President Donald Trump's administration has proposed a significant reduction in the fruit and vegetable benefits for the WIC program in its 2027 budget request. This change could affect the nutritious food access of families relying on WIC, which supports low-income women, infants, and children. Congress previously rejected similar cuts, opting instead to boost WIC funding.
Key Facts
The WIC program provides nutrition support to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children.
Current WIC benefits for fiscal year 2026 include $26 per month for children and $52 for breastfeeding participants.
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 suggests reducing these benefits to $10 for children and $13 for breastfeeding participants.
The proposal includes a $500 million increase to WIC's contingency fund.
Nutrition experts link WIC to better dietary intake and child health outcomes.
Congress rejected similar budget cuts for fiscal year 2026.
Nearly all states have implemented changes to WIC food packages including more options for fruits and vegetables.
Walmart accepts WIC benefits in most locations, but online use is limited to certain states.
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A woman in California claims that Representative Eric Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2018. She plans to report the incident to the police. Swalwell announced he would resign from Congress following these and previous allegations.
Key Facts
A woman accused Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual assault in 2018.
The alleged assault took place in a Southern California hotel.
The accuser is named Lonna Drewes.
Drewes claimed she was drugged by Swalwell before the assault.
Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress.
There were earlier allegations of sexual assault against Swalwell from another woman.
Swalwell also quit the California governor's race.
Swalwell's attorney, Elias Debaie, did not provide a comment.
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The 2020 U.S. Census data shows that the most common last names in the United States have stayed mostly the same over the past decade. However, Asian last names are among the fastest-growing, reflecting changing demographics. The Census also released first-name data for the first time since 1990, showing little change in the most common first names.
Key Facts
The five most common U.S. last names in 2020 were Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones.
Rodriguez moved to the 8th spot in the top 10 most common last names, swapping places with Davis.
Asian surnames Zhang, Liu, and Wang were the three fastest-growing from 2010 to 2020.
Asians are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S., now making up roughly 7% of the population.
The Census also provided last name data by racial and ethnic groups, noting unique common names for each group.
The 2020 Census included first-name data for the first time since 1990, showing stable rankings.
Common male first names in 2020 included Michael, John, and James; female names included Mary and Maria.
Census name data covers all ages, unlike the Social Security Administration's list that focuses only on newborns.
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President Donald Trump, impeached twice during his first term, may consider trying to remove the record of his 2019 impeachment after new documents were released. These documents suggest a potential bias in the impeachment process involving former Inspector General Michael Atkinson. Legal experts, however, say there's no clear process to expunge an impeachment.
Key Facts
President Trump was impeached in 2019 and acquitted by the Senate in 2020.
Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz believes Trump may have grounds to seek an expungement of his 2019 impeachment.
Newly declassified documents suggest Michael Atkinson relied on potentially biased narratives in the impeachment process.
The U.S. Constitution does not specify a way to expunge an impeachment, and no historical precedent exists.
Some Republican lawmakers have tried to introduce measures to remove Trump's impeachments, but these efforts have not succeeded.
Legal experts argue that once an impeachment happens, it cannot be undone because it involves the Senate trial process.
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A U.S. appeals court ruled that a federal judge's contempt investigation into the Trump administration's deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants must end. The court found that the judge overstepped his authority in the criminal contempt proceedings related to deportation flights in March 2025. The case reflects ongoing legal challenges in President Trump's deportation efforts.
Key Facts
The appeals court decided a judge must stop a contempt investigation related to deportation flights.
Chief Judge James Boasberg was found to have overstepped his authority in the legal proceedings.
The investigation concerned flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.
The case is part of President Trump's broader deportation campaign.
A three-judge panel ruled, with two in favor and one dissenting.
The White House claimed Boasberg was biased against the Trump administration.
The original March 2025 court order did not clearly forbid the government from transferring the migrants.
Legal responses continue, with the ACLU planning to seek further court review.
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A group of lawmakers led by Representative Jamie Raskin is proposing a new panel to assess President Donald Trump's ability to fulfill his duties. This initiative aims to use the 25th Amendment as a way to potentially remove him from office. The proposed commission would be permanent and nonpartisan.
Key Facts
Representative Jamie Raskin introduced a bill to create a panel related to the 25th Amendment.
The purpose of the panel is to evaluate President Trump’s ability to do his job.
The panel would be permanent and nonpartisan.
This panel would offer a new way to use the 25th Amendment to remove a president if necessary.
The bill has support from 50 lawmakers.
Concerns about President Trump's recent actions prompted this proposal.
The 25th Amendment addresses the removal of a president who is unable to fulfill their duties.
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The Senior Citizens League estimates that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 will be 2.8%, the same as in 2026. This expected increase may not help seniors keep up with rising costs for housing, healthcare, and other daily expenses.
Key Facts
The estimated 2027 COLA for Social Security is 2.8%.
This COLA estimate is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation.
Senior households typically have about 58% of the income of working-age households.
Rising costs in areas like housing and healthcare greatly impact seniors.
If COLA does not increase, seniors' purchasing power could decrease.
Over 40% of retirees rely solely on Social Security for income.
Inflation rates might be higher than the COLA adjustment.
The official 2027 COLA will be announced in October.
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A Minnesota county is investigating the arrest of ChongLy "Scott" Thao by federal immigration officers, viewing it as a possible case of kidnapping. Thao, a U.S. citizen, was taken from his home without a warrant. The Department of Homeland Security has not fully cooperated with the investigation.
Key Facts
Federal officers arrested ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a Hmong American, without showing a warrant.
Thao was taken from his home in St. Paul, Minnesota in freezing weather.
Thao is a U.S. citizen and was eventually returned home after a few hours.
Ramsey County is investigating the arrest as potential kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has not cooperated with the investigation as of the report.
ICE said they were looking for two convicted sex offenders, but one of these men was still in prison at the time.
Videos of the arrest show neighborhood residents protesting against the officers.
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Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who was shot by ICE agents in California, was arrested by the FBI after leaving the hospital. His lawyer says federal officials have not explained why Mendoza was taken into custody or what charges he may face. Mendoza had surgeries for gunshot wounds and claims he should not have been discharged.
Key Facts
Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez was shot by ICE agents in California.
The incident happened during an enforcement stop targeting Mendoza.
Mendoza was discharged from the hospital and then arrested by the FBI.
His lawyer, Patrick Kolasinski, says officials have not provided charge details.
Mendoza claims he was not in a gang and was acquitted of murder in El Salvador.
ICE agents say they fired defensive shots as Mendoza tried to drive into them.
Dashcam footage shows agents with weapons drawn as Mendoza drove away.
Mendoza is a dual citizen of El Salvador and Mexico, living in the U.S. since 2019.
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The race for the next governor of California is crowded, with no clear Democratic frontrunner after Rep. Eric Swalwell's campaign ended. California's primary system allows only the top two candidates, regardless of party, to move to the general election, raising concerns among Democrats about vote splitting. Several candidates from both major parties, including Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Matt Mahan, Betty Yee, and Xavier Becerra, are vying for the position.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell's exit has left the Democratic field without a clear leader.
California uses a top-two primary system where all candidates compete together, and only the top two advance.
Democrats worry that a divided vote could let two Republicans advance to the general election.
Republican candidates include Chad Bianco, supported by President Trump, and Steve Hilton, a former TV commentator.
Democratic candidates include Katie Porter, an ex-congressmember, Tom Steyer, a former presidential candidate, Matt Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, Betty Yee, ex-state controller, and Xavier Becerra, former U.S. health official.
The general election is set for November, with mail-in voting beginning soon.
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President Donald Trump held a photo opportunity at the Oval Office with Sharon Simmons, a DoorDash delivery driver, to promote his "no tax on tips" policy before Tax Day. The stunt, intended to replicate the success of his 2024 McDonald's visit, faced criticism and questions about authenticity from Democrats and labor advocates.
Key Facts
President Trump hosted a photo-op with Sharon Simmons, a DoorDash delivery driver, to promote his "no tax on tips" policy.
The event took place at the Oval Office just before Tax Day.
Critics questioned the authenticity of the event, leading DoorDash to defend the setup.
Simmons denied being a paid actor and appeared on Fox News.
Gas prices had recently increased by 35 percent in a month, affecting gig workers like Simmons.
During the event, Trump tipped Simmons $100 and diverted from the main topic with unrelated questions.
A previous campaign event at McDonald's in 2024 had been viewed as successful for Trump.
Trump's approval rating on economic management had fallen to a low of 31 percent, based on a CNN poll.
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A recent poll shows Saikat Chakrabarti, a former chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, gaining traction in the race for California's 11th Congressional District against state Senator Scott Wiener. The district, one of the most progressive in the U.S., is seeking a successor to retiring Nancy Pelosi. The poll reveals a competitive environment with Chakrabarti closely behind Wiener.
Key Facts
Saikat Chakrabarti is a candidate in California's 11th Congressional District race.
The seat is being vacated by retiring Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
A new poll suggests Chakrabarti is closing in on state Senator Scott Wiener.
The poll found Wiener has 33% support, while Chakrabarti has 28%.
California's primary election is on June 2, 2026, using a nonpartisan system where the top two candidates advance.
The district is known for its progressive political leanings.
Chakrabarti previously served as chief of staff to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and helped elect other progressive Democrats.
Election forecasters label the district as "Safe Democratic" for the upcoming election.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore's effort to change the state's congressional map to help Democrats failed as the state legislative session ended. Disagreements among Maryland Democrats stopped the proposed map, which aimed to make elections tougher for the state's only Republican congressman. Governor Moore and state Senate President Bill Ferguson disagreed on this plan, fearing potential legal challenges could harm Democrats.
Key Facts
Maryland Governor Wes Moore wanted to change the state's congressional districts to help Democrats.
The change was blocked when the legislative session ended without a decision.
Maryland Senate Democrats were worried the new map might backfire in court.
President Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw maps to favor Republicans.
Governor Moore and Senate President Bill Ferguson disagreed on redistricting strategies.
Ferguson feared that a legal battle over the map could harm Democrats.
Maryland Democrats control a majority in the U.S. House with a 7-1 lead.
A 2021 map that could have favored Democrats was ruled unconstitutional due to "extreme partisan gerrymandering."
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Lonna Drewes, a woman from California, claimed during a news conference that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Eric Swalwell in 2018. This makes her the fifth person to accuse him of sexual assault.
Key Facts
Lonna Drewes is from California.
She made her allegation public during a news conference.
The incident she described happened in 2018.
Eric Swalwell is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Drewes.
Drewes is the fifth woman to accuse Swalwell of sexual assault.
Eric Swalwell is a former Democratic congressman and was a front-runner in a gubernatorial race.
The news story is breaking and subject to updates.
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President Donald Trump is working on an executive order that would make banks ask for citizenship information from their customers. The idea is to prevent illegal immigrants from having bank accounts, but it could also make it hard for many Americans to keep their accounts if they don't have the right documents.
Key Facts
The order would require banks to check citizenship by asking for documents like passports or birth certificates.
This rule is aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from using U.S. banking services.
Millions of Americans without proper identification, such as passports or birth certificates, might be unable to maintain their bank accounts.
The order is expected to apply to both new and existing bank customers.
In the U.S., only about half of the population has a passport, with significantly lower rates in states that voted for Trump.
Experts warn that some of Trump's own supporters could lose their bank accounts due to this requirement.
The executive order is still in the planning stage, and details like specific document requirements are not finalized.
The approach is similar to practices in other countries where banks use identity checks to prevent money laundering.
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An appeals court has stopped a contempt investigation into President Trump's administration concerning deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants. The court ruled that a judge appointed by former President Barack Obama made an error by continuing with the contempt proceedings. The situation involves deportation flights that were ordered to be halted but proceeded anyway.
Key Facts
An appeals court blocked a contempt investigation against President Trump's administration.
The investigation concerned the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.
A judge appointed by Obama had tried to proceed with a contempt case.
The court found the proceedings against Trump’s administration were unjustified.
The deportees were alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The Alien Enemies Act was used by the Trump administration for deportations.
The deported migrants were later sent back to Venezuela as part of a deal.
The decision was made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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Four city council members in Festus, Missouri, lost their seats in a local election after approving a development deal for a $6 billion data center. The community showed strong disapproval of the way the deal was managed, leading to high voter turnout. New council members promise more transparency and are against the data center project.
Key Facts
Four Festus city council members were voted out after approving a data center project.
The project involves a $6 billion data center on 360 acres of land.
The election had a high voter turnout due to concerns over the approval process.
Newly elected council members oppose the data center project and seek transparency.
Opponents of the project filed a lawsuit claiming legal and procedural violations.
An opposition group aims to recall the mayor and remaining council members.
A political action committee, supported by labor unions, spent nearly $40,000 supporting the incumbents.
Lawsuit proceedings will continue in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
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A U.S. Postal Service union has started a TV ad campaign to support voting by mail. The campaign comes amid discussions on mail-in ballots, with President Donald Trump raising concerns about their use.
Key Facts
The American Postal Workers Union created the ad campaign.
The campaign promotes voting by mail.
It features voters from different jobs explaining their use of mail ballots.
The ads will first be shown in Ohio and then in other states.
The campaign's message is to maintain and expand mail voting.
This launch follows President Trump's executive order about managing voter lists and restricting absentee ballot mailings.
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House Democrats introduced a bill to create a commission that would decide if President Trump should be removed using the 25th Amendment. This move is unlikely to succeed since Republicans control Congress and President Trump could veto the bill. The commission would assess if the President is unable to do his job due to mental or physical reasons.
Key Facts
House Democrats proposed a commission to decide on using the 25th Amendment against President Trump.
The bill has several Democratic co-sponsors but is considered unlikely to succeed.
The 25th Amendment allows a body, alongside the Vice President, to declare a president unable to serve.
House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin introduced the 10-page bill.
The commission would have 17 members, appointed by top congressional leaders and include former high-ranking officials.
The commission's findings would require the Vice President's approval to temporarily remove the President.
The bill's passage would still need a two-thirds majority in Congress for permanent removal.
President Trump's recent threats concerning Iran have prompted over 85 Democrats to seek his removal.
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A shooting at an Omaha Walmart resulted in one person's death and a three-year-old boy receiving injuries from a knife attack. The police reported that the individual who died was involved in the incident and that no police officers were injured. The investigation is ongoing, causing traffic delays in the area.
Key Facts
A shooting happened at an Omaha Walmart.
One person died in the incident.
A three-year-old boy was injured by a knife.
The suspect with the knife was a female.
No police officers were hurt during the event.
The police were called to the scene around 9:15 a.m.
Traffic delays in the area are expected due to the investigation.
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