The Justice Department has ended its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. A federal appeals court found that President Trump's executive order banning asylum claims at the U.S. southern border is illegal. The FDA will speed up the review process for three psychedelic drugs intended to treat mental health conditions.
Key Facts
The Justice Department stopped looking into criminal matters involving Jerome Powell.
Jerome Powell is the current Chair of the Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank.
A federal appeals court decided President Trump's order blocking asylum claims at the southern border is not legal.
This ruling affects immigration and border policies in the U.S.
The FDA plans to fast-track reviews for three psychedelic drugs.
These drugs are being studied to help treat mental health issues.
Fast-tracking means the FDA will review these drugs more quickly than usual.
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The Texas Department of State Health Services told Camp Mystic that its emergency plan is not good enough after 27 people died there in a flash flood last summer. The camp, which is facing legal problems and investigations, said it plans to reopen in May.
Key Facts
Camp Mystic is a summer camp in Texas where 27 people died in a flash flood last summer.
The camp submitted a proposal for an emergency plan to the Texas health department.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said the plan was not adequate.
The camp faces several legal challenges and ongoing investigations.
Camp Mystic announced it wants to reopen in May.
The health department communicated their concerns in a letter to the camp directors.
The article was first reported by the outlet Quorum.
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A Special Forces soldier involved in planning an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was charged with using secret information to place bets on a prediction market. This case highlights worries about insider trading and the need for clearer rules around such markets.
Key Facts
A Special Forces soldier helped plan a raid targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The soldier was indicted for using classified information from the raid to bet on Polymarket, a prediction market.
Prediction markets are platforms where people bet on the outcome of events.
The case raises concerns about insider trading, which is using secret info to make unfair bets or profits.
Experts are discussing the need for better regulation of prediction markets to prevent misuse of information.
The news was discussed by Amna Nawaz with gambling writers Liz Landers and David Hill on a news program.
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Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned from Congress as the House Ethics Committee was about to consider expelling her for ethics violations. Despite her resignation, she plans to run again for her Florida congressional seat while facing federal criminal charges related to misuse of disaster relief funds.
Key Facts
Cherfilus-McCormick resigned just before a House Ethics Committee hearing on possible expulsion.
The Ethics Committee found she committed 25 ethics violations after a two-year investigation.
She is accused of stealing about $5 million in federal disaster relief funds and using some for personal items and her 2022 campaign.
Cherfilus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty to federal charges and denies wrongdoing.
It is unusual for a member of Congress to resign but still seek immediate reelection to the same seat.
Her resignation leaves Florida’s 20th District temporarily without representation.
The investigation used 59 subpoenas, interviewed 28 witnesses, and reviewed more than 33,000 pages of documents.
She cited her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and did not testify during the Ethics Committee process.
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David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart talked about recent U.S. political events, including the Justice Department stopping its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due to lack of evidence. They also discussed Virginia voters approving new voting boundaries that help Democrats, and President Donald Trump saying he is not in a hurry to end the war in Iran.
Key Facts
The Justice Department ended its investigation into Jerome Powell because they found no evidence against him.
Jerome Powell is the Chair of the Federal Reserve, which manages the U.S. economy.
Voters in Virginia approved new redistricting lines, which means changing voting district borders.
The redistricting in Virginia benefits the Democratic Party.
President Donald Trump said he is not rushing to end the war in Iran.
David Brooks writes for The Atlantic.
Jonathan Capehart works for MSNBC NOW.
Geoff Bennett hosted the discussion on political topics.
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Saturday is National First Ladies Day in the United States. Anita McBride, who worked for former First Lady Laura Bush, talks about how the role of U.S. first ladies has changed over time.
Key Facts
National First Ladies Day is observed on a Saturday.
Anita McBride was chief of staff to Laura Bush, the former first lady.
McBride co-chairs the "In Pursuit" essay series that honors U.S. presidents and their first ladies.
The interview is part of a CBS News segment called "The Takeout."
The discussion covers how the role of first ladies has evolved in American history.
Viewers can watch this segment on the CBS News app or through web browsers like Chrome and Safari.
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Former Representative Eric Swalwell resigned after warnings about his connections were widely shared online. A group of young women on social media helped bring this issue to national attention.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell was a U.S. Representative who resigned from his position.
His resignation followed warnings about his associations that were previously not widely known.
These warnings gained attention through social media platforms.
A community of young women online played a key role in spreading the information.
Sami Sage, co-founder of Betches Media, discussed this on a CBS News program called "The Takeout."
The events show how social media can influence political and public outcomes.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the Armenian Genocide on its 111th anniversary and emphasized the right of all people to freedom and safety. He also mentioned the Nagorno-Karabakh war and condemned the continuation of violence against Armenians in that region.
Key Facts
Mayor Mamdani publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide, which occurred 111 years ago.
The genocide involved the killing of about 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.
The Armenian community in New York plans an annual demonstration in Times Square on April 26.
Mamdani referenced the Nagorno-Karabakh war, where over 100,000 Armenians were forced to leave their homes.
Mamdani's statement follows years of no official recognition by the previous mayor, Eric Adams.
Adams faced federal corruption charges linked to alleged influence by the Turkish government and did not recognize the genocide during his term.
President Joe Biden was the first U.S. president to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2021.
New York City has a large Armenian population with several Armenian churches and cathedrals.
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Retired Navy Admiral William McRaven, who served for almost 40 years and led special operations, has published a new book called "Duty, Honor, Country & Life: A Tribute to the American Spirit." The book collects many of his speeches, including his well-known 2014 speech "Make Your Bed." He recently talked about the book in an interview with Amna Nawaz.
Key Facts
William McRaven is a retired Navy Admiral.
He served in the Navy for nearly 40 years.
McRaven was a Navy SEAL and led the Joint Special Operations Command.
He gave a famous speech in 2014 called "Make Your Bed."
His new book collects many of his speeches about American values.
The book is titled "Duty, Honor, Country & Life: A Tribute to the American Spirit."
McRaven discussed the book during an interview with journalist Amna Nawaz.
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President Donald Trump plans to attend the White House Correspondents' Association dinner for the first time as president. The event honors the press, but Trump’s difficult relationship with journalists has raised questions about his attendance.
Key Facts
The dinner is an annual event that celebrates the work of journalists covering the White House.
President Trump has criticized reporters, sued news organizations, and limited press access during his second term.
The dinner will be streamed live on C-SPAN on April 25 at 8 p.m. EDT.
Some journalists plan to use the event to speak out strongly in support of press freedom.
Over 350 former journalists have signed a petition urging a firm defense of the media at the dinner.
Previous presidents have attended the dinner, often facing jokes from comedians during the event.
Trump attended the dinner once before in 2011 but this will be his first attendance as president.
The event is sometimes called the "nerd prom" because of the formal dress and the gathering of reporters.
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The Justice Department has stopped its criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The probe looked into the $2.5 billion cost of renovating the Federal Reserve's main building in Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
The Justice Department was investigating Jerome Powell, who leads the Federal Reserve.
The investigation focused on the renovation costs of the Federal Reserve headquarters.
The estimated renovation cost was about $2.5 billion.
The investigation was a criminal probe, meaning it looked for possible illegal activity.
The Justice Department decided to drop the investigation, ending the probe.
Jerome Powell is the Chair of the Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank.
The Federal Reserve headquarters is located in Washington, D.C.
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A Democratic lawmaker from Kansas has raised concerns about delays in tornado warnings ahead of recent storms in her state. She is asking President Donald Trump’s administration to explain possible staffing and operational changes at the National Weather Service that might have affected weather alerts.
Key Facts
Tornado warnings in northeastern Kansas were delayed before multiple twisters struck in April.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado watch only about 30 minutes before the first tornado hit.
Changes to weather balloon launch schedules at the NWS may have contributed to shorter warning times.
Weather balloons are important for measuring atmospheric conditions that help predict storms.
Kansas Representative Sharice Davids criticized these delays and called for answers from the Trump administration.
The NWS says the local offices in Topeka and Omaha did launch weather balloons as scheduled despite the concerns.
The Kansas City NWS office is not an official site for upper air balloon launches.
Davids sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warning that these issues could risk public safety if not fixed.
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The US Department of Justice has ordered federal prisons to allow more ways to carry out the death penalty, including firing squads, gas asphyxiation, and electrocution. This change aims to ensure executions can happen even if lethal injection drugs are unavailable.
Key Facts
The DOJ released a 48-page memo allowing firing squads, gas, and electrocution for federal executions.
The memo says this will help deter serious crimes and bring justice to victims and their families.
President Donald Trump restarted federal executions after a pause during the previous administration.
The federal government has used lethal injection since 1993, mainly with the drug pentobarbital.
There have been problems getting lethal injection drugs, leading to the need for alternative methods.
Some states already use methods like firing squads and nitrogen gas for executions.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the previous administration for not pursuing executions.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin opposed the change, calling it cruel and immoral.
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that workers are installing a new blue floor in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He shared a photo of the renovation progress and thanked President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial is getting a new floor.
The floor color is called "American flag blue."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted an update about the work.
The renovation is currently underway.
Burgum thanked President Donald Trump in his message.
A photo showed workers applying the new blue base.
This project is part of maintaining a well-known U.S. landmark.
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The US Justice Department has joined Elon Musk’s xAI lawsuit against a Colorado law that regulates artificial intelligence (AI). The department says the law breaks constitutional rights by treating some types of discrimination differently and forcing companies to include certain diversity ideas.
Key Facts
The Justice Department intervened in a lawsuit by xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company.
The Colorado law aims to regulate AI systems considered “high-risk” in areas like jobs, housing, education, and healthcare.
The law requires companies to prevent unintended bias, but allows some discrimination to promote diversity.
The Justice Department claims this breaks the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
xAI argues the law violates the First Amendment by restricting AI design and forcing certain messages.
The law, known as Senate Bill 24-205, is set to start on June 30.
This moves the case from a company issue to a conflict between the federal government under President Trump and the state of Colorado.
The Trump administration supports a single national AI law instead of different rules in each state.
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A Colorado funeral home co-owner, Carie Hallford, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for neglecting nearly 200 bodies and defrauding families by promising proper funeral services. Her then-husband and co-owner, Jon Hallford, was sentenced to 40 years, and both also pleaded guilty to fraud related to COVID relief loans.
Key Facts
Carie Hallford received a 30-year prison sentence for corpse abuse and neglect.
Jon Hallford was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the scheme.
The couple ran the Return to Nature funeral home in Colorado Springs.
They hid nearly 200 decomposing bodies in a neglected building.
Families often received urns filled with concrete mix instead of ashes.
The Hallfords collected over $130,000 from grieving families for funeral services.
Both pleaded guilty to defrauding the Small Business Administration by falsely applying for COVID relief funds and received $882,300.
Colorado passed new laws requiring regular inspections of funeral homes after the scandal.
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The Justice Department has ended its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This decision removes an obstacle for President Donald Trump's nominee, Kevin Warsh, to become the next Federal Reserve Chair.
Key Facts
The Justice Department was investigating Jerome Powell, the current Federal Reserve Chair.
The investigation focused on matters related to the Federal Reserve.
The investigation has now been dropped by the Justice Department.
Kevin Warsh is President Donald Trump's choice to replace Jerome Powell.
Ending the investigation may help Kevin Warsh get confirmed as Federal Reserve Chair.
The Federal Reserve Chair is an important position that influences U.S. economic policy.
CBS News reported on this development with correspondent Nikole Killion.
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Ben Sasse, former U.S. senator from Nebraska, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and given three to four months to live. He credits his longer survival to a clinical trial drug that has significantly shrunk his tumors and is discussing his experience and outlook in a TV interview.
Key Facts
Ben Sasse was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer in December.
Doctors told him he had three to four months to live initially.
He is participating in a clinical trial for a drug called daraxonrasib by Revolution Medicines.
The drug has reduced his tumors by 76%.
Patients on this drug normally live about 13 months, longer than the usual six months.
Sasse appeared in an interview on "60 Minutes" discussing his health, family, faith, and politics.
He expressed concern that Congress is not focusing on long-term problems for the years 2030 and 2050.
The extended interview will be available on Paramount+, CBSNews.com, and YouTube.
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Royce White, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, was found by a judge to have abused his ex-wife and son. The judge ordered White not to contact them for many years, a ruling White is currently appealing.
Key Facts
A judge ruled that Royce White abused his ex-wife and son and issued a long-term no-contact order.
White’s ex-wife received two other protective orders against him previously.
The judge found the ex-wife’s claims credible and noted concern for the son’s safety.
White is appealing the ruling and denies the abuse allegations, calling the case unfair.
White’s political career includes a 2024 Senate primary win and a loss in the general election to Senator Amy Klobuchar.
He played professional basketball before entering politics and has been active in political causes.
White’s no-contact order prohibits him from contacting his ex-wife for 50 years and his son for two years.
White claimed evidence like police reports or eyewitnesses supporting abuse does not exist.
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Maine Governor Janet Mills rejected a proposed law that would have stopped building big data centers in the state for 18 months. This decision affects efforts to limit data center construction that are increasing in some parts of the United States.
Key Facts
Governor Janet Mills is a Democrat.
She vetoed legislation aimed at pausing large data center development in Maine.
The proposed pause would have lasted about a year and a half.
Data centers are facilities that store and process computer data for companies.
The veto impacts local movements that want to restrict data center growth.
Governor Mills is currently running for the U.S. Senate.
The issue reflects a broader national debate over the environmental and community effects of large data centers.
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