Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear.

The respective sides are still apparently far apart, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

says a deal on raising the nation's borrowing limit and averting a costly budget crisis

is still possible by week's end.

Merging from a meeting at the White House today with President Biden and other congressional

leaders, the Speaker outlined what happens next.

The President agreed to point a couple people from his administration to sit down and

negotiate directly with my team, so I found that to be productive personally.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was among those attending today's meeting.

We all agreed that the fault is not an acceptable option and must be avoided.

The meeting lasted less than an hour.

Meanwhile, the White House says President Biden will attend the G7 summit in Japan, but

Biden will cancel a schedule trip to Australia, allowing him to return to Washington Sunday.

The Biden administration has approved a permit for a controversial natural gas pipeline

in Virginia and West Virginia, from West Virginia Public Broadcasting Curtis Tay has more.

Weeks after it got a favorable environmental review from the U.S. Forest Service, the Mountain

Valley Pipeline now has a permit to cross the Jefferson National Forest.

The 3.5-mile segment is key to the completion of the 300-mile, $6.6 billion pipeline.

Environmental and community groups have opposed it because of its potential effects on rivers

and streams, as well as the climate impacts of producing and burning natural gas.

The project is a top priority for Senator Joe Manchin.

The West Virginia Democrat is often a decisive vote for President Joe Biden.

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