AP Top News at 2:57 p.m. EDT

Blanche wins support for attorney general from GOP Sen. Cassidy, likely paving way for confirmationAppeals court rules Trump can't build White House ballroom without congressional approvalSenate passes sweeping Russia sanctions bill negotiated by the late Sen. Lindsey GrahamSenate confirms Hamilton to lead FEMA and clears more than 70 other Trump nomineesTurkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign a mutual defense deal, and other Middle East newsUS stocks jump as employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs, raising hopes that rate hikes can waitTrump administration moves ahead with efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa CookLindsay Clancy trial spotlights psychiatric hospital stay before she killed her 3 childrenNew video shows gunman shooting victims at Idaho In-N-Out Burger drive-thruAs bla