Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Monday that he is “optimistic” lawmakers can strike a deal to reopen the government by the end of the week and is eyeing a stopgap spending bill

The government shutdown stretched into Day 24 on Friday as the Senate failed to advance a measure to pay some federal workers.

Alabama Supreme Court Justice Bill Lewis has been appointed to serve as a federal judge in the Middle District of Alabama. The U.S. Senate voted 58-40 on Oct. 27 to confirm the appointment, said U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday said he is “optimistic” a deal to end the over four-week long shutdown could be reached by the end of this week. Both Democrats and Republicans are looking for an off-ramp as the government’s closure inches toward the longest in U.

The Senate failed for a 13th time to advance a GOP funding bill that would end the government shutdown, now on Day 28. Follow live updates here.

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said that the state’s General Assembly will not move forward to redraw the state’s congressional map before the next U.S. Census.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected this week to advance a bill designating Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a show of unity on countering Russian President Vladimir Putin as

The Illinois Senate passed a bill that will allow medical assistance in dying. It passed the MAiD bill Thursday night with a 30 to 27 vote. This comes after the House passed the bill in May. A person is eligible for medical assistance in dying if they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have six months or less to live.