The U.S. State Department now requires a valid passport for entry into the Diversity Visa, or green card lottery, as a way to tighten security and reduce fraud. This change affects how applicants enter the lottery and aims to verify identities sooner in the process.
Key Facts
The passport rule applies to the Diversity Visa lottery, which offers up to 55,000 visas annually.
Applicants must be from countries that send few immigrants to the U.S. and meet certain education or work criteria.
Registration is free and done online during a specific time each year.
A valid passport is now required at the application stage, along with an upload of its biographic and signature page.
This change will take effect 30 days after being published in the Federal Register.
The rule aims to prevent fraud by ensuring applicants’ identities are verified earlier.
A previous passport requirement was dismissed in 2022 due to procedural errors.
The rule also updates language in the program to reflect the data collected.
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A federal judge ordered the return of two 12-year-old U.S. citizen sisters to Florida after they were mistakenly deported to Guatemala by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The judge's decision came after their grandmother filed a petition, arguing that the twins were unlawfully detained and removed from the U.S.
Key Facts
Two 12-year-old twin sisters, born in Orlando, are U.S. citizens.
ICE mistakenly deported them to Guatemala along with their mother.
A federal judge in Florida ordered their immediate return to the U.S.
The children’s grandmother filed a legal petition for their return.
The judge ruled ICE must pay for the flight back to Orlando.
The girls were mistakenly detained under a "family unity" policy.
The order prevents further detention of the children upon return.
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President Trump appointed Erika Kirk to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors, filling the position previously held by her late husband, Charlie Kirk. This board advises the secretary of defense on issues concerning the academy, like morale and finances, but the appointment was not publicly announced.
Key Facts
Erika Kirk is the widow of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist.
She has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors.
The appointment was not officially announced by the Air Force Academy or the White House.
The Board of Visitors includes 16 members who advise on the academy's issues.
Charlie Kirk was appointed to the board in March 2025 and attended one meeting before his death.
Erika Kirk is now also the CEO of Turning Point USA.
The board's role is to provide advice to the secretary of defense and produce annual reports.
The U.S. Air Force Academy trains cadets to be officers in both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
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An 18-year-old named Jayden Ryan Wallace has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide after a teacher, Jason Hughes, was accidentally killed in a prank involving toilet paper. Wallace and others reportedly wrapped trees with toilet paper outside Hughes' home, leading to Hughes' tragic death when he tried to intervene. Wallace has expressed deep remorse and vowed to honor the teacher's memory.
Key Facts
Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide.
The incident involved a prank where trees were wrapped in toilet paper.
Jason Hughes, a 40-year-old teacher, died after tripping and falling into the road.
Hughes' death occurred outside his home in Gainesville, Georgia.
Wallace expressed remorse and pledged to honor Hughes' memory.
Wallace's family also expressed deep sorrow and extended apologies.
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Shawn Harris and Clayton Fuller will face off in a runoff election for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Prediction markets heavily favor Fuller, who has strong backing from President Trump, for the upcoming April 7 election. This election was triggered by Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation and has drawn significant attention.
Key Facts
The election is taking place in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation led to this special election.
Shawn Harris (Democrat) and Clayton Fuller (Republican) are the final two candidates.
Prediction markets show Fuller has about a 95-96% chance of winning.
President Trump supports Fuller in this race.
The runoff election is scheduled for April 7.
There has been heavy trading on prediction markets regarding the outcome.
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A van drove through a barricade near the White House, and the driver was arrested by police. There were no reported injuries, and an investigation is underway by the authorities.
Key Facts
A van hit a barricade near the White House on a Wednesday morning.
Police arrested the driver after the incident.
The event happened at Connecticut Avenue and H Street, Northwest, at around 6:37 a.m.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are handling the situation.
There are no reports of injuries from the incident.
An investigation is ongoing to determine more details.
People with any information are encouraged to contact the police.
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A declassified CIA document from over 60 years ago described a study on parasites and cancer, which has recently gained attention on social media. Claims that the document reveals a secret cancer cure are untrue. The research discussed possible similarities between certain parasites and cancerous tumors, not a cure.
Key Facts
A CIA document from over 60 years ago has been declassified and was made public in 2011.
The document discussed a study published in Russia in 1950 about similarities between parasites and cancerous tumors.
The research noted that parasitic worms shared certain metabolic traits with cancerous tumors.
A drug, Myracyl D, was found effective against the parasites and, reportedly, cancerous tumors.
The report did not assert that the findings were a cure for cancer.
The document's reemergence on social media led to false claims about a hidden cancer cure.
People on social media expressed distrust towards the CIA for initially keeping the document secret.
The similarities observed between parasites and tumors don't imply a causal link or cure.
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A retired FBI agent discussed an important piece of evidence in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, a missing woman from Arizona. Blood found on Guthrie's front porch suggests she might have been carried out of her home. Surveillance footage of a masked man has been released, and he is considered a suspect in the case.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie has been missing since January 31.
She is the mother of TV show co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped.
Blood droplets were found on her front porch.
A retired FBI agent believes the blood indicates she was carried, not walked out.
Surveillance images show a masked man on her porch the night she disappeared.
The masked man is a suspect, and the FBI seeks public help to identify him.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has brought back the Global Entry program, which had been paused due to a partial government funding shutdown. This program allows fast-tracking of customs checks for approved low-risk travelers coming into the U.S., and it will be active again from March 11th.
Key Facts
The Global Entry program is now reactivated by DHS after a temporary suspension.
The suspension began in late February because of a partial government funding shutdown.
The program allows fast customs and immigration processing for certain approved travelers.
Both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can use Global Entry.
Members of Global Entry get additional benefits like TSA PreCheck for quicker airport security checks.
The reactivation of the program took effect on March 11th at 5:00 AM ET.
The program is managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is part of DHS.
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Over a million U.S. veterans may not be receiving the education benefits they are legally entitled to. A recent Supreme Court decision allows veterans to use benefits from two major GI Bill programs up to a total of 48 months, but veterans say current VA rules prevent them from accessing these benefits fully.
Key Facts
More than 1 million veterans may be affected by how the VA handles GI Bill benefits.
A Supreme Court decision in 2024 allowed using both GI Bill programs for up to 48 months.
The lawsuit argues VA rules still block many veterans from using their full benefits.
The legal challenge involves groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and individual veterans.
The focus is on a "break in service" rule that affects benefit eligibility.
The VA's rule looks at service periods instead of total years served, affecting veterans' benefits.
Veterans use these benefits for college and job training, which impacts their future plans.
The issue affects veterans planning their education and civilian life transitions.
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The article suggests that while media portrays Americans as divided and negative, most Americans are actually busy with everyday life and share common values. It argues that media and social platforms amplify negative views, which do not reflect the majority's reality. The article supports this with data showing most people are charitable, community-focused, and do not engage heavily with extreme online content.
Key Facts
The article claims that while media shows division, most Americans are busy with daily activities and hold shared values.
Only 21% of U.S. adults use the social media platform X, and just 10% visit it daily.
Less than 1% of Americans watch major cable news networks during most prime-time hours.
Anxiety about the political system is high, but this is attributed more to media noise than actual community issues.
In 2024, Americans donated $592.5 billion to charity, with individuals contributing two-thirds of this amount.
Over 75 million Americans volunteer formally each year, and 130 million help their neighbors informally.
Gallup research indicates that 76% of U.S. adults gave to nonprofit organizations in the past year, and 63% volunteered time.
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A statue showing President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein was set up on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The statue is styled like a scene from the movie 'Titanic.'
Key Facts
The statue is located on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
It includes a portrayal of President Donald Trump.
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, is also depicted.
The sculpture is based on a scene from the film 'Titanic.'
The statue was newly installed.
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Police in New Mexico are investigating the disappearance of retired Major General William Neil McCasland. They have asked over 600 residents to provide home security footage to help in the search. McCasland has been missing since February 27, and there have been no sightings reported.
Key Facts
William Neil McCasland is a retired Major General.
He has been missing since February 27, according to the police.
The police are asking for security footage from more than 600 residents.
The search is focused on the area near McCasland’s home.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation.
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A new poll shows a decline in Americans' confidence that elections will be conducted fairly, reaching its lowest point since 2020. This drop is mainly among Democrats and independents, while Republicans show a slight increase in confidence. President Trump is focusing on passing new voting laws, including a requirement for proof of citizenship to vote.
Key Facts
Americans' trust in fair elections is at its lowest level in years.
Two-thirds of Americans are confident in their state or local election processes, down 10 percentage points from 2024.
President Donald Trump is giving a speech in Hebron, Kentucky, as part of a trip to the Greater Cincinnati area. The event takes place at a logistics facility and will be available to watch live online and on some local TV stations. Trump's remarks are expected to focus on economic topics.
Key Facts
President Trump will speak at a logistics facility in Hebron, Kentucky.
The event is part of a broader visit to the Greater Cincinnati area, including a stop in Ohio.
Trump's visit is in Representative Thomas Massie’s district, where there is a competitive primary.
The speech will be livestreamed by Right Side Broadcasting Network on YouTube.
Local stations like WLKY will also stream the event on their websites and apps.
Trump is expected to discuss efforts to "make America affordable again".
After Kentucky, Trump will visit Ohio for another event discussing prescription drug pricing.
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Spring Break travel in the U.S. is facing significant challenges due to a partial government shutdown and a conflict in the Middle East. These issues are causing long airport lines and higher travel costs. Airlines and travelers are dealing with increased disruptions and delays.
Key Facts
Spring Break is a busy travel time in the U.S., with an expected 171 million passengers flying from March to April.
A partial U.S. government shutdown is affecting the Department of Homeland Security, including unpaid TSA workers.
The absence of TSA funding is leading to long security lines at airports, causing delays.
The U.S. has a shortage of Air Traffic Controllers, worsening travel delays.
A conflict in the Middle East is forcing airlines to change flight paths, leading to longer travel times.
Airlines report increased operating costs due to the need to avoid conflict zones.
The situation has resulted in potential disruptions and flight cancellations during peak travel seasons.
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Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie, went missing in Pima County, Arizona, in February. Local police have declared her home a crime scene and are not accepting help from civilian search groups, raising questions about whether they are close to making an arrest.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing in February in Pima County, Arizona.
Her home in Tucson was declared a "crime scene" by local law enforcement.
Volunteer search groups like United Cajun Navy have offered to assist but received no response from authorities.
Retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer speculated that police might be close to an arrest.
Surveillance footage shows a masked man on Nancy Guthrie's porch on the night she disappeared, and he is considered a suspect.
The case has drawn nationwide attention partly because Savannah Guthrie is a public figure.
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Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, is expected to leave many contracts unapproved when she leaves office in three weeks. Her policy of needing her approval for large contracts has caused delays in DHS projects like deportations, the border wall, and disaster relief. The issue worsens due to a government shutdown affecting DHS agencies.
Key Facts
Kristi Noem set a policy for her office to review and approve contracts of $100,000 or more.
This has caused a backlog of contracts and delayed payments to vendors.
Projects delayed include President Trump's mass deportations and border wall initiatives.
The partial government shutdown starting February 14 has affected DHS spending.
Many detention facilities are operating without payments as their contracts await approval.
Facilities affected include Camp East Montana, the Dilley family detention center, and Delaney Hall.
Several DHS agencies impacted include ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and FEMA.
Congressional leaders questioned Noem about delays in distributing FEMA disaster relief funds.
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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for 14 counties in Arkansas, lasting until 5 AM local time on Wednesday. This warning follows an EF-2 tornado that hit the state on Saturday, injuring one person.
Key Facts
A tornado watch is in effect in Arkansas for 14 counties.
The alert is valid until 5 AM local time on Wednesday.
Counties under the watch include Pope, Yell, Marion, and others.
An EF-2 tornado recently hit Arkansas on Saturday.
One person was injured in that tornado.
The information comes from the National Weather Service and local news source KARK.
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An 11-year-old girl from Washington created a slideshow to persuade her family to go on vacation to Hawaii. The presentation, which included budgeting and emotional benefits of the trip, became viral online, with many parents relating to her creative efforts. However, some commenters suggested using the humor of the situation to teach about financial caution.
Key Facts
Mary, an 11-year-old from Vancouver, Washington, made a slideshow to pitch a family trip to Hawaii.
The slideshow included cost estimates, noting the trip could be $6,000 with deals.
Mary suggested using credit card points and emphasized the lasting memories of the trip.
Her father, Drew Dyck, shared the slideshow on Threads, where it gained thousands of reactions.
Many online users shared stories of their own children's creative arguments for getting things.
Some commenters enjoyed Mary's logic, while others mentioned the importance of financial lessons.
It is not confirmed if the family will actually take the trip to Hawaii.
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