President Donald Trump spoke at the White House to honor seven college sports teams that won NCAA championships in 2025. He called on Congress to pass new laws to control college sports, especially around athlete transfers and payments, to protect college athletics financially and fairly.
Key Facts
President Trump honored about 100 athletes from seven NCAA national championship teams in a White House event.
The teams recognized included Oklahoma State (men's golf), Texas A&M (women's volleyball), Wake Forest (men's tennis), Georgia (women's tennis), Youngstown State (women's bowling), Florida State (women's soccer), and West Virginia (mixed rifle).
Trump wants Congress to pass laws that limit how many times athletes can transfer schools and control payments to college athletes.
In 2025, Trump signed an executive order aiming to limit eligibility to five years and allow one transfer without penalty for undergraduate athletes.
The order also tries to stop pay-for-play deals and protect women's and Olympic sports.
Some parts of the executive order may face legal challenges, so Trump and college sports leaders want federal laws to support NCAA rules and give the NCAA exemption from some antitrust laws.
Some athletes are challenging NCAA rules to extend their college sports careers and earn money through name, image, and likeness deals.
Trump said it is unfair for younger athletes to compete against much older players in college sports.
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A U.S. appeals court ruled that Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, deciding that the law does not violate the First Amendment. The ruling supports efforts to include more religion in schools and may lead to a future Supreme Court case.
Key Facts
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Texas can require the Ten Commandments to be shown in public school classrooms.
The court said the law does not break the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and forbids government-established religion.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the decision as a victory for Texas and its moral values.
Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the law, saying it violates the separation of church and state.
The ruling overturned a lower court decision that had blocked the law.
About two dozen Texas school districts had been stopped from posting the Ten Commandments by previous court orders.
The Texas law became effective on September 1 and is the largest effort in the U.S. to post the Ten Commandments in public schools.
A similar law in Louisiana was also cleared by the 5th Circuit Court in February.
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A U.S. appeals court ruled that Texas public schools can require classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. The court said this law does not break the First Amendment rules about religion and government, setting up a possible future decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Key Facts
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Texas can require Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms.
The court found the law does not violate the First Amendment’s establishment clause (government can't establish a religion) or free exercise clause (freedom to practice religion).
The law took effect on September 1, 2024, and marks the largest effort in the U.S. to display the Ten Commandments in public schools.
About two dozen Texas school districts had previously been blocked by federal judges from posting the Ten Commandments.
After the ruling, many schools displayed the posters by printing them or accepting donations.
The case is part of Republican efforts, including support from President Donald Trump, to include more religious elements in public schools.
The appeals court voted 12-6 to lift a block that a lower court placed on the law earlier in 2024.
A similar law in Louisiana was also cleared by the same court around the same time.
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Berny Clarke, a retiree from Wisconsin, found new purpose in life by picking up trash during her walks in nature. This activity helped her feel more connected and fulfilled after retirement.
Key Facts
Berny Clarke lives in Wisconsin.
She retired four years ago.
After retirement, she wanted to find a new purpose in life.
Her doctor advised her to walk in nature for health reasons.
During her walks, she noticed trash on the ground.
Picking up trash became a meaningful activity for her.
This helped her feel better and more connected to her community.
CBS News covered her story to share how small actions can make a difference.
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The parents of Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University student who was fatally shot in Chicago, are asking for changes to prevent similar incidents. The suspect, Jose Medina, an undocumented immigrant, has been charged with first-degree murder and is held without bond.
Key Facts
Sheridan Gorman was an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University.
She was shot and killed near Chicago’s lakefront in the early hours of March 19.
The shooting was random, involving a masked man with a gun.
The suspect, Jose Medina, entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 from Venezuela.
Medina had prior theft charges in Chicago and missed a court date before the shooting.
He is now in jail facing first-degree murder and other charges with no bond.
Medina reportedly was shot as a teen and may have the mental capacity of a child.
Sheridan’s parents want accountability and policy changes to improve safety.
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The Justice Department has charged the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with federal fraud for secretly using millions of dollars from donors to pay informants who infiltrated extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The government says SPLC hid these activities from donors and funded the very groups it claimed to fight.
Key Facts
The SPLC was indicted for fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to launder money.
The group paid at least $3 million between 2014 and 2023 to informants linked to white supremacist and extremist groups.
Informants included members of the Ku Klux Klan, National Socialist Party of America, National Alliance, and others.
Payments were made secretly through bank accounts and prepaid cards without telling donors.
The SPLC said the program was to monitor violent threats and protect informants’ safety.
The investigation began after SPLC disclosed the DOJ probe into its informant program.
SPLC CEO Bryan Fair said they will defend their work and staff vigorously.
The case raises questions about possible political use of the Justice Department under President Trump’s administration.
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A gunman in Shreveport, Louisiana, killed eight children, including seven of his own, in a domestic violence shooting. The incident has highlighted gaps in domestic violence and gun laws, prompting calls to improve protections and prevent similar tragedies.
Key Facts
The shooter in Shreveport killed eight children and wounded two women, including his wife.
Domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed when a gun is involved.
Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the U.S.
Louisiana has some of the weakest gun laws in the country and a high rate of gun deaths.
Recent laws in Louisiana ban people convicted of domestic abuse from gun ownership, but gaps remain.
Louisiana does not require gun sellers to have licenses, so background checks are not always done.
The Shreveport shooter had no prior convictions for domestic abuse, so some laws did not apply.
Local leaders called the shooting part of a domestic violence epidemic needing urgent attention.
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President Donald Trump decided to extend the ceasefire with Iran, which many see as a positive step. However, experts say that a lasting peace will need the U.S. to soften its demands in talks with Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump extended the ceasefire agreement with Iran.
The ceasefire extension is viewed as a relief by some experts.
Barbara Slavin, a fellow at the Stimson Center, comments on this development.
She says a full diplomatic solution to the conflict is still unlikely soon.
Achieving peace will require the U.S. to be less strict in its demands.
The situation remains uncertain and complex despite the ceasefire.
The article focuses on U.S.-Iran relations and peace efforts.
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The Trump administration is discussing a plan to resettle about 1,100 Afghan allies, who helped US forces, in the Democratic Republic of Congo after halting their resettlement in the United States. These Afghans have been stuck in Qatar for a year and include many women, children, and family members of US military personnel.
Key Facts
Around 1,100 Afghans who aided US forces are currently in Qatar, waiting for resettlement.
The US stopped a program that would let these Afghans move to the United States.
The group includes interpreters and relatives of US military members, with over 400 children among them.
The US government is considering sending these Afghans to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country facing its own crisis with millions displaced by conflict.
About 900 of the Afghans in Qatar are eligible to resettle in the US, but the Department of Homeland Security has not allowed it.
Officials say moving the group to a third country like the DRC is a way to keep them and Americans safe.
The AfghanEvac nonprofit says many of these people could be safely resettled in the US with a policy change.
Returning to Afghanistan is dangerous for this group because of Taliban control and threats due to their US support.
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Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick from Florida resigned her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She stepped down just before a vote that could have removed her because of ethics violation allegations.
Key Facts
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is a Democratic representative from Florida.
She faced accusations of breaking ethics rules.
A vote was scheduled to decide if she should be removed from her position.
She resigned shortly before this vote took place.
Her resignation prevents official punishment or removal by colleagues.
This is part of a trend where lawmakers resign amid ethics questions.
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President Donald Trump read a Bible passage from the Old Testament in a video recorded in the Oval Office for a Christian event called America Reads the Bible. The event aimed to encourage Americans to return to their spiritual roots and included other government officials. This appearance followed recent controversies involving Trump’s remarks about Iran, a dispute with Pope Leo XIV, and criticism over an AI-generated image he posted.
Key Facts
President Trump read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 in a video message for the America Reads the Bible event.
The event was organized by the Family Policy Alliance Foundation, which promotes conservative Christian causes.
Other Trump administration officials, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, planned to participate.
The initiative encourages Americans to seek wisdom and healing through scripture.
Trump recently faced criticism for threatening Iran and for posting an AI image that some conservative Christians found offensive.
Pope Leo XIV called Trump’s threat to Iran “unacceptable,” which led to Trump responding critically on social media.
Trump has pledged to “bring back Christianity” and created a Religious Liberty Commission focusing on prayer in schools and religious freedom issues.
Evangelical Christians remain an important voting group for President Trump despite past controversies.
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The United States has increased its military forces in the Middle East, including sending more troops and a third aircraft carrier. Officials say U.S. forces are prepared to resume fighting if needed.
Key Facts
The U.S. has the largest military presence in the Middle East since the Iraq invasion.
Additional troops have been deployed recently to the region.
A third aircraft carrier has been sent to support U.S. operations.
Officials say U.S. forces are ready to restart fighting if necessary.
The military buildup is part of President Donald Trump’s current strategy in the region.
This increase in forces shows heightened U.S. readiness and presence in the Middle East.
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Polling in Iowa shows Democratic candidate Rob Sand leading Republican Randy Feenstra in the race for governor. This is notable because Iowa has been led by Republicans for 15 years, and President Donald Trump won the state three times.
Key Facts
Iowa has had a Republican governor for 15 years; the last Democrat governor served from 2007 to 2011.
Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, announced she will not run for reelection in 2026.
Rob Sand, a Democrat and current state auditor, leads Randy Feenstra, a Republican congressman, in recent polls.
One poll shows Sand at 51% and Feenstra at 39%, while another shows Sand at 50% and Feenstra at 42%.
Sand has a fundraising advantage with $13.2 million compared to Feenstra’s $3.2 million.
President Trump won Iowa by about 13 points in 2024, as he did in 2016 and 2020.
The Cook Political Report recently changed Iowa’s governor race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up.”
The primary election for the governor’s race is scheduled for June 2, 2026.
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A new poll from April 2026 shows that Vice President Kamala Harris is the leading Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election, while Vice President JD Vance leads the Republican race. No candidate has officially announced their run yet, but the poll highlights early voter preferences among likely voters.
Key Facts
Kamala Harris leads potential Democratic primary voters with 22% support.
Gavin Newsom has 21%, Pete Buttigieg 12%, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 10% among Democrats.
JD Vance leads potential Republican primary voters with 42% support.
Marco Rubio has 14%, Donald Trump Jr. 10%, and Ron DeSantis 8% among Republicans.
About 10% of Democratic voters and 13% of Republican voters are unsure who they support.
The poll surveyed 1,012 likely voters from April 17 to April 20, 2026, with a 3.5% margin of error.
Candidate lists are expected to grow after the 2026 midterm elections.
Similar results appeared in a March 2026 poll, showing stable positions for the top candidates.
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Paraguay will accept 25 Spanish-speaking deportees from the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport migrants to third countries. This program sends immigrants to countries they have no direct ties to, and several other nations have agreed to participate despite concerns about safety and human rights.
Key Facts
Paraguay announced it will take in 25 deportees from the US starting Thursday.
These deportees do not have pending asylum requests in the US.
The US is using agreements with other countries to send deportees there, called "third-country" deportations.
Countries like Costa Rica, El Salvador, DR Congo, Eswatini, and South Sudan have also accepted deportees.
Some agreements include millions of dollars paid to these countries to accept and hold deportees.
Critics worry about sending people to unstable or dangerous countries, such as South Sudan and DR Congo.
Legal groups in countries like Uganda have protested these deportations as unfair and harmful.
The Trump administration is negotiating with dozens more countries to expand this program.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified at a House hearing about President Trump's budget proposal, which includes cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Kennedy defended the firing of the former CDC director and addressed concerns over vaccine messaging and research funding reductions.
Key Facts
The hearing was part of four budget sessions held by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.
President Trump's 2027 budget proposes cuts to NIH and other health research programs.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged the cuts are painful but cited a large national debt requiring budget reductions.
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher warned that cutting health research could harm U.S. leadership in medicine and national security.
Kennedy faced criticism for his past vaccine skepticism and its possible link to rising measles cases.
Two unvaccinated children died from measles last year, the first U.S. deaths from the disease in a decade.
Kennedy denied claims that the White House told him to change his vaccine-related messaging.
He defended his decision to fire former CDC director Susan Monarez over disagreements about the childhood vaccination schedule.
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The U.S. Department of Justice has charged the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights group, with fraud. Officials say the SPLC improperly raised money and used it to pay members of white supremacist groups to gather information, without telling donors the full details.
Key Facts
The SPLC is accused of fraudulently raising millions of dollars from donors.
The group allegedly paid at least $3 million to members of the Ku Klux Klan and other far-right groups from 2014 to 2023.
The payments were made through bank accounts and prepaid cards to secret informants.
Charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The SPLC says the informant program was used to track violent threats and shared information with law enforcement.
Some informants were high-ranking members of white supremacist groups.
The SPLC will defend itself and says its work has saved lives.
The case is being handled in Alabama, where the SPLC is based.
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Chadwick Scott Willacy was executed in Florida for the 1990 murder of his neighbor, Marlys Sather, whom he set on fire during a burglary. He was given a lethal injection and died at Florida State Prison. Willacy maintained his innocence but was convicted and sentenced to death after a trial and appeals process.
Key Facts
Chadwick Scott Willacy was executed on April 16, 2026, at Florida State Prison.
He was convicted for killing Marlys Sather in 1990 by setting her on fire after a burglary.
Sather was alive when set on fire and died from smoke inhalation.
Willacy bound her hands and feet, struck her in the head, and attempted to strangle her before using gasoline.
He also stole Sather’s car and money from her ATM.
Willacy was sentenced to death after a jury trial, with his sentence confirmed after appeals.
This was Florida’s fifth execution in 2026; the state led U.S. executions last year with 19.
Governor Ron DeSantis has overseen more executions in a year than any previous Florida governor since 1976.
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A Florida man named Chadwick Scott Willacy was executed for setting his neighbor on fire during a 1990 home burglary. He was given a lethal injection and pronounced dead at Florida State Prison. This was the fifth execution in Florida this year.
Key Facts
Chadwick Scott Willacy was executed for killing his neighbor Marlys Sather in 1990.
Sather was found alive after being set on fire but died from smoke inhalation.
Willacy broke into Sather's home, attacked her, and set her on fire after she returned from work.
He was sentenced to death after a resentencing in 1995 due to a jury issue.
Florida has carried out five executions so far in 2026.
Governor Ron DeSantis oversaw a record 19 executions in Florida in 2025.
All executions in Florida are done by a three-drug lethal injection.
Another execution is scheduled in Florida for April 30, 2026.
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The Justice Department charged the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with 11 counts, including bank and wire fraud. The charges relate to a program the group used that paid informants to watch extremist groups, but this program has now ended.
Key Facts
The SPLC faces 11 criminal charges from the Justice Department.
Charges include six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy.
The case involves a program that paid informants to monitor extremist groups.
This monitoring program is no longer active.
The SPLC has denied the allegations made by the Justice Department.
The charges were announced on a Tuesday by the Justice Department.
Wire fraud generally means using electronic communication to commit dishonest acts for money.
Bank fraud refers to schemes to defraud a bank or financial institution.
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