Senate confirms Zinke as interior secretary

MATTHEW DALY,

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke won Senate confirmation this morning as President Donald Trump's secretary of the interior, giving him responsibility for overseeing the nation's 400 million acres of public land, mostly in the West.

The Republican-controlled Senate approved the nomination, 68-31 as 16 Democrats and one independent joined with 51 Republicans to support the choice. Several Democrats from Western states as well as those facing tough re-elections next year, including Montana's Jon Tester, Indiana's Joe Donnelly and Joe Manchin of West V...