Senator Lindsey Graham was questioned by TMZ about a viral photo showing him with a bubble wand at Disney World during spring break. The photo sparked interest because it surfaced while the Department of Homeland Security was partially shut down, and many federal workers were not getting paid.
Key Facts
TV news outlet TMZ asked Senator Lindsey Graham about a photo of him with a bubble wand.
The photo was taken during spring break at Disney World.
The photo became popular because it appeared while a part of the Department of Homeland Security remained shut down.
During the shutdown, many federal workers did not receive pay.
A person at Space Mountain, a Disney World ride, took the photo and sent it to TMZ.
Graham declined to discuss the incident with the reporter on his way to his office in Washington, D.C.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has restarted its rollout of a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system at four VA medical centers in Michigan after a three-year pause. The new system is part of a larger project to establish a unified electronic health record for all VA facilities, aiming to improve patient care and reduce redundant medical tests.
Key Facts
The VA relaunched its Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in Michigan at four medical centers: Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, and Saginaw.
This is the first stage of 13 planned rollouts taking place through 2026.
The EHR aims to replace older systems with a modern one shared with the Department of Defense and some civilian providers.
The goal is to improve continuity of care and make medical records accessible across different healthcare services.
The VA paused the rollout in 2023 due to technical issues and patient safety concerns in earlier implementations.
Since then, the VA resolved many technical problems and standardized the system to avoid local customization issues.
As part of the rollout, dozens of new staff members were hired in Michigan, with plans to add a total of about 400 personnel nationwide.
Future deployments include VA centers in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Alaska by the end of the year.
Sharon Simmons, a DoorDash driver from Arkansas, delivered McDonald's food to President Donald Trump at the White House. During the visit, President Trump highlighted his No Tax on Tips policy, which Simmons said has allowed her to save money for her husband's medical needs.
Key Facts
Sharon Simmons is a DoorDash driver from Arkansas with more than 14,000 food deliveries.
She delivered McDonald's food to President Trump at the White House.
Simmons wore a t-shirt saying "DoorDash Grandma" during her visit.
President Trump discussed his No Tax on Tips policy during the event.
The policy allows Simmons to save about $11,000 in tips each year.
Simmons uses the savings to help with her husband's cancer treatment.
President Trump tipped Simmons $100 after the delivery.
A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has allowed for the reopening of holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. Despite the ceasefire, ongoing violence in Gaza has resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths due to Israeli military actions. The reopening of Al-Aqsa Mosque and other sites came with significant tension, including Israeli security interventions and settler incursions.
Key Facts
A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran led to the reopening of religious sites in East Jerusalem.
More than 100,000 Muslim worshippers attended Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers on April 9.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre reopened for Holy Fire Saturday before Orthodox Easter.
Israeli security forces detained Palestinian Christian scouts and removed flag patches from uniforms.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered Al-Aqsa, performing rituals despite a ban.
Israeli strikes in Gaza have continued, resulting in numerous deaths, including a journalist and a child.
Since October 2023, 754 Palestinians in Gaza have died and over 2,100 have been injured.
Jordan condemned Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa, emphasizing its custodianship of the shrine.
House Republicans are worried that expelling members due to misconduct could hurt their majority in the House. With a small lead, losing even a few seats might weaken Speaker Mike Johnson's control and lead to special elections where Democrats have been doing well.
Key Facts
House Republicans have a slim majority with 218 seats, including one independent.
Calls to expel lawmakers over misconduct are growing from both parties.
Key figures involved include Eric Swalwell, Tony Gonzales, Cory Mills, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
Eric Swalwell faces accusations of sexual misconduct but has denied them.
Tony Gonzales admitted to an affair and will not seek re-election.
Cory Mills is under investigation for various allegations, including campaign finance issues.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick faces sanctions for misusing federal disaster funds.
Expulsions could lead to special elections that might weaken the Republican majority in the House.
A nursing student named Kristen Mac shared a TikTok video where her dog, Enzo, became an unexpected participant in a nursing school assignment. The dog stayed close during the assessment video, which led to positive reactions and jokes from viewers. Kristen revealed that despite Enzo's presence, she received an "A" grade on the assignment.
Key Facts
Kristen Mac is a nursing student who posted a TikTok video of her home assessment.
In the video, her dog Enzo stayed in the room and became involved in the assessment.
Kristen captioned the video highlighting Enzo as an important part of the healthcare team.
Viewers reacted positively, with jokes and praise for Enzo's role in the video.
Kristen confirmed she received an "A" on her assignment and her professor enjoyed the dog's involvement.
Enzo is a mix between a French bulldog and an Australian shepherd, and he's two and a half years old.
Some viewers saw the scenario as applicable to real-life training with service dogs.
Newsweek reached out to Kristen for more information, but details were not verified.
A school in Caerphilly, Wales, has started a trial that bans year seven pupils from using phones during the school day, while older students can use theirs during breaks. Most schools in Wales have some form of phone restriction, with many supporting a clear policy across the country.
Key Facts
Islwyn High School in Wales is running a pilot program where only year seven pupils must lock their phones away during school.
Older students at the school can use their phones during break times.
The trial was introduced due to problems caused by social media on student wellbeing.
Nearly half of secondary schools in Wales responded to a survey on phone policies.
The majority of responding schools have restrictions on phone use during the school day.
Some schools use a pouch system to restrict phone access, costing about £8 per student.
The school's leaders are considering extending the phone ban to more students.
Many schools and parents favor a unified policy from the Welsh government on mobile phone use.
A widow shared on Reddit that she found an unopened birthday card from her late military husband 10 years after his death. The card contained a message explaining he would miss another birthday because of military deployment. The online post about this discovery received a lot of emotional responses from people.
Key Facts
A widow discovered an unopened birthday card from her late husband, who died 10 years ago.
The husband mentioned in the card that he would miss another birthday due to military deployment.
The Reddit post about the card gained over 20,000 upvotes and more than 200 comments before it was removed.
Many people on Reddit responded with emotional comments, sharing their own experiences with loss.
The widow has kept around 200 handwritten letters from her husband, sent during times he was deployed.
The story highlights the emotional impact of rediscovering personal items from loved ones who have passed away.
A winter storm is predicted to hit parts of Oregon, Washington, and Utah with heavy snow and strong winds. The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised people in affected areas to consider delaying travel due to potentially dangerous conditions.
Key Facts
Oregon, Washington, and Utah are under a winter storm warning.
Up to 20 inches of snow and strong winds are expected in some areas.
NWS advises avoiding travel due to dangerous winter weather conditions.
Oregon's northern and central Cascades may receive between 12 to 20 inches of snow.
Washington's Snohomish and other counties could see heavy snowfall and winds up to 45 mph.
Utah's central and southern mountains could get up to 8 inches of snow.
Difficult driving conditions and potential power outages are possible.
It's recommended to have a winter storm kit for safety if travel is necessary.
The IRS is offering a free webinar on April 14 to help taxpayers and tax professionals with last-minute tax filing tips. This session aims to guide individuals and professionals on avoiding common filing errors before the tax deadline.
Key Facts
The IRS announced a free online webinar to help with last-minute tax filing.
The webinar is scheduled for April 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
It will last about 30 minutes, offering filing tips for the 2026 tax season.
The session targets both individual taxpayers and tax professionals.
It is part of the IRS's efforts to reduce filing errors and ensure timely submissions.
The IRS offers other filing assistance via electronic filing, free in-person help, and online resources.
The session will not provide continuing education credits but is for general guidance.
Taxpayer Assistance Centers have extended hours to offer additional support during the filing season.
A senior dog named Bella and a young cat named Sabrina were taken to a Chicago rescue center after their owner had to move to assisted living. They are a bonded pair, meaning they have a strong connection and comfort each other. Their future is uncertain as a court decides if their owner can take them back or if they need a new home together.
Key Facts
Bella is a 10-year-old pit bull, and Sabrina is a 2-year-old cat.
Their elderly owner could no longer care for them and moved to assisted living.
They were brought to Famous Fido Rescue in Chicago.
Bella and Sabrina have lived together all their lives and are considered a bonded pair.
The rescue is keeping them together during their stay.
The owner is seeking a legal way to be reunited with them, pending a cognitive assessment.
If separation becomes necessary, the rescue will find a home willing to adopt them as a pair.
Famous Fido Rescue is covering their expenses and asking for community support.
A 90-year-old South Korean woman has been sentenced to one year in jail for laundering money earned from her son's drug trafficking activities. Her son, who is currently imprisoned in Cambodia for smuggling methamphetamine, had directed her to transfer a total of 386 million won. The court took her age and lack of past drug convictions into consideration when determining the sentence.
Key Facts
The elderly woman laundered over 350 million won of her son's drug money.
She was sentenced to one year in jail by an Incheon court.
Her actions included transferring money to an account as instructed by her son.
Her son has been in prison in Cambodia since 2020 for drug trafficking.
The court considered her advanced age and clean past drug-related record in sentencing.
South Korea is working on bringing her son back from Cambodia.
Her granddaughter was tried but acquitted due to lack of evidence of her knowing about the drug origin of the funds.
President Donald Trump stated there is still potential for a deal with Iran, even as the US enforces a blockade on Iranian ports. Accusations and protests arose in Iran, citing US actions as "piracy" while diplomatic efforts are ongoing. The conflict has impacted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and led to international discussions involving multiple countries to seek a peaceful resolution.
Key Facts
President Trump mentioned opportunities for an agreement with Iran despite the blockade.
Iran called the US blockade "illegal" and accused it of "piracy," leading to protests in Tehran.
Revolutionary Guard in Iran hinted at having more strategies if the conflict escalates.
Russia has removed most personnel from Iran's nuclear power plant but offered to take Iran’s enriched uranium.
Qatar and Pakistan are involved in mediation efforts to reduce tensions between the US and Iran.
A ceasefire is reportedly holding, according to Pakistan's Prime Minister, though talks continue.
Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are affecting global economic stability, stranding about 20,000 vessels.
Political leaders in the US, like Chuck Schumer, are advocating to limit President Trump's war authority regarding Iran.
Two women have come forward accusing the late Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods, of abuse. They are calling for an investigation into those who allegedly enabled his abusive behavior. The Metropolitan Police have expanded their inquiry into claims of human trafficking linked to the case.
Key Facts
Mohamed Al Fayed owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010 and died in 2023 at age 94.
Multiple women have accused him of rape and sexual assault over several decades.
The police have interviewed four suspects under caution and are investigating potential human trafficking.
One woman named "Sarah" described being groomed by Al Fayed, including receiving expensive gifts.
Two women reported being subjected to unnecessary medical examinations while working at Harrods.
Both women claim their concerns were dismissed by Harrods' staff when they tried to report the abuse.
A BBC documentary titled "Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods" covered these allegations and aired in September 2024.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized Iran for blocking ships in the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. started its blockade of Iranian ports. The U.S. Central Command stated this blockade affects all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. Talks between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are planned in Washington amid these tensions.
Key Facts
U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused Iran of "economic terrorism" for blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. started a blockade on Iranian ports on Monday, affecting ships entering or leaving these ports.
Iran called the U.S. blockade a "grave violation" of its sovereignty.
Vice President Vance mentioned progress in talks regarding Iran's nuclear materials.
Negotiations in Washington are scheduled involving Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.
The U.S. demands that Iran stop enriching uranium as part of the negotiations.
Irish musician Moya Brennan, known for her work with the group Clannad, has died at age 73 in Donegal. Brennan was a key figure in Celtic music and achieved international recognition through her recordings and performances.
Key Facts
Moya Brennan was the lead singer of Clannad, a group famous for Celtic music.
She was from Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking area in Ireland.
Clannad was formed in 1970 and achieved international success.
They gained recognition with the theme for the 1982 TV series Harry's Game.
Clannad won a BAFTA in 1984 and a Grammy in 1999.
Moya Brennan had a successful solo career and collaborated with artists like Mick Jagger and Bono.
She received an Emmy in 2011 for a documentary with PBS.
She was honored with an RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Clannad held their farewell concert in Dublin in 2023.
Riley Gaines, a conservative activist and former NCAA swimmer, commented on President Donald Trump's decision to delete an image he shared online. The image, which depicted Trump as a Jesus-like figure, drew criticism, including from Gaines. Trump explained he removed the post due to confusion about its meaning, not because of Gaines' remarks.
Key Facts
Riley Gaines is a conservative activist and former NCAA swimmer.
President Trump shared and then deleted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure.
The image received criticism, including comments from Gaines about the need for humility.
President Trump said the image was meant to show him as a doctor and related to the Red Cross.
Trump stated he deleted the image to avoid confusion, not due to Gaines' criticism.
Gaines affirmed her continued support for Trump despite her comments on the image.
FBI Director Kash Patel asked Eric Swalwell to share information following allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell, a California Representative, announced his resignation after facing pressure, including a House Ethics Committee investigation. He denies the allegations but acknowledged past mistakes in judgment.
Key Facts
FBI Director Kash Patel wants Eric Swalwell to provide any information he has about misconduct allegations.
Eric Swalwell plans to resign from Congress amid sexual misconduct accusations.
A House Ethics Committee investigation is looking into the allegations against Swalwell.
A woman accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice, one time when she worked for him.
Three other women accused Swalwell of sending explicit messages or nude photos without consent.
Swalwell denies the allegations of sexual assault but admitted to making mistakes in judgment.
This news story is ongoing and may be updated with new information.
Brian Hooker, the husband of missing Michigan mother Lynette Hooker, has been released from custody in the Bahamas. He was initially detained after reporting that his wife fell overboard during a boat trip. Authorities decided not to charge him while they continue to investigate her disappearance.
Key Facts
Lynette Hooker went missing at sea in the Bahamas on April 4.
Her husband, Brian Hooker, reported that she fell overboard and was taken away by strong currents.
Brian Hooker was arrested following this report but has since been released.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force consulted the Department of Public Prosecution, which recommended no charges at this time.
Brian Hooker's attorney stated that authorities did not have evidence to charge him.
The case remains under investigation as a developing story.
Senior Chinese diplomat Sun Weidong has been removed from his role as vice minister of foreign affairs by a decision of China's State Council. The dismissal is part of President Xi Jinping's broader anticorruption campaign, which has targeted many officials in China.
Key Facts
Sun Weidong was a vice minister of foreign affairs in China.
His dismissal was announced by the Ministry of Human Resources.
The announcement did not provide reasons or timing for Sun's removal.
Recent meetings held by Sun included talks with ambassadors from Brunei, Malaysia, and Pakistan.
Dismissals like Sun's often suggest disciplinary issues and possible investigations.
Another official, An Lusheng, was also removed from his post.
President Xi Jinping's anticorruption campaign has targeted both high- and low-ranking officials.
In the past year, over one million corruption cases were investigated in China.
