Representative Rich McCormick from Georgia proposed a new law to make Arlington and Alexandria cities part of Washington, D.C. again. This would undo a law from 1846 that returned these areas to Virginia.
Key Facts
Rep. Rich McCormick is a Republican from Georgia.
He introduced a bill called the "Make DC Square Again Act."
The bill aims to add Arlington and Alexandria cities back to Washington, D.C.
These areas were part of D.C. before 1846.
The 1846 law returned these areas to Virginia.
The proposal follows recent changes in voting district boundaries (redistricting).
Supporters say this change would affect political balance between parties.
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The Justice Department has stopped its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This decision removes an obstacle for confirming Kevin Warsh as the new Fed chair, as the Federal Reserve’s inspector general will now review the building renovation issues.
Key Facts
The Justice Department ended its criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
The investigation focused on the Federal Reserve’s building renovations.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia announced the probe’s end on social media.
The Fed’s inspector general will now oversee the issue instead.
This probe was one of several investigations related to people seen as opponents of President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors had difficulty finding evidence of criminal activity in the case.
Ending the probe helps clear the way for Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as the next Fed chair.
Kevin Warsh recently testified in a Senate hearing about his nomination.
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First Lady Melania Trump added a new beehive shaped like the White House to the South Lawn. This new hive will increase the total number of bee colonies at the White House and boost honey production.
Key Facts
The new beehive is shaped like the White House and is fully working with bees.
It adds two new bee colonies to the existing two colonies.
Honey production will increase by about 30 pounds each year.
Currently, the bees produce about 200 or more pounds of honey annually.
The honey is used in White House kitchens and donated to local food kitchens.
A professional beekeeper manages the new hive.
The hive and base were designed by White House staff and made by a local Virginia artisan.
The Trust for the National Mall funds the beekeeping program expansion.
The White House beekeeping program started officially in 2009 during the Obama administration.
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Police and local officials across the US are worried that people are confusing local officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This confusion has caused fear and problems for police doing their everyday jobs. Some cities are now trying to make it easier for people to tell local officers apart from ICE agents.
Key Facts
Police and government officials in seven states reported concerns about being mistaken for ICE agents.
The confusion is linked to ICE’s use of masked agents in unmarked cars.
Mistaken identity has led to fear among community members and risks for police officers.
Minneapolis city officials reminded workers to clearly identify themselves to avoid confusion.
Some municipal workers, including fire inspectors and mental health responders, faced trouble because residents feared they were ICE agents.
Officials created materials to help the public recognize local police and emergency workers.
Calls to 911 sometimes reported suspicious activity involving people unsure if masked agents were police or ICE.
The issue highlights tension caused by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
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Recent polls show President Donald Trump’s approval rating is below 50% nationally, with lower support among younger voters and independents. This has raised concerns about possible challenges for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, but opinions differ on whether this signals real trouble or just normal polling fluctuations.
Key Facts
President Trump’s national approval rating is reported to be below 50%, 15 months into his second term.
Support is weaker among younger people and independent voters.
Trump’s approval is below 50% in 19 states he won in the 2024 election.
Some experts caution that lower approval ratings don’t always lead to losses in elections.
There is debate about whether Trump’s policies, like tariffs and involvement in Iran, are affecting Republican support.
Prediction markets show a higher chance of Trump’s impeachment or removal, though this reflects trading activity, not polls.
Some Republicans fear losing seats in Congress during the midterms due to current political conditions.
Trump’s core supporters remain loyal despite the lower approval ratings and political challenges.
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The U.S. Justice Department has ended its investigation into Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Key Facts
The Justice Department was investigating Jerome Powell.
Jerome Powell is the Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
The investigation has now been dropped.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro made the announcement on Friday.
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States.
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A U.S. Army special forces soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, is charged with using secret information from a military mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to win over $400,000 betting on a prediction market website. He faces multiple charges including theft of government information and could go to prison.
Key Facts
Gannon Ken Van Dyke was involved in a January mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
He used classified information from the operation to place bets on Polymarket, a prediction market site.
Van Dyke made bets on when Maduro would be out of power, mostly gambling on January 2, just before the raid.
He won more than $400,000 from these bets.
Charges against Van Dyke include unlawful use of confidential information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission also filed a complaint related to his actions.
Polymarket detected trading using classified information, alerted authorities, and helped with the investigation.
Van Dyke moved $35,000 to a cryptocurrency account shortly before the mission started.
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The Justice Department has ended its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over building renovations. This action clears the path for Kevin Warsh to be confirmed as the new Fed chair. Warsh has denied ever promising President Trump to cut interest rates.
Key Facts
The Justice Department stopped investigating Powell due to lack of evidence of wrongdoing.
The investigation focused on renovations of Federal Reserve buildings.
The Fed’s inspector general will now examine the renovations instead of criminal prosecutors.
A judge criticized the investigation for having almost no evidence.
Prosecutors attempted to access the Fed building but were turned away.
Senator Thom Tillis opposed Warsh’s confirmation until the investigation ended.
Kevin Warsh was nominated by President Trump in January to replace Powell when his term ends on May 15.
Warsh stated he will act independently and never promised President Trump to cut interest rates.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will speed up the review process for three psychedelic drugs aimed at treating mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. This move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to make psychedelic drugs easier to access and regulate.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an order to speed access to psychedelic drugs and reduce restrictions on them.
The FDA gave priority review vouchers to two companies developing psilocybin for tough-to-treat depression.
Another company received a voucher for methylone, related to MDMA, targeting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Priority review means the FDA will try to shorten the review time from months to weeks.
The FDA did not disclose the names of the companies receiving these vouchers.
The FDA also allowed early testing of a drug related to ibogaine for treating alcohol use disorder.
Ibogaine is a strong psychedelic with some known risks but is used by veterans to treat trauma and addiction.
The fast-track review program has faced criticism for favoring companies linked to the White House.
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A strong tornado hit Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2026, damaging at least 40 homes and knocking down utility poles. Emergency teams rescued people trapped in the debris, but no deaths were reported and only minor injuries occurred.
Key Facts
The tornado struck Enid, a city with about 50,000 people in northern Oklahoma.
At least 40 homes were damaged, with some roofs torn off and others destroyed.
Commercial buildings near the city were heavily damaged and pushed off their foundations.
Power lines and utility poles were knocked down, causing power outages.
Emergency crews searched homes and rescued trapped residents.
No fatalities and only minor injuries were reported.
Neighboring counties saw flooded roads and damaged barns.
The National Weather Service sent teams to survey tornado damage in the area.
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The U.S. Congress has been holding long late-night sessions to debate and vote on important issues like the budget and government funding. These overnight meetings are tiring lawmakers and show ongoing problems with how Congress operates.
Key Facts
Senators and House members often work late into the night, sometimes past 3 a.m., to pass legislation.
Republican Senator John Kennedy expressed concern about the health effects of these long sessions on members.
Congress has been struggling to agree on funding for immigration enforcement agencies and government departments.
A recent Senate vote early in the morning passed a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security, but the House later rejected it.
Lawmakers say these all-night sessions reflect bigger problems in Congress, with delays and conflicts becoming more common.
Some members believe many lawmakers now prioritize personal interests over teamwork.
Late-night fights have become a normal part of how Congress manages urgent national issues.
The issue of renewing surveillance powers for federal agencies also caused late-night legislative battles.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ended its investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The DOJ will let the Federal Reserve’s Inspector General review the costly building renovations and decide if any further action is needed.
Key Facts
DOJ Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the closure of the investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
The Federal Reserve Inspector General (IG) will now review the billion-dollar cost overruns related to building renovations.
The IG has the power to hold the Federal Reserve responsible for how taxpayer money is spent.
Pirro said her office will reopen the investigation if new facts justify it.
The investigation had caused problems for President Donald Trump’s nominee for Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh.
Senator Thom Tillis had withheld support for Warsh due to the ongoing DOJ probe.
Jerome Powell said the DOJ subpoenas were a form of retaliation linked to his disagreements with President Trump over interest rate policies.
The DOJ did not comment beyond confirming Pirro’s announcement.
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Senator Dick Durbin praised the Department of Justice’s decision to have its inspector general review how the DOJ managed millions of records connected to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The audit aims to examine problems in the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case.
Key Facts
Senator Dick Durbin is the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Department of Justice's inspector general will audit the DOJ's record-keeping related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
The audit will review millions of documents connected to Epstein’s case.
The review was announced to address concerns about how the previous administration managed the case.
The investigation seeks to identify any mistakes or mishandling of the files.
This audit is part of broader scrutiny over the DOJ’s past actions in high-profile cases.
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President Donald Trump announced plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by resurfacing it with a material like that used in swimming pools. He also mentioned the new surface would be colored blue, similar to the American flag.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke about renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The renovation would involve resurfacing the pool's stone lining.
The new surface would be like the one used in swimming pools.
The pool surface would be colored "American flag blue."
This announcement was made in the Oval Office on a Thursday.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is a well-known landmark in Washington, D.C.
The plans were reported by CBS News.
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President Donald Trump shared a video on social media in which a commentator called India a "hellhole," causing strong criticism from India’s government. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the comments were wrong and did not reflect the good relationship between the two countries.
Key Facts
President Trump posted a video and transcript featuring commentator Michael Savage criticizing birthright citizenship and calling India a "hellhole."
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the remarks were uninformed, inappropriate, and did not show the true India-U.S. relationship.
Savage’s comments included claims that Indian tech immigrants do not hire native-born Americans and lack English skills.
The Trump administration has introduced new rules for the H-1B visa program, affecting many Indian workers.
The U.S. Embassy in India responded by saying President Trump values India as a great country and friend.
The Hindu American Foundation and some U.S. politicians criticized Trump’s post as racist and harmful.
Despite tensions, President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have maintained generally good relations.
Trade between the U.S. and India includes tariffs, but there were recent talks about lowering tariffs after India agreed to certain energy purchases.
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The US Justice Department has stopped its investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell about cost overruns on Fed building renovations. Instead, the Federal Reserve's inspector general will conduct an internal investigation.
Key Facts
The Justice Department ended its probe into Jerome Powell over alleged high costs in Fed building projects.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the shift to an internal investigation by the Fed’s inspector general.
President Donald Trump had criticized the renovation expenses and had an ongoing disagreement with Powell.
Powell’s term as Fed Chair is ending, and the Senate is reviewing President Trump’s nominee, Kevin Warsh, as his replacement.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis delayed support for Warsh until the investigation was dropped.
The White House supports the inspector general leading the investigation to provide answers to taxpayers.
President Trump wanted the Fed to lower interest rates and considered firing Powell, a move seen by some as possibly illegal.
Powell revealed the Justice Department had issued subpoenas and threatened criminal charges related to his Senate testimony about the renovations.
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A man named John Ashby was sentenced to life in prison for raping a Sikh woman in her home and attacking her with religious hatred. During the attack, he called her anti-Muslim names, beat her with a stick, and committed several violent crimes.
Key Facts
John Ashby followed a woman in her 20s home in Walsall and entered without her permission.
He attacked her with a two-foot stick and shouted anti-Muslim abuse, wrongly believing she was Muslim.
Ashby admitted to rape, robbery, intentional strangulation, and religiously aggravated assault.
The attack lasted about 24 minutes and ended when Ashby ran away after hearing a noise.
He took the woman’s jewelry and mobile phone after the attack.
Ashby has 10 previous convictions for 18 offences and a history of drug abuse and mental health issues.
He was homeless and recently released from psychiatric care without support at the time of the attack.
The judge said Ashby must serve at least 14 years in prison before being considered for release.
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A flood warning is active for parts of western El Paso, Texas, and southern New Mexico because the Cement Lake Dam might break. If the earthen dam fails, it could cause sudden and dangerous flooding downstream, affecting over 200,000 people and possibly spreading razor wire mixed with debris in the floodwaters.
Key Facts
Cement Lake Dam, also called Portland Cement Reservoir, is at risk of failing.
Areas threatened include West El Paso, Mesilla Valley, Downtown El Paso, Upper Valley, Sunland Park, Las Cruces, and parts of Doña Ana County.
More than 200,000 residents live in the flood risk zone.
Floodwaters could cover major roads such as Loop 375, Paisano Drive, and Doniphan Drive.
Razor wire near the dam’s outlet could mix with flood debris, creating extra hazards.
The National Weather Service issued an urgent flood watch through Friday evening.
Emergency crews and local officials are warning residents about these risks.
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President Donald Trump’s second term focused on reducing government bureaucracy and cutting spending, promising to fight corruption in Washington. However, some actions, like delays in releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files and internal purges, have caused confusion and concerns among his supporters.
Key Facts
President Trump campaigned on “draining the swamp,” meaning reducing corruption in government.
His administration cut federal workforce numbers and closed USAID, saving an estimated $215 billion by targeting waste.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI removed officials linked to investigations against Trump and his supporters.
The Pentagon also targeted employees who opposed the administration’s views or supported liberal initiatives.
The release of the Jeffrey Epstein files was delayed and poorly managed, causing suspicion and criticism.
Trump’s name and photos appeared in the Epstein files, increasing controversy.
A Justice Department watchdog reviewed the handling of the Epstein file disclosures.
Some actions meant to reduce corruption have instead created confusion and distrust among Trump’s base.
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The U.S. Justice Department ended its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding renovations at the Federal Reserve. This decision may help Kevin Warsh, a former Fed board member, to be confirmed for a new role.
Key Facts
The Justice Department investigated Jerome Powell about Federal Reserve building renovations.
The investigation was criminal in nature but has now been dropped.
Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, announced the decision.
Jerome Powell is the current Chair of the Federal Reserve.
Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve board member, has been nominated for a position.
Dropping the probe may help Kevin Warsh’s confirmation process.
The Federal Reserve is America's central bank, responsible for managing money and interest rates.
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