A grandmother in Louisiana, Kristen Anders, was arrested for running over and killing her 5-year-old grandson, Carson Lawson, while she was under the influence of alcohol and medication. The Slidell Police Department reported that the incident happened in a driveway as the child was preparing to go to school. The police are continuing their investigation.
Key Facts
The incident occurred in Slidell, Louisiana.
Kristen Anders, the grandmother, drove over her grandson while impaired.
The boy, Carson Lawson, was getting ready for school and was outside in the driveway.
Anders was driving a 2016 GMC Yukon.
Anders was arrested for vehicular homicide.
The Slidell Police Department found signs of impairment through a drug recognition expert.
The child's mother, Abi Combs, expressed her grief on social media.
A GoFundMe page for the family raised over $9,000 so far.
Peter J. Skandalakis, the leader of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, has taken over as the special prosecutor in the 2020 Georgia election case involving President Donald Trump. This change happened after the previous Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis, was removed by a state court due to concerns about fairness.
Key Facts
Peter J. Skandalakis is now the special prosecutor in the Georgia election case against President Trump.
Skandalakis is the Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia.
Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney, was removed from the case.
The state appeals court stated there was an "appearance of impropriety" in her involvement.
The court decided that removing Willis was necessary to maintain public trust in the legal process.
Skandalakis could not find another prosecutor to take on the case before deciding to do it himself.
The government shutdown has ended, but air travel in the U.S. might still face disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reducing flights at major airports, affecting many people's holiday travel plans.
Key Facts
The government shutdown has ended, but it could still cause travel delays.
38% of 1,000 people surveyed said the FAA shutdown affects their travel plans.
The FAA plans to reduce airport traffic at 40 major U.S. airports.
13,000 air traffic controllers worked without pay during the shutdown.
59% of people surveyed considered changing their travel dates.
64% of respondents would cancel trips if flight cancellations rise.
Staffing shortages may cause longer lines and slower checkpoints at airports.
Travel issues might continue for weeks even though the government is open again.
In December 2025, SNAP benefits will resume their normal payment schedules after a government shutdown that disrupted the process. President Donald Trump signed a funding bill that ended the shutdown, allowing SNAP payments to be distributed again. Each state has its specific schedule for distributing SNAP benefits.
Key Facts
SNAP provides food assistance to about 42 million low- and no-income Americans each month.
A 43-day government shutdown caused disruptions in SNAP payments in November.
President Trump signed a funding bill that ended the shutdown and resumed SNAP payments.
SNAP benefits will be paid according to each state's regular schedule in December.
Benefit payments are made through electronic cards similar to debit cards.
Payment dates vary by state, with some using case numbers or last names to determine timing.
The full fiscal year funding for SNAP benefits is now secured, lasting until October 2026.
The U.S. House of Representatives is moving forward with a plan to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. A bill for the release gained enough support for a vote, with some Republicans joining Democrats in backing it. President Trump opposes releasing these files and suggests focusing on other issues.
Key Facts
The House bill to release Epstein-related files gained 218 signatures, enough to force a vote.
Democrats and a few Republicans worked together to push the bill forward.
President Trump, once associated with Epstein, opposes the release of the files.
GOP leaders initially tried to stall the bill, aligning with Trump’s position.
A procedural tactic called a "discharge petition" was used to secure the vote.
Newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva's vote was key in reaching the required number.
The House plans to vote on the measure in the week of November 17.
Epstein was previously investigated and faced charges related to underage girls.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is facing a close race against Republican challengers in the 2026 midterm elections, according to recent polling. The polls show Hobbs slightly leading over her Republican opponents, with the most competition coming from Andy Biggs. The state remains a key battleground with both parties aiming for victory.
Key Facts
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is a Democrat running for reelection in 2026.
Recent polls show Hobbs has a small lead over Republican challengers Andy Biggs, Karrin Taylor Robson, and David Schweikert.
The Emerson College poll shows Hobbs leading by one to five percentage points over each candidate.
The surveys have a margin of error of around 3.2 to 3.3 percentage points.
Arizona is considered a swing state and has been competitive for both parties in recent elections.
President Donald Trump endorsed both Biggs and Robson for the governor race.
Hobbs won her last election in 2022 by a narrow margin against Kari Lake.
The 2026 Arizona governor race is expected to be closely watched and costly for both parties.
Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer stated that recently released documents and emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein contain nothing harmful about Maxwell or President Trump. The emails have increased political tensions, with debates over their relevance and calls for the full release of Epstein-related files.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, claims emails released from Epstein's estate are not damaging.
The House Oversight Committee Democrats released emails, leading to political disputes.
Maxwell's lawyer denies the emails implicate Maxwell or President Donald Trump.
The White House said the emails were selectively leaked to harm President Trump.
Maxwell stated she never saw President Trump at Epstein's house in any inappropriate situation.
Critics highlighted a potential discrepancy in Maxwell's statements based on the emails.
Maxwell's lawyer disputed claims of her receiving special treatment in jail.
There are calls for the release of all Epstein-related documents due to the recent email release.
The Nevada Supreme Court has allowed a case to proceed against six Republicans accused of submitting false electoral documents in the 2020 election. The court disagreed with a lower judge who had dismissed the case, saying it should proceed in Clark County. This decision means Nevada will be central in deciding if states can hold people accountable for fake electoral claims.
Key Facts
Six Republicans are involved in the case for signing false electoral documents in 2020.
The case was originally dismissed by a Clark County judge who said it happened in the wrong area.
The Nevada Supreme Court decided the case should proceed in Clark County.
The unusual aspect is the mailing of the documents, which reached Las Vegas, validating the location for the trial.
The documents were meant to show Donald Trump, not Joe Biden, won Nevada's electoral votes.
Nevada's Attorney General argued the fake documents must face accountability.
The defense argues the group acted based on legal advice and to keep Trump's options open in court challenges.
The Climate Prediction Center released new weather outlooks for the second half of November due to the ongoing La Niña conditions. The forecasts indicate cooler temperatures in the Western U.S. and warmer temperatures in the central and eastern regions. La Niña, a natural climate phase, is expected to continue into winter but remain weak.
Key Facts
The Climate Prediction Center shared weather forecasts for mid-to-late November.
La Niña is expected to continue into the winter season.
Western U.S. states may see cooler-than-average temperatures.
Central and Eastern U.S. regions could experience warmer-than-average conditions.
Maine and most of Florida are likely to have near-normal rain levels.
Northeast Texas and southern states like Missouri and Arkansas may face increased rainfall.
La Niña is associated with a natural climate cycle called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
Current La Niña conditions are expected to stay weak, resulting in less severe weather changes in winter.
President Donald Trump signed a funding bill that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, allowing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to restore full payments. This program, which provides food assistance to millions of Americans, faced disruption during the shutdown, leading to confusion and delayed payments in various states.
Key Facts
SNAP benefits were delayed due to a 43-day federal government shutdown.
President Trump signed a bill to end the shutdown, allowing SNAP payments to resume.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) instructed states to distribute full benefits quickly.
States experienced different levels of benefit distribution during the shutdown; some provided full payments, partial payments, or no payments at all.
States are now working to catch up on missed or partial payments.
Agriculture Secretary said benefits should be issued by the end of the week or by Monday at the latest.
Some states paid SNAP benefits in advance of federal funding, using their own money to support recipients.
A Gallup poll shows a 17% drop in the number of U.S. adults who consider religion important in their daily lives over the past decade, marking one of the biggest declines globally. This change reflects broader social shifts, with younger generations moving away from religious affiliations more than older ones.
Key Facts
The percentage of U.S. adults who find religion important fell from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2025.
This decline is the largest recorded by Gallup in any country over a ten-year period since 2007.
Globally, the median importance of religion has remained around 81%, while the U.S. has dropped.
Only 14 out of 160 countries surveyed by Gallup had a similar decline of over 15%.
Most religious "switching" in the U.S. results in people becoming unaffiliated rather than choosing a new faith.
83% of adults raised as Christians still identify as Christian, with lower retention rates than for other religions like Islam or Hinduism.
Younger U.S. adults, especially those born after 1990, are more likely to have no religious affiliation.
South Dakota is the only U.S. state not seeing a growth in the non-religious population.
Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy's grandson, announced he will run for Congress in New York's 12th District as a Democrat. He aims to replace Representative Jerry Nadler. Schlossberg, known for his social media presence and Kennedy lineage, has attracted attention both online and in the political arena.
Key Facts
Jack Schlossberg is John F. Kennedy's grandson.
He announced his candidacy for Congress in New York's 12th District, aiming to replace Jerry Nadler.
New York's 12th District includes the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and Midtown Manhattan.
Schlossberg is active on social media, with over 1.6 million followers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
He graduated from Yale University and holds a joint business and law degree from Harvard.
Many people are interested in his campaign due to his Kennedy family ties and his engaging online persona.
Schlossberg has been noted for mixing humor with political commentary to engage younger voters.
The FBI has warned that Chinese speakers in the U.S. are being targeted by scammers. The criminals pretend to be U.S. health insurance providers or Chinese law enforcement to trick victims into giving up personal information and money.
Key Facts
Scammers are targeting Chinese-speaking individuals in the United States.
They pretend to be from U.S. health insurance companies or Chinese police.
Victims are contacted with fake insurance claims and pressured to pay.
They use video calls to show fake documents and demand money.
If victims resist, the scammers threaten legal action or extradition.
The FBI advises against sharing personal info or money with these callers.
People affected by these scams should report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
The Trump administration is considering a proposal to give $2,000 checks to Americans, funded by tariff revenue. The proposal requires legislation and discussions with Congress for it to proceed. Economic adviser Kevin Hassett indicated that the revenue from tariffs could cover these checks, but not all experts agree.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump proposes $2,000 checks for Americans, using tariff revenue.
Kevin Hassett, an economic adviser, claims there is enough tariff revenue to fund these checks.
Congressional approval is needed to implement the proposal.
The government raised $195 billion from tariffs through fiscal year 2025.
Erica York from the Tax Foundation says the $2,000 checks would cost about $300 billion.
The proposal aims to help middle- and lower-income people, excluding high earners.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has not yet spoken with President Trump about the detailed form of the checks.
Experts express skepticism about the feasibility of this proposal due to higher costs from tariffs.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a new state budget worth $50.1 billion, introducing an earned income tax credit to provide nearly $193 million in tax relief for working families. The budget also increases funding for education and workforce initiatives. The tax credit aims to help around 940,000 Pennsylvanians by providing up to $805 in state tax relief based on income and dependents.
Key Facts
Pennsylvania's new state budget is $50.1 billion.
The budget introduces a Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, giving a 10% state-level earned income tax credit.
The tax credit will provide $193 million in tax relief for working families.
Around 940,000 Pennsylvanians are expected to benefit from this tax credit.
Families could receive up to $805 in state tax relief based on their income and number of dependents.
The budget includes over $900 million in new education funding, including $565 million for school adequacy funding.
It allocates $25 million for child care workforce initiatives and $21 million for services for the elderly and food assistance programs.
This budget takes effect immediately for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Republican U.S. Representative Thomas Massie stated that President Donald Trump and his officials want to keep the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files private to avoid embarrassing the president's friends. Massie is pushing for a vote to release the full Epstein files, alleging that they might implicate some of Trump's associates and possibly U.S. intelligence agencies. The White House accuses Democrats of twisting the facts by releasing selective emails to damage the president's reputation.
Key Facts
Thomas Massie is a Republican U.S. Representative.
Massie claims President Trump and his team want to keep Epstein investigation files secret to prevent embarrassment.
Massie has put forward a House bill to force a vote on releasing the full Epstein files.
The vote on this matter is scheduled for next week.
President Trump describes the Epstein issue as a Democratic-driven "hoax."
Massie believes the files could implicate billionaire friends of Trump and intelligence agencies.
The White House claims Democrats released selective emails to create a misleading story against Trump.
California plans to cancel the commercial driver's licenses of 17,000 immigrants due to expired or soon-to-expire immigration status. The licenses' expiration dates were set beyond the holders' allowed U.S. residency periods. This decision has caused concern among businesses relying on these drivers and prompted legal action to block the order.
Key Facts
California will revoke 17,000 commercial driver's licenses from immigrants with expired immigration status.
The action follows a review that found license expiration dates did not align with immigration authorization periods.
New federal rules limit commercial driver's license eligibility to certain visa categories: H-2A, H-2B, and E-2.
The change affects drivers who had valid federal work authorizations at the time of issuance.
The state will give affected drivers 60 days to update their legal status or lose their licenses.
This issue gained attention after a truck crash involved a driver without legal U.S. status.
Legal challenges have been initiated to temporarily block the revocation order.
Federal transportation officials accused California of issuing licenses illegally, while state officials denied this claim.
A Newsweek article emphasizes the importance of understanding transgender people rather than focusing solely on transgender politics. Many Americans do not personally know someone who is transgender, despite the prominence of transgender issues in political discussions. The article highlights personal stories and statistics, showing how legislative actions impact the transgender community, particularly the youth.
Key Facts
Transgender Awareness Week highlights the presence of transgender issues in U.S. politics.
Less than one in three U.S. adults personally know someone who is transgender.
Over 1,000 bills have been proposed this year concerning different aspects of transgender peoples' lives.
Anti-transgender state laws are linked to a 72% increase in suicide attempt rates among transgender and nonbinary youth.
The article encourages focusing on the people behind transgender politics, not just the policies.
Personal stories highlight the journey and acceptance transgender individuals hope for from their families and communities.
The article calls for a reduction in the politicization of transgender lives to alleviate the burden on young transgender individuals.
The FDA has issued a high-risk warning for two salad products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Made Fresh Salads Inc. voluntarily recalled the products, which are distributed in New York, and the FDA classified it as a Class I risk, indicating serious health hazards. No illnesses associated with the products have been reported so far.
Key Facts
The FDA gave a Class I risk rating to the recall, which means the products could cause serious health issues or death.
Made Fresh Salads Inc. recalled LoBoy Tuna Deluxe Salad and LoBoy Macaroni Salad.
These products have sell-by dates in October 2024 and October 2025 and were packaged in 5-pound plastic tubs.
The salads were sold in retail stores in New York.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, with symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and severe cases such as headache and confusion.
Groups at higher risk for severe infection include pregnant women, newborns, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.
No cases of illness from these salads have been reported as of November 13.
The FDA warns that even mild symptoms in pregnant women can lead to severe outcomes like miscarriage.
The U.S. government shutdown ended after 43 days, the longest in history, when President Donald Trump signed a funding bill. The House of Representatives had voted to reopen the government, with the vote ending at 222 to 209. The shutdown caused significant disruptions, including flight delays and unpaid federal workers, while also leading to debates on who was responsible.
Key Facts
The government shutdown lasted 43 days, marking the longest in U.S. history.
President Donald Trump signed the bill to end the shutdown.
The House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 in favor of the funding bill.
Six Democrats joined Republicans in the vote to pass the bill.
The shutdown affected millions, including delays in food assistance from SNAP.
Flight schedules were disrupted, and federal workers went unpaid.
There is public debate about which political party was responsible for the shutdown.
