This article explains the steps for green-card holders to become naturalized U.S. citizens. It describes the eligibility rules, application process, testing, and final ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Key Facts
Most green-card holders must wait five years before applying for citizenship; those married to U.S. citizens may apply after three years.
Applicants must show continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S., meet good moral character standards, and pass background checks.
The application starts with filing Form N-400 and paying a fee (around $710-$760, lower for some).
Applicants give biometrics (fingerprints, photo) and attend an interview to review their history and test English and civics knowledge.
Starting in October 2025, the civics test will include up to 20 questions from a pool of 128; applicants must answer at least 12 correctly.
Spouses of U.S. service members stationed abroad may be eligible for faster naturalization without usual residency rules.
After approval, applicants attend a ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to become citizens.
U.S. citizenship grants rights like voting and applying for a passport, and responsibilities like loyalty to the U.S.
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New information is coming out about the money being raised for the 2026 midterm elections. Political experts Chuck Rocha and Carrie Lukas spoke with CBS News about the fundraising efforts.
Key Facts
The article discusses fundraising for the 2026 midterm elections.
New data on campaign fundraising has recently become available.
Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist, and Carrie Lukas, a Republican strategist, shared their views.
They appeared on CBS News to talk about fundraising trends.
Midterm elections occur halfway through a president’s term and affect control of Congress.
Fundraising is important because it helps candidates pay for campaign activities.
The discussion includes both Democratic and Republican perspectives.
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Democrats are being urged to promote clean energy as a way to lower consumer costs and reduce reliance on volatile global oil markets amid rising prices due to the Iran war. While President Trump opposes alternatives to fossil fuels, some Democratic leaders believe clean energy can provide energy independence and economic security for Americans.
Key Facts
The Iran war has caused oil and gas prices to increase worldwide, pushing U.S. gasoline prices above $4.10 per gallon.
The strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, was closed after a U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran.
President Trump aims to maintain fossil fuel reliance and opposes clean energy alternatives.
Democrats have been cautious about linking the Iran conflict to climate action and energy policy.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse advocates for clean energy as a stable and affordable energy source independent of global conflicts.
The rising fuel prices highlight the need for energy independence through renewable sources like solar and wind power.
Democrats passed climate legislation to boost clean energy jobs, but much of it was blocked by Republicans in Congress.
Some Democrats believe the Iran war is a chance to connect clean energy promotion to economic and national security benefits.
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Shamar Elkins, a former member of the Louisiana Army National Guard, shot and killed eight children in Shreveport, Louisiana. The incident started as a family dispute and ended in a mass shooting.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Eight children were killed in the shooting.
The shooter was Shamar Elkins, a former Louisiana Army National Guard member.
Elkins served in the Guard from 2013 to 2020.
The shooting began as a domestic (family) dispute.
Authorities described the killing as "execution-style."
The event occurred on a Sunday.
Police are handling the investigation.
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President Donald Trump said on PBS News that if the ceasefire with Iran ends on Tuesday, there will be many explosions. He made this comment during a phone call with a White House correspondent while the U.S. is getting ready for more peace talks with Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke on PBS News on Monday morning.
He warned that if the ceasefire with Iran expires on Tuesday, many bombs will go off.
His comment was made during a phone call with White House correspondent Liz Landers.
The topic of the call was the ongoing situation and peace talks with Iran.
A U.S. delegation is preparing to hold more discussions to try and maintain peace with Iran.
The ceasefire is a temporary agreement to stop fighting between the U.S. and Iran.
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A hot air balloon unexpectedly landed in a backyard in Southern California, surprising the residents. The balloon was carrying passengers when it made the surprise landing.
Key Facts
A hot air balloon landed unexpectedly in a backyard in Southern California (SoCal).
The balloon was carrying passengers at the time of landing.
The landing surprised the people living in the yard where it touched down.
The event took place recently, reported on April 20, 2026.
No information was given about injuries or damage from the landing.
The article focuses on this unusual and unexpected balloon landing event.
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A grandmother named Helen Green said grandparents should be responsible for keeping close relationships with their grandchildren. She shared her experience that grandparents who make the effort build strong bonds, unlike those who do not.
Key Facts
Helen Green is a grandmother of two young children.
She believes grandparents should actively offer help and visit, rather than waiting for parents or children to arrange contact.
Green’s own parents did not stay close to her children, causing a distant relationship.
Her in-laws made time and effort, resulting in a strong bond with their grandchildren.
Her TikTok video about this view has over 2 million views and sparked mixed reactions.
Some people agree both grandparents and parents share responsibility; others think parents should lead.
Green said grandparents are not being asked to raise grandchildren, just to stay involved and supportive.
The debate highlights different opinions on family roles and boundaries between generations.
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The American Library Association (ALA) reported that book bans remained very high in 2025, with 4,235 unique book titles being challenged. This number is just slightly below the record high of 4,240 challenges seen in 2023.
Key Facts
In 2025, there were 4,235 unique book titles challenged across the United States.
This is the second-highest number of book challenges recorded by the ALA.
The record highest number was 4,240 challenges in 2023.
The ALA publishes an annual report called the State of America’s Libraries Report.
A “challenge” means someone tried to remove or restrict a book.
The trend shows that efforts to ban or limit books in libraries and schools are still very active.
The issue reflects ongoing debates about what books should be available to readers, especially children and teens.
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Steve Reed, a senior Labour minister, criticized the Green Party for accepting members expelled from Labour for antisemitism and warned voters to be cautious in upcoming elections. He also accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of ignoring local meetings tied to a government funding scheme in his constituency.
Key Facts
Steve Reed said some people expelled from Labour for antisemitism have joined the Green Party and are now candidates.
Reed warned voters that Green Party candidates might have views voters do not expect.
The Green Party's membership has grown nearly four times since Zack Polanski became leader seven months ago.
The Greens have been gaining ground in polls compared to Labour.
Reed accused the Greens of not properly checking the backgrounds of council candidates.
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton, has missed over ten local meetings linked to a £20 million government community fund.
The Pride in Place fund supports small local projects and involves local boards and the MP’s participation.
Farage is a known supporter of President Donald Trump and has visited the US often after winning his seat.
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David Cromie, a fit father of three from Northern Ireland, suffered a sudden brain bleed after spending a normal morning playing with his children. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage but has since recovered, though the family’s life has changed significantly.
Key Facts
On April 13, 2025, David Cromie and his wife took their three children to a local park.
David was active and healthy, with no signs of illness during the outing.
Later, David showed confusion and disorientation at home and collapsed while walking.
He was taken to the hospital where scans revealed a non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (a brain bleed).
David spent five days in the hospital and was later allowed home.
A later medical procedure caused a ministroke, but he fully recovered.
The family has since adjusted their lifestyle, focusing more on slowing down and spending quality time together.
Sophie, David’s wife, shared a video about the incident on TikTok to raise awareness.
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Tax fraud is increasing quickly in several U.S. states, with scammers stealing personal information to claim tax refunds or trick people into paying fake debts. New technology like generative AI has made these scams easier for criminals to carry out.
Key Facts
Tax fraud means stealing personal or financial information to file fake tax returns or get money illegally.
Common scams include filing a tax return for someone else, pretending to be IRS agents, and sending fake emails from tax preparers.
Fraud reports rose a lot from 2023 to 2024 according to U.S. Federal Trade Commission data.
The 10 states with the fastest growth in tax fraud include Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey.
Florida had the highest fraud rate per 100,000 people in 2024.
Louisiana moved from 17th to 9th place in fraud reports per 100,000 residents between 2023 and 2024.
New Jersey rose from 12th to 8th place in fraud rate rankings.
The increase in fraud shows the need for people to be careful and aware during tax season.
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Hasan Piker is a popular left-wing streamer who speaks to many young progressive viewers. Some people worry that his critical views about Israel and other controversial opinions might hurt the Democratic Party's chances in upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Hasan Piker streams on the platform Twitch.
He is known for his left-wing political views.
He has a large audience of young progressive people.
Piker has made critical comments about Israel.
Some Democrats are concerned his statements could hurt their party.
The concerns relate to the upcoming midterm elections.
The Democratic Party is worried about winning future votes.
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Melania Trump will attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner this week, joining President Donald Trump. This is the first time the first lady has participated in this well-known annual event.
Key Facts
Melania Trump will join President Trump at the WHCA dinner.
The event takes place this Saturday at the Washington Hilton hotel.
This is the first time Melania Trump has attended the dinner.
President Trump will attend the dinner for the first time as commander in chief.
The WHCA dinner is a high-profile annual gala held in Washington, D.C.
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FBI Director Kash Patel is responding to a report from The Atlantic that says he has been drinking too much and missing work without explanation. He is threatening to take legal action against the publication.
Key Facts
The Atlantic published a report about Kash Patel’s behavior.
The report mentions excessive drinking by Patel.
It also says Patel has had unexplained absences from work.
Kash Patel is the current FBI Director.
Patel is threatening to sue or take other legal steps because of the report.
CBS News covered Patel’s reaction to the story.
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An active-duty Army sergeant shared his confusion and concern after his wife was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an immigration appointment in El Paso, Texas. The sergeant described ICE's actions as excessive and questioned why his wife was taken into custody.
Key Facts
The sergeant is currently serving in the U.S. Army.
His wife was detained by ICE during a scheduled immigration appointment.
The incident took place in El Paso, Texas.
The sergeant expressed that he does not understand the reason for her detention.
He described ICE’s behavior as out of control.
The story was reported in an interview with CBS News.
The issue involves immigration enforcement by the U.S. government.
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The U.S. will start a new system on Monday that lets businesses ask for refunds after paying $166 billion in tariffs that the Supreme Court ruled were illegal. The refunds will be handled online by Customs and Border Protection, with most payments made electronically.
Key Facts
A tariff refund system for U.S. businesses will begin on Monday.
Businesses can submit claims to get back money paid on certain tariffs.
The Supreme Court found these tariffs to be illegal.
The total amount paid by businesses in these tariffs is $166 billion.
Customs and Border Protection will run the online refund system.
Most refunds will be paid electronically through this system.
Court documents describe how the refund process will work.
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A man in Shreveport, Louisiana, killed eight children in a shooting described by police as "execution-style." Authorities said the attack was connected to a domestic dispute.
Key Facts
The shooting took place in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Eight children were killed in the incident.
Police called the shooting "execution-style," meaning it was deliberate and methodical.
Officials linked the attack to a domestic dispute involving the suspect.
Rodney Harrison, a law enforcement expert, provided commentary on CBS News.
The event happened on a Sunday.
Authorities are investigating the case further to understand the motive and circumstances.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear criticized Vice President Vance in the ongoing 2028 presidential race. Representative Eric Swalwell resigned, which has brought more attention to Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona.
Key Facts
Andy Beshear is the Governor of Kentucky and a member of the Democratic Party.
Vice President Vance is a candidate in the 2028 presidential race.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic Representative, has resigned from his position.
Swalwell’s resignation has increased public focus on Senator Ruben Gallego.
Ruben Gallego is a Democratic Senator from Arizona.
The discussion about these political developments took place on The Hill with Amie Parnes and Ian Swanson.
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A mother and her six children died in an explosion and fire at their home in central Pennsylvania. Authorities believe a propane leak inside the house may have caused the blast, but the exact reason is still being investigated.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Lamar Township, Clinton County, near Mill Hall, Pennsylvania.
All seven victims were trapped inside the burning house and died.
The mother was identified as Sarah Stolzfus, age 34.
The children were four sons aged 11, 10, 5, and 3, and two daughters aged 8 and 6.
Firefighters could not enter the building because it was fully engulfed in flames.
External propane tanks near the house did not explode and were not a factor.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud boom and seeing the house covered in flames.
The family had moved into the home only a few months before the accident.
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Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio stopped executions when he took office in 2019. However, he has not yet said if he supports ending the death penalty or if he will reduce the sentences of the 113 people on death row before his term ends next January.
Key Facts
Governor Mike DeWine began serving in 2019.
He set an informal pause on executions in Ohio soon after taking office.
Ohio currently has 113 people sentenced to death.
DeWine has not stated whether he supports ending the death penalty.
It is unclear if he will commute (reduce) any death sentences before leaving office in January.
The decision about the death penalty is still pending as his term nears its end.
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