A grand jury decided not to file criminal charges in the death of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who drowned off the coast of Mississippi in July. Wells’ family disagrees with the ruling because a private autopsy found unexplained injuries on his body.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells disappeared on July 4 while celebrating on barrier islands in Mississippi.
His body was found in the water near Horn Island two days later.
The Jackson County grand jury heard from 43 witnesses and reviewed various evidence, including autopsy reports and videos.
The grand jury concluded there was not enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime in Wells’ death.
The official report said the cause of death was consistent with drowning.
Wells’ family had a private autopsy that found recent blunt force injuries to his head and back.
The grand jury found that these injuries were not fatal and it was unclear how they happened.
A witness said Wells slipped off a boat but still socialized afterward and did not seem hurt.
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The Justice Department charged a former postal worker, Damon Matai Seei, for throwing away about 300 mail-in ballots in Utah. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully handling mail.
Key Facts
Damon Matai Seei is a 34-year-old former U.S. Postal Service employee from Payson, Utah.
He is accused of throwing out about 300 mail-in ballots.
The Justice Department filed charges against him last Wednesday.
He faces one count of unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail.
The indictment was made public on Tuesday.
The case was brought by a federal grand jury.
The incident took place in Utah.
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The US Supreme Court declined to stop a California court from recognizing a couple as the legal parents of a baby born via a surrogate in Alaska. The surrogate refused to abort the baby despite a heart defect and later sought custody, but courts prioritized the child’s medical care and parents’ rights.
Key Facts
The highest court denied an emergency request to halt California’s custody order recognizing the couple as the baby’s legal parents.
The baby was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious defect requiring surgery.
The couple and surrogate had a contract allowing abortion if the fetus had abnormalities.
The surrogate refused to abort and gave birth in Texas, where abortion is banned.
Texas officials got involved, ordering medical care for the baby.
Courts prioritized the baby’s life and health, allowing the baby to move to Los Angeles for treatment.
The surrogate claims she should have custody and influence over the baby’s care, feeling excluded.
The legal parents say the surrogate is unstable and emphasize their commitment to the baby’s well-being.
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With 42 days left until Election Day, the fight for control of Congress is intensifying. In Michigan, former Vice President Kamala Harris joined Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at an event in Detroit about Black maternal health.
Key Facts
Election Day is 42 days away.
Democrats are focused on winning key races, including in Michigan.
Kamala Harris, former Vice President, made her first major campaign stop for this election cycle in Michigan.
Harris joined Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate, at a roundtable event.
The event in Detroit focused on Black maternal health, addressing health issues faced by Black mothers.
Michigan is a critical state for control of the U.S. Senate.
Lisa Desjardins and strategist Joel Payne discussed the Michigan Senate race.
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Children as young as 13 in the UK are being treated at a new clinic for a serious bladder condition caused by long-term ketamine use. The clinic at Alder Hey children’s hospital helps young people, mostly girls from poor areas, who suffer painful bladder damage due to ketamine addiction.
Key Facts
The UK’s first ketamine clinic for young people opened at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool.
The bladder condition, called ketamine-induced uropathy or ketamine bladder, is caused by damage from ketamine and its breakdown products.
Symptoms include frequent urination, bladder pain, loss of bladder control, and blood in the urine.
Some children affected are as young as 13, with most patients being girls living in deprived areas.
The clinic’s first 60 patients had an average age of 14, with many having autism, ADHD, or childhood emotional trauma.
Damage from ketamine use can be irreversible, sometimes requiring major surgery or dialysis.
The clinic uses a non-judgmental approach to help young people stop using ketamine and prevent further harm.
Researchers found that understanding personal and social backgrounds is important to support these young patients.
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Vice President Kamala Harris visited Michigan to support Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate running for the U.S. Senate. Harris focused on issues like healthcare and criticized President Trump’s policies, while El-Sayed aims to win a seat important for Democrats to keep Senate control.
Key Facts
Kamala Harris campaigned in Michigan to support Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
They spoke at a Detroit birth center about Black maternal health and women’s access to healthcare.
Harris criticized President Trump for cutting Medicaid funding and stopping federal research on health issues.
The Senate seat is open after Democratic Senator Gary Peters retired.
El-Sayed won a close Democratic primary but faces challenges uniting all party supporters.
El-Sayed supports universal healthcare and called Israel’s military actions in Gaza a genocide, differing from the Biden-Harris administration.
Michigan’s Arab American community and changing voter views on Israel and Palestine impact the race.
Harris is using the campaign to focus on voter power and may consider running for president again in 2028.
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Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she will decide whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2024 midterm elections. She talked about this in an interview with The New York Times.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is considering running for president in the 2028 election.
She will make her decision after the 2024 midterm elections.
The midterm elections happen halfway through President Donald Trump’s second term.
The discussion about her potential run was part of an interview with The New York Times.
The news was analyzed by former Republican Representative Patrick McHenry and Democratic strategist Corbin Trent on CBS News.
The topic is part of broader political conversations about future presidential candidates.
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The article discusses key election races six weeks before the U.S. midterm elections. Experts from CBS News analyze the latest polling numbers and trends.
Key Facts
The article marks six weeks remaining until Election Day.
CBS News' executive director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto, offers analysis.
Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, also discusses the races.
The focus is on important contests shaping the midterm elections.
The information comes from CBS News coverage and polling data.
The analysis helps viewers understand the current political landscape before the vote.
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Representative Analilia Mejia of New Jersey called ICE a "rogue agency" and said it should be abolished. She spoke about a recent incident where ICE agents shot a man in Austin, Texas, and also expressed support for stopping new ICE data centers in her state.
Key Facts
Rep. Analilia Mejia is a Democratic representative from New Jersey.
She described ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) as a "rogue agency."
Mejia said ICE needs to be abolished.
A man was recently shot by ICE agents in Austin, Texas.
The shooting happened last weekend before her statement.
Mejia discussed a push to pause the creation of new ICE data centers in New Jersey.
The discussion took place during an interview on CBS News' show "The Takeout".
ICE is a U.S. government agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
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Influencers Logan and Jake Paul visited the Pentagon, met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and addressed troops. The reason for the visit is unclear, but it fits with ongoing efforts to promote fitness and martial arts in the military.
Key Facts
Logan and Jake Paul, known as content creators and combat sports figures, visited the Pentagon on Thursday.
They met with Pete Hegseth, the US Defense Secretary, and shared photos on social media.
The brothers also met separately with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The visit coincides with military efforts to promote martial arts and physical fitness among troops and to recruit for the UFC event at the White House in June.
Celebrity visits to the Pentagon are not unusual and have occurred under multiple US administrations.
Past visitors include actors Milo Ventimiglia, Gerard Butler, and David Boreanaz, as well as musician Gene Simmons.
Jake Paul has made controversial statements about updating the Second Amendment rights to allow more advanced weapons.
Jake Paul was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to disclose payment when promoting a cryptocurrency.
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A Republican senator, John Curtis, has asked Congress to investigate business dealings of President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., especially his connections with foreign business people and gifts he received. Curtis also wants the Senate to look into Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities to apply the same standards to both families.
Key Facts
Senator John Curtis, a Republican from Utah, called for a congressional probe into Donald Trump Jr.'s foreign business links.
Curtis referred to a report showing Trump Jr.’s wedding party in the Bahamas was funded by a Russian oligarch.
Curtis warned that such foreign ties could lead to conflicts of interest or national security risks.
Curtis requested subpoenas for both Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden, to treat both equally.
Hunter Biden denied any wrongdoing and welcomed the investigation.
Donald Trump Jr. and his wife said the Russian oligarch was a friend who hosted wedding celebrations, and Trump Jr. reimbursed him.
President Trump stated it is legal to receive such gifts if paid back.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, controlled by Republicans, has received the letter but has not decided on action.
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At the U.N. General Assembly, President Donald Trump said the United States will not limit the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Instead, he stated that the U.S. plans to support and encourage AI growth.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.
He addressed the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) during his speech.
The U.S. rejects calls from some leaders or groups to slow down or control AI development.
President Trump said the U.S. will encourage AI technology instead of restricting it.
AI refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that usually need human intelligence.
Stephen Witt, a journalist who covers AI, provided analysis on this topic on CBS News.
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Communications failures disrupted hundreds of flights in the Northeast U.S. due to the failure of both primary and backup data lines at the Philadelphia air traffic control center. This event highlighted the need to upgrade the country’s aging air traffic control technology, with transportation officials requesting additional funding for improvements.
Key Facts
The Philadelphia regional FAA air traffic control center lost both its main and backup communication lines on Monday.
The primary line failure was caused by a switch malfunction; the backup line was accidentally cut by railroad construction workers.
Newark Liberty International Airport stopped commercial flights for nearly eight hours, causing widespread cancellations and delays.
Over 200 flights were canceled at Philadelphia International Airport, with disruptions also at LaGuardia and Kennedy airports in New York.
Congress gave the FAA $12.5 billion last year to modernize air traffic control after previous accidents and outages.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is requesting an additional $20 billion to redesign and upgrade the telecom systems used by air traffic controllers.
Similar communication failures disrupted flights in Minneapolis and Dallas in recent months.
Experts suggest the FAA should add a third independent backup communication line to prevent simultaneous failures.
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Hunter Biden said he is willing to testify before Congress alongside Donald Trump Jr. if asked. This came after Senator Mike Lee from Utah suggested both men should speak to Congress about ongoing investigations.
Key Facts
Hunter Biden is the son of President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump Jr. is the son of President Donald Trump.
Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, requested that both men testify before Congress.
Hunter Biden publicly agreed to testify with Donald Trump Jr. anytime.
The call for testimony relates to congressional investigations involving the two families.
This shows growing political interest in questioning the sons of both presidents.
Congress has the authority to call witnesses to provide information during investigations.
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A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero in Maine in July. The bullet also hit his daughter's car seat, so it cannot be returned to the family. The Maine Attorney General is investigating the use of deadly force by ICE agents in this case.
Key Facts
Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine, in July.
A bullet from the agent struck and pierced his daughter's car seat at the scene.
The daughter, Dulce, was not in the car during the shooting.
The family asked for the return of items from the scene, but the car seat was withheld because it was damaged by a bullet.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office is investigating ICE’s use of deadly force in this incident.
The shooting was part of a broader inquiry into fatal shootings by federal agents during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Other families of people killed by federal agents gave testimony at a House Oversight Committee hearing.
This investigation follows a recent similar fatal shooting of an immigrant in Houston by federal agents.
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A lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration’s rule on Medicaid work requirements. The challenge says the rule wrongly limits who can be exempted as medically frail, which affects people needing health coverage.
Key Facts
The lawsuit targets the Trump administration’s Medicaid work requirement rule.
It concerns how “medically frail” exemptions are defined.
Plaintiffs include Medicaid enrollees, health advocacy groups, and the city of Columbus, Ohio.
They argue the rule is narrower than what Congress intended.
Medicaid requires some people to work or look for work to get benefits.
People considered medically frail can be exempt from this rule.
The lawsuit claims the rule excludes too many who need exemptions.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new preliminary payment rates for lab services used by Medicare. These rates, based on recent private insurance data, show Medicare has been paying about 16% more than private insurers, and the updated rates aim to reduce waste and save taxpayers around $1 billion yearly.
Key Facts
New preliminary lab payment rates are set for 2027 based on private insurer payment data.
Medicare currently pays approximately 16% more for laboratory services than private insurers.
Changes could save taxpayers about $1 billion per year.
These updates come from the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), which aligns Medicare payments with market prices.
Large payment cuts are proposed for genomic sequencing (-23%), molecular pathology (-22%), and microbiology and immunology tests (both around -19%).
Routine chemistry tests common among Medicare beneficiaries may see about a 16% reduction.
Federal law limits annual payment cuts to 15% per test through 2029, so reductions will be phased in over several years.
CMS states these changes increase transparency and aim to reduce excessive spending without directly increasing patient out-of-pocket costs.
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California and New York have sued the Trump administration over its plan to buy back offshore wind energy leases and stop wind power projects. They say this move favors fossil fuels and will raise electricity costs while interfering with efforts to fight climate change.
Key Facts
California and New York attorneys general filed lawsuits against the Trump administration’s plan to cancel offshore wind projects.
The administration plans to pay energy companies $1.4 billion to give up wind farm leases, part of nearly $4 billion spent to cancel projects nationwide.
The Interior Department is buying back offshore wind leases after court rulings blocked Trump’s other attempts to stop wind development.
The administration supports shifting energy investment toward fossil fuels and geothermal energy instead of wind power.
California and New York leaders say the plan is illegal and will hurt efforts to meet energy needs and reduce climate change.
They argue the buybacks will increase electricity costs by stopping construction of new clean energy sources.
California remains committed to climate action despite federal opposition and legal battles.
State officials believe the shift to clean energy depends mainly on states, not the federal government.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) gave a detailed interview to The New York Times that led to more talk about her future in politics. Many people are wondering if she plans to run for president in 2028, but other political paths are also possible.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Representative from New York.
She is often called AOC.
She did a long interview published in The New York Times on Tuesday.
The interview caused more discussion about her future plans in politics.
There is strong speculation that she might run for president in 2028.
Other political futures besides the presidency are also being discussed.
AOC is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Two students at the University of Mississippi have died, and police found packaged kratom products during their investigations. Authorities have not confirmed that kratom caused the deaths and are working to find the exact causes while advising students not to guess and increasing overdose prevention efforts.
Key Facts
Two separate deaths of University of Mississippi students are under investigation.
Police found packaged kratom products in both cases.
Officials have not linked kratom use to the students’ deaths.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the deaths.
No evidence shows the cases are connected.
One student was found unresponsive at Stewart Hall and received CPR.
Authorities urge students not to speculate about the deaths.
Overdose prevention outreach is being increased on campus and in the community.
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