The Trump administration canceled several offshore wind energy projects in the United States, including those planned by TotalEnergies, and made deals to pay the companies to shift investment toward oil and gas. Seven northeastern states have sued the administration over the cancellations, arguing the projects were needed to provide electricity and meet climate goals.
Key Facts
The Trump administration canceled offshore wind projects including Attentive Energy near New York and Carolina Long Bay near North Carolina.
TotalEnergies agreed to abandon wind projects for $928 million and invest in oil and gas instead.
Seven northeastern states sued the federal government over the cancellations, claiming a need for more electricity and the benefits of wind energy.
The administration also canceled Golden State Wind off California and Blue Point Wind off New York, paying developers over $2 billion to stop the projects.
This is the first time developers have been paid to withdraw from offshore wind leases.
California has issued a subpoena for documents related to the wind project cancellations and may take legal action.
The states’ lawsuit says the Interior Department did not provide proper explanations or consider alternatives before canceling the leases.
President Trump has publicly opposed wind energy projects and prioritized fossil fuel development over renewable energy.
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A federal judge rejected a Trump administration policy that limited asylum decisions for immigrants from 39 countries. The judge said the policy unfairly left many immigrants uncertain about their legal status and criticized the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for breaking the law.
Key Facts
The policy was introduced after a shooting involving two National Guard members.
The rule made it harder for immigrants from 39 countries to enter or stay in the U.S. legally.
U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. struck down the policy on Friday.
The judge said USCIS acted without proper legal authority and did not provide clear reasons for its actions.
The policy caused many immigrants to live in uncertain legal situations.
The judge accused USCIS of using national security concerns as an excuse for anti-immigrant bias.
The court described USCIS’s actions as illegal and arbitrary, meaning they were not fair or reasonable.
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Actor James Handy was stabbed to death outside his home in Los Angeles. Police arrested Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, on suspicion of murder.
Key Facts
James Handy, 81, was found stabbed in the chest and unconscious outside his home.
He was taken to the hospital and later died from his injuries.
Police responded to a 911 call where the suspect said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Michael Gledhill, 44, who lives with his mother, was arrested and booked for murder.
Gledhill’s bail was set at $2 million.
Handy was known for roles in movies like “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”
He also appeared in TV crime shows such as “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “Cold Case.”
It was not clear if Gledhill had an attorney at the time of the report.
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The New World screwworm fly has been found again in Texas, threatening the U.S. cattle industry for the first time since 1966. The fly’s larvae eat live flesh, which can harm animals if not treated, but officials say it is unlikely to affect beef production significantly.
Key Facts
The screwworm fly infestation was discovered in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas has a $17 billion cattle industry, part of the total $113 billion U.S. cattle industry.
The fly was largely eradicated in the U.S. by releasing sterile male flies to stop reproduction, but it has spread again from Panama through Mexico.
Females lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals, making livestock vulnerable due to common handling injuries like cuts or tick bites.
If not treated, infestations can cause death in animals; several treatments are approved for use.
The fly has sickened over 171,700 animals and 2,000 people across Central America and Mexico, with 10 human deaths reported.
Officials have been warning about the fly’s movement toward the U.S. since late 2024 and have taken steps such as closing border livestock crossings.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the fly is unlikely to seriously harm beef production or increase prices.
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The Trump administration responded to new jobs figures that were better than experts expected. They said the data shows that President Trump's economic policies are producing positive results.
Key Facts
The latest jobs report showed stronger job growth than experts predicted.
The Trump administration highlighted these numbers as evidence of successful economic policy.
President Donald Trump’s policies are being credited with improving the job market.
The report was covered by CBS News and presented by Nancy Cordes.
This news focuses on the U.S. job market and economic conditions.
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Two members of Congress resigned on April 13, 2026, after accusations of abusing their power to harass female staff. This led lawmakers from both parties to work together to improve how sexual misconduct is reported in Congress.
Key Facts
Two Congress members resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations.
The accusations involved abusing power to prey on women staff.
The resignations happened on April 13, 2026.
Lawmakers from both parties are responding to the issue.
Efforts are focused on making the reporting process for sexual misconduct better.
The goal is to create a safer workplace in Congress.
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A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked several immigration policies from President Trump's administration that stopped many immigrants from getting asylum, green cards, and other legal benefits. The judge said these policies were unfair, broke the law, and wrongly used national security as a reason.
Key Facts
The judge’s ruling came from Chief Judge John McConnell of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island.
The blocked policies prevented legal immigration applications from citizens of 39 countries on President Trump's travel ban list.
These policies stopped many immigrants from getting green cards, work permits, citizenship, and asylum for several months.
The Trump administration put these measures in place after a shooting incident involving an Afghan asylum recipient.
The judge described the policies as arbitrary, lacking proper explanation, and influenced by anti-immigrant feelings, which is not allowed by law.
Immigrants affected had completed all paperwork, paid fees, given biometrics, and attended interviews.
The Department of Homeland Security had not yet commented on the court order at the time of the report.
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A federal judge invalidated a Trump administration immigration policy that prevented immigrants from 39 countries from getting final decisions on their applications for asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship. The judge criticized the policy for ignoring the law and causing many immigrants to remain uncertain about their legal status.
Key Facts
The policy was introduced after the shooting of two National Guard members.
It affected immigrants from 39 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The policy barred these immigrants from receiving final decisions on key immigration applications.
U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. ruled the policy was illegal and arbitrary.
The judge said the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services acted beyond its legal authority.
The policy was criticized for using national security as a cover for anti-immigrant bias.
The ruling emphasizes that the government cannot block legal immigration routes or discriminate based on country of origin.
The affected immigrants faced difficulties working, getting protections, and moving forward with their lives.
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President Donald Trump expressed hope that acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte will reduce the size of the intelligence office. Trump made these remarks in an interview with The Wall Street Journal while discussing his decision to appoint Pulte.
Key Facts
President Trump appointed Bill Pulte as the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
Trump wants the intelligence office to be smaller and more efficient.
Pulte will continue leading the Federal agency alongside his DNI role.
The appointment of Pulte has sparked some controversy.
Trump spoke about these issues in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
The intelligence office is responsible for overseeing U.S. intelligence agencies.
Shrinking the intelligence office means reducing its size or staff.
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A man in Virginia, Brendan Banfield, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing his wife and another man as part of a plan involving the family's au pair. The au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, helped Banfield attract the second man to their home as a setup, and she received a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty.
Key Facts
Brendan Banfield was a former IRS law enforcement officer.
Banfield and the au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, planned to kill his wife, Christine Banfield, and use another man, Joseph Ryan, as a scapegoat.
The crime took place on February 24, 2023, in Herndon, Virginia.
Magalhães helped lure Ryan to the house through a fake online profile pretending to be Christine Banfield.
Banfield shot Ryan and stabbed his wife; Magalhães fired an additional shot to kill Ryan when he was still moving.
Their 4-year-old daughter was home during the murders, leading to additional charges against Banfield for child endangerment.
Banfield was sentenced to life in prison plus extra years for child endangerment and firearms charges.
Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
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Brendan Banfield was sentenced to life in prison for the 2023 murders of his wife, Christine Banfield, and a stranger he tricked into coming to their home. He planned the murders to get rid of his wife and be with their au pair, using a fake online identity to lure the stranger and try to frame him.
Key Facts
Brendan Banfield was convicted of killing his wife and a stranger in Fairfax County, Virginia.
The murders happened in 2023 and involved a carefully planned plot.
Banfield pretended to be his wife online to lure the stranger to their home for a false scenario.
He aimed to frame the stranger for his wife's murder.
Banfield was found guilty of two counts of aggravated murder in February 2026.
The judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole, calling the crimes extremely cruel.
Banfield claims he is innocent and criticized the legal system.
Christine Banfield’s family spoke about the pain caused by Brendan’s actions and said his motive was control, not love.
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Three top reporters at CBS’s 60 Minutes—Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim—say they will stay with the show despite recent firings of several senior staff members. They expressed sadness over the dismissals and want to help protect the show's values and reputation.
Key Facts
Lesley Stahl, 84, Bill Whitaker, 74, and Jon Wertheim announced they will remain at 60 Minutes.
Several correspondents and producers were recently fired as part of CBS’s management changes.
Fired staff include Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, Tanya Simon, Draggan Mihailovich, Matthew Polevoy, Scott Pelley, and Guy Campanile.
The three correspondents criticized the firings, saying no clear reasons were given and that those let go stood up for independence and integrity.
Stahl has worked at CBS News since 1971 and 60 Minutes since 1991; Whitaker joined CBS in 1984 and 60 Minutes in 2014.
The firings have caused sadness and concern about the future of the show’s journalistic standards.
Stahl expressed pessimism about the future of the press in general during a 2025 interview.
Whitaker conducted an interview with Kamala Harris in 2024 that became part of a lawsuit brought by President Trump against CBS.
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The U.S. federal budget deficit is expected to grow significantly over the next two decades because of lower taxes and higher government spending. To fix this problem, experts say the country will need to both raise taxes and reduce some benefits like Social Security.
Key Facts
The budget deficit could equal 120% of the country's total economic output (GDP) by 2036.
By 2046, the deficit may grow to 175% of GDP.
Tax cuts have lowered government revenue.
Increased spending has added to the deficit.
Fixing the deficit will require higher taxes.
It will also require lowering some government benefits.
Social Security is one benefit that may need changes.
A bipartisan political meeting is suggested to find solutions.
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The Senate voted against extending a key U.S. intelligence surveillance program called Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which will expire on June 12. Some Republicans and Democrats opposed the extension due to concerns about spying on Americans without a warrant, and controversy surrounds President Trump's choice for acting director of national intelligence.
Key Facts
The Senate vote was 47 in favor and 52 against a motion to move forward with extending Section 702.
Section 702 allows intelligence agencies to collect foreign communications without a warrant but can also collect some Americans' communications incidentally.
Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the procedural motion to extend the program.
Senator John Fetterman was the only Democrat to support moving ahead with the extension vote.
The chosen acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, has faced criticism for his lack of experience and past controversies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate plans to try again to extend the program next week.
President Trump said Pulte’s role is temporary and mentioned investigating "rigged elections," stirring debate.
Some senators called for reforms to require a warrant before accessing Americans’ communications caught by the program.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is facing difficulties as courts and some Republican leaders are rejecting his policies. This pushback is causing the president to spend more time defending his plans than moving them forward.
Key Facts
The Trump administration has introduced several controversial initiatives.
Courts and political institutions are challenging these initiatives.
Some Republican leaders are also expressing disapproval.
This opposition is slowing down the progress of the president’s agenda.
President Trump has focused more on defending his policies than advancing them.
So far, little policy success has been achieved aside from a birthday celebration.
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President Donald Trump claims that Democrats are rigging the primary elections in California while votes are still being counted. These claims are related to the state's ongoing primary races.
Key Facts
President Trump says the California primary elections are being unfairly manipulated.
His claims come as vote counting continues in some California primary races.
The allegations are made against the Democratic Party.
The situation relates to primary elections, which select party candidates for upcoming general elections.
No official evidence has been presented in the report to support the rigging claims.
CBS News is reporting on President Trump’s statements about the California primaries.
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Invasive species that are not native to the U.S. are spreading widely and causing damage to ecosystems, agriculture, and infrastructure. These species lead to economic losses, health risks, and environmental problems, especially as climate changes make it easier for them to thrive.
Key Facts
Invasive species harm agriculture, fisheries, freshwater systems, and can spread diseases to animals and humans.
From 1960 to 2020, invasive species caused about $1.22 trillion in economic damage in the U.S.
Climate change, like warming and extreme weather, helps invasive species spread.
The New World screwworm fly attacks warm-blooded animals and has appeared recently in Texas, threatening livestock.
Feral hogs damage land and crops, causing about $3.4 billion in yearly agricultural losses, and carry diseases harmful to livestock and people.
The golden mussel, newly found in California's water delta, clogs pipes and threatens water systems and fish populations.
Managing invasive species requires strong actions like quarantines and special techniques to stop their spread.
Invasive species change landscapes and increase risks of wildfires.
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Representative Ilhan Omar was the only Democrat to vote against a House bill that gives military aid to Ukraine and adds sanctions on Russia. The bill passed with strong support from both parties, opposing President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy.
Key Facts
The bill provides new military help to Ukraine.
It also imposes sanctions on Russia.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday.
The vote was mostly bipartisan, meaning many members from both parties supported it.
Representative Ilhan Omar voted against the bill, standing apart from other Democrats.
This vote contrasts with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy views.
Ilhan Omar represents Minnesota in the House.
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The US Senate has approved a $70 billion funding bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives, which is expected to pass it before it reaches President Trump’s desk to become law.
Key Facts
The Senate passed the $70 billion funding bill early Friday morning.
The bill provides money for ICE and CBP agencies through President Trump’s term.
This funding adds to $170 billion already given to these agencies in a 2025 tax bill.
Republicans hold a majority in both the Senate (53 seats) and House (217 seats).
Democrats opposed the bill due to concerns about immigration enforcement practices.
The bill was passed using a special legislative process called budget reconciliation.
The Senate held a “vote-a-rama,” where many fast votes on amendments occurred.
The House is expected to vote on the bill next week and likely approve it.
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The Trump administration has cut $3 million in federal funding to Hawaii’s Medicaid fraud control program because it failed to prosecute any fraud cases in four years, despite increased Medicaid enrollment and funding. Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that New York may face similar actions as part of a broader effort to fight healthcare fraud.
Key Facts
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps low-income Americans with healthcare.
Each state must have a fraud control unit to detect and fight Medicaid fraud, run by the state's attorney general.
Hawaii’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) failed to bring any fraud indictments or convictions in four years.
During that time, Medicaid enrollment in Hawaii rose by 40%, and funding increased by 27%.
Hawaii’s MFCU was decertified and lost federal funding after being found to perform poorly over many years.
Hawaii’s Attorney General says the state has recovered $14 million in civil fraud cases since 2021 and charged two people criminally this year.
Vice President J.D. Vance leads a national task force on healthcare fraud and criticized Hawaii’s program publicly.
The administration is threatening other states, including New York, with funding cuts if they do not aggressively prosecute Medicaid fraud.
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