Thursday evening. "He remains in serious condition. We will provide updates as appropriate." Update from  @MedStarWHC  on the condition of Majority Whip Steve Scalise:  pic.twitter.com/kWO3jERd4H — Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise)  July 6, 2017 Scalise, who arrived at the hospital in critical condition after a gunshot wound to the hip at a  congressional baseball practice  in June, had been transferred out of the ICU on June 22 and downgraded to fair condition. Serious is the condition in between critical -- the worst state -- and fair, in medical terms. Scalise, two members of the U.S. Capitol Police, a current GOP s...

Russian spies are ramping up their intelligence-gathering efforts in the US, according to current and former US intelligence officials who say they have noticed an increase since the election. The officials say they believe one of the biggest US adversaries feels emboldened by the lack of a significant retaliatory response from both the Trump and Obama administrations. "Russians have maintained an aggressive collection posture in the US, and their success in election meddling has not deterred them," said a former senior intelligence official familiar with Trump administration efforts. Russians could also be seeking more information on Trump's administration, which is new and still unpredictable to Moscow, according to Steve Hall, retired CIA chief of operations. "Whenever there is a deterioration of relations between countries — the espionage and intelligence collection part becomes that much more importa...

Seventy-six police officers have been injured in clashes with protesters in Germany's city of Hamburg, where a G20 summit starts shortly. Three officers were taken to hospital, police said. There were also reports of injuries among protesters. The clashes began when police charged at masked protesters at a "Welcome to hell" march attended by 12,000 people. World leaders - including US President Donald Trump - will discuss climate change, trade and other major issues. Police fired water cannon and pepper spray at masked protesters, who hurled bottles, stones and flares. Decoding Trump's off-script remarks Organisers cancelled the march where the first clashes took place, but protesters remained on the streets and police said violence spread to other areas of the city. Protesters built makeshift barricades, set vehicles alight, damaged businesses and repeatedly shone a laser at a police helicopter to dazzle its pilot, police said. Medics were seen treating several peopl...