A group of landowners, ranchers, and a non-profit filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration to stop building a border wall in the Big Bend region of Texas. They argue the wall is unnecessary there because very few people cross that part of the border, and the area is their home.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by Conserve Big Bend and six landowners with support from many others.
The Trump administration plans a $46 billion project to build walls, barriers, and technology along the US-Mexico border.
The Big Bend region has about 500 miles of border but only about 1 percent of border arrests occur there.
Landowners and groups say the area is special to them and includes important archaeological and natural sites.
The government has waived environmental and cultural protections to speed up wall construction.
Similar border wall projects are happening in Arizona on land belonging to Indigenous tribes who oppose the barrier.
In Texas, the wall has faced many lawsuits and opposition from local officials and groups.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Donald Trump is canceling rules that limited pollution from coal and gas power plants. The EPA says this will lower costs and help build energy projects, but some groups warn it could harm health and the environment.
Key Facts
The EPA is removing rules that limited greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas power plants.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the changes will reduce government regulations to help build energy infrastructure.
The EPA estimates the rule changes will save power plants more than $300 billion in costs.
A new rule could block future governments from regulating power plant emissions again.
Environmental groups say the changes will harm public health and worsen climate change effects like heatwaves and wildfires.
The EPA has rolled back several environmental protections since President Trump’s 2025 return to office.
President Trump has called climate change a “con job” and withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Paris climate agreement for the second time.
The decision was announced during a G20 energy meeting in Houston, highlighting the importance of U.S. energy production.
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Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and former student at Columbia University, is suing the university and a dean. He claims that Columbia University has a system of racism against Palestinian students.
Key Facts
Mahmoud Khalil is a pro-Palestinian activist.
Khalil used to be a student at Columbia University.
He has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University and a university dean.
The lawsuit accuses the university of institutionalized racism.
The alleged racism targets Palestinian students.
Khalil wants the university to address these claims through legal action.
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A whistleblower report says Homeland Security workers were told to break state laws to access sensitive voter data as part of an effort to find illegal voters. The report raises concerns that innocent U.S. citizens could face wrongful investigations based on faulty information.
Key Facts
DHS employees accessed state voter databases in ways that may violate state laws.
The effort targeted people flagged as possible unlawful voters by DHS.
Some states require legal confirmation to access voter data, which was bypassed.
Officers had only about 12 minutes to verify citizenship status under pressured conditions.
Training for this process was very limited, about a two-hour video.
Citizens might be investigated without knowing or being able to correct errors.
Officers were told they would not be personally responsible for these questionable searches.
Courts have rejected attempts to force states to share sensitive voter information over privacy concerns.
No evidence of widespread voter fraud or large numbers of illegal voters has been found in multiple audits.
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it suspended 870,000 businesses linked to over $39 billion in suspected fraud related to COVID-19 pandemic relief loans. These actions are part of a government effort to stop fraud involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), with investigations and legal actions ongoing.
Key Facts
SBA officials, including Vice President JD Vance, revealed findings of widespread fraud in pandemic-era small business loans.
870,000 businesses were suspended from receiving further government payments due to suspected fraud.
The suspected fraudulent amount totals more than $39 billion.
Florida had the highest number of suspended borrowers, over 118,000, with alleged fraud of $5 billion.
California previously had 112,000 suspended borrowers linked to $8.6 billion in suspected fraud.
Fraud included fake businesses, false payroll and revenue claims, identity theft, and hidden foreign ties.
The effort to crack down on fraud began during the Trump administration’s first term and continues with the current administration.
The SBA is sending demand letters to those suspected of fraud, warning of legal consequences if debts are not repaid.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is increasing the use of “third country” deportations. This means undocumented immigrants caught in the U.S. are sent to a different country where they do not have ties, rather than their home country.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is expanding the practice of deporting immigrants to third countries.
“Third country” deportation means sending a person to a country they are not originally from and have no connection with.
More than 30 countries are receiving deportees from the U.S. under this policy.
Liberia is one of the countries accepting deportees.
This method is being used for undocumented immigrants in the United States.
It is a different approach from deporting immigrants directly to their home countries.
The policy has been reported by CBS News immigration correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez.
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President Donald Trump nominated Representative Wesley Hunt from Texas to be the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The Senate must approve this nomination before Hunt can take the position. The U.S. has not had a full-time ambassador in Saudi Arabia since Michael Ratney left.
Key Facts
President Trump nominated Rep. Wesley Hunt as ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Hunt represents Texas in Congress.
The Senate must confirm Hunt's nomination.
The U.S. currently has no full-time ambassador in Saudi Arabia.
The last ambassador was Michael Ratney.
Trump sent multiple nominations to the Senate at the same time.
The ambassador role is important for U.S.-Saudi relations.
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A Medicare pilot program using artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up prior authorization for medical treatments has caused long delays and problems, according to government records. The program, called WISeR, was launched in six states but has faced technical issues and slow responses, leading to concerns about delayed care for patients.
Key Facts
The WISeR program started in January and uses AI to review prior authorization requests for certain medical procedures.
It is operating in six states: Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Washington.
The program covers 13 medical services thought to be at risk for fraud, waste, or inappropriate use.
Requests are supposed to be answered within 72 hours, but many took weeks or even 83 days in some cases.
There were technical failures, increased denials, and reports that patient care was delayed or harmed.
Providers experienced difficulty getting timely approvals for necessary treatments.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sued the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to release records about the use of AI in this program.
CMS said it plans to improve the program based on feedback from doctors and patients.
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The Department of War has issued a legal waiver that allows current and former military and civilian personnel to share information about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), also known as UFOs, with a government program called PURSUE. This waiver removes past legal barriers and sets up a controlled process to review and possibly declassify UAP-related information to increase transparency.
Key Facts
The Department of War announced a legal waiver on UAP information disclosure on a Monday.
The waiver applies to current and former military members, civilian employees, and contractors.
It allows them to share UAP-related information with the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE).
Previously, non-disclosure agreements and security rules prevented them from talking about UAPs.
PURSUE reviews and evaluates information to decide if it can be safely shared with the public.
The move aims to encourage more people to come forward with knowledge of UAPs.
This announcement is part of ongoing efforts led by President Donald Trump to increase government transparency on UFO matters.
The Department of Defense recently published more information on UAP sightings through PURSUE.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will remove most rules that limit pollution from coal and natural gas power plants. The EPA says this change will reduce energy costs and save money, while critics warn it may harm public health and slow progress on clean energy.
Key Facts
The EPA plans to scrap most Biden-era rules aimed at reducing pollution from coal and gas power plants.
The agency estimates the rollback will save $310 billion and lower energy prices.
EPA head Lee Zeldin said US power plants produce energy cleaner than others worldwide and should not face tough restrictions.
Critics say removing these rules could hurt public health and delay renewable energy development.
Fossil fuels like coal and gas are the largest contributors to global climate change.
The EPA claims the previous rules forced power plants to close by requiring technologies not proven to work well.
The US power sector produces about one-quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The Supreme Court limited the EPA’s power to regulate emissions in 2022, affecting such policies.
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The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board warned it may face bankruptcy soon unless President Donald Trump's name is added to the building. They say Trump is unlikely to provide financial help or lead renovation efforts without this recognition.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center board may vote to add President Trump's name to the building facade as early as Tuesday.
The center faces possible bankruptcy and cannot afford payroll or maintenance within weeks.
The board believes Trump’s financial support and oversight of renovations depend on having his name on the building.
The center voted last year to add Trump’s name, but a federal judge ordered its removal.
The board also voted to close the center for two years for a $285 million renovation.
Congress has already provided $257 million for renovations; the board hopes Trump can raise another $100 million.
A falling piece of the center's ceiling amid heavy rain raised safety concerns leading to the closure proposal.
A federal judge is considering blocking the tribute to Trump following legal challenges.
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Australia’s Parliament is focusing on immigration policies after the One Nation party proposed cutting 750,000 temporary visas in three years. Politicians are debating the impact of this plan, job losses from a steelworks shutdown, fuel prices, and immigration’s role in Australian society.
Key Facts
One Nation announced a plan to reduce temporary visas by 750,000 over three years.
Major parties warn this cut could cause a recession in Australia.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie criticized Pauline Hanson for avoiding media questions about the plan.
Labor’s Anne Aly supports managing immigration numbers fairly and opposes the idea that immigration harms social unity.
More than 500 jobs were lost after Whyalla steelworks shut down a major operation.
Treasurer Chris Bowen said fuel excise relief will not be quickly reintroduced despite rising oil prices caused by attacks on Saudi Arabia’s pipeline.
Bowen plans to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss the oil situation and praised Sussan Ley’s appointment to Snowy Hydro’s board.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently spoke with King Charles about ongoing matters.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urges Republican leaders in Congress to stay in Washington to discuss possible new rules for artificial intelligence (AI) companies. This comes after warnings from experts about the potential dangers of AI technology to people and society.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and a Democrat from New York.
He is asking Republican leaders in Congress not to leave Washington.
The purpose is to allow Congress to consider new limits on AI companies.
Industry experts have warned that AI technology could pose serious threats to humanity.
Jeffries spoke about this request during a news briefing at the Capitol on Monday.
The call comes amid increasing concerns about how AI may affect jobs, privacy, and safety.
Congress has the power to create laws that regulate AI technology.
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President Donald Trump’s administration removed rules that limited pollution from coal and gas power plants. This change lets these plants release more greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change, without government limits.
Key Facts
The Trump administration weakened regulations on coal and gas power plants.
These plants are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
The new policy allows these plants to emit more pollution without strict government controls.
The change is expected to benefit the fossil fuel industry.
The move affects efforts to reduce climate change contributions from energy production.
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Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, announced plans to force a House vote to impeach President Donald Trump this week. Many House Democrats are frustrated by this move, viewing it as a distraction from key issues like affordability and artificial intelligence ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
Rep. Al Green plans to push a vote to impeach President Trump between September 14-17.
Green’s impeachment effort is focused on the deaths of four people by federal immigration officers, which he says Trump is covering up.
Many Democratic colleagues criticize Green's timing and priority, preferring to focus on other topics.
Green lost his primary election in May and has a history of repeatedly attempting to impeach Trump.
Some Democrats may vote for Green’s impeachment effort to avoid backlash from their party supporters.
House Democratic leaders and other members call the move a distraction and unlikely to succeed.
Green challenges his critics to debates and compares his efforts to historical acts of protest like Rosa Parks’.
The vote could create challenges for Democrats if they regain control of Congress next year.
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The Trump administration changed how the CDC counts measles deaths during a measles outbreak in Pennsylvania. The CDC now uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics, which tracks long-term death trends, instead of the previous system that collected case reports from states and local areas.
Key Facts
The CDC switched to using National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data to count measles deaths.
This new method focuses on long-term trends and may not confirm individual deaths immediately.
Pennsylvania reported three measles-related deaths during the current outbreak, including a newborn, an infant, and a 40-year-old woman.
The 40-year-old woman was unvaccinated and had serious lung disease, making her vulnerable to measles complications.
The woman had not sought medical care before her death and was linked to a confirmed measles case.
Pennsylvania had 676 confirmed measles cases, but officials believe the actual number is higher due to underreporting.
Local officials emphasize the importance of measles vaccination to protect vulnerable people and prevent deaths.
The CDC's new reporting system shows no confirmed measles deaths from 2026 yet, with measles deaths marked as probable until further investigation.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that he will run again for mayor. He made this announcement at a rally, expressing his excitement to continue serving the city.
Key Facts
Brandon Johnson is the current mayor of Chicago.
He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Johnson has been mayor for a little over three years.
He made the reelection announcement at a public event.
Supporters at the rally cheered and shouted “four more years.”
Johnson expressed pride in leading Chicago.
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Mahmoud Khalil and other former Columbia University students have filed a lawsuit against the school. They say Columbia did not properly address harassment they faced as pro-Palestinian protesters, which they claim violated civil rights laws.
Key Facts
Mahmoud Khalil is a well-known pro-Palestinian activist.
The lawsuit accuses Columbia University of being indifferent to harassment against pro-Palestinian students.
The complaint cites violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal money.
The harassment happened while these students were enrolled at Columbia.
The lawsuit was filed on a Monday.
The students involved are former activists at Columbia.
The case connects to broader issues of treatment toward pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The Trump administration previously targeted Mahmoud Khalil because of his activism.
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President Donald Trump’s administration added new sanctions on VTB, a major Russian bank, because of its connections with Iran. These new penalties build on earlier sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Key Facts
The Trump administration targeted VTB bank, one of Russia’s largest financial institutions.
New sanctions were added due to VTB’s ties with Iran.
These sanctions come on top of previous ones tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Treasury Department is leading this effort.
The sanctions are part of a campaign called “Operation Economic Outcast.”
This sanctions campaign started in August.
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A man named Jarques Ratliff pleaded not guilty to murder in the hanging death of Tasia Fortune, a Black woman found dead in Jackson, Mississippi. Ratliff was arrested after the medical examiner ruled Fortune’s death a homicide, and the case is under investigation with more arrests expected.
Key Facts
Tasia Fortune, 29, was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi, on August 3.
Jarques Ratliff, 51, was arrested and charged with her murder after the death was ruled a homicide.
Ratliff pleaded not guilty during his first court hearing and was denied bond.
Police said Ratliff had some type of “association” with Fortune but did not give details or a possible motive.
Fortune had four children and had experienced homelessness recently while trying to improve her life.
The death reminded people of past racially motivated lynchings in Mississippi’s history.
Other nearby hanging deaths in Mississippi were ruled suicides, not homicides.
Police expect to make more arrests related to this case.
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