Werner Kunkel, a North Dakota man, had his 1986 murder conviction overturned after spending over 30 years in prison. Although a new trial was ordered, he was taken into federal custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is facing possible deportation to Germany, a country he has no connection to.
Key Facts
Werner Kunkel was convicted in 1995 for the 1986 murder of Gilbert Fassett and sentenced to life in prison.
His murder conviction was overturned earlier in 2026 because prosecutors did not share evidence that might prove his innocence.
Kunkel was born in Germany but moved to the U.S. at age 7 and never became a U.S. citizen.
ICE has sought to deport him since 1999, citing his criminal record including forgery and assault charges.
After his conviction was overturned, a district court ordered his release, but ICE immediately took him into federal custody.
Kunkel’s lawyers argue the government is using old charges to justify deportation only after losing the murder case.
A federal immigration judge is expected to decide soon if Kunkel can be deported.
Meanwhile, North Dakota prosecutors are asking the state Supreme Court to reinstate Kunkel’s murder conviction.
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Nineteen U.S. states have approved laws to observe daylight saving time permanently, but these laws cannot start until Congress changes federal rules. The House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, but the Senate has not yet voted on it, so clocks will still change on November 1.
Key Facts
Nineteen states have passed laws to keep daylight saving time year-round if federal law changes.
The House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.
The Senate has not scheduled a vote on the bill, and time is running out before the November clock change.
States like Delaware require neighboring states to also adopt permanent daylight saving time before their law can take effect.
President Donald Trump supports making daylight saving time permanent, citing benefits like reduced crime and better health.
Experts warn permanent daylight saving time may cause very late sunrises in winter, potentially disrupting sleep.
Without Senate action, Americans will still set clocks back one hour on November 1.
More daylight in the evenings is seen as beneficial for activities like sports, tourism, and retail.
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Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray oppose a plan by the Trump administration to allow the White House to control funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. They say this move goes against what Congress intended.
Key Facts
Senators Susan Collins (Republican) and Patty Murray (Democrat) lead the Senate Appropriations Committee on NIH matters.
They reject the Trump administration’s effort to control NIH grant funding directly from the White House.
Collins warns that politicizing the grant process would go against congressional rules.
The Trump administration has cut or frozen $177 billion in grants across all states.
NIH grants fund important medical and health research projects nationwide.
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly used national security as a key reason to support various policy actions. These include banning some news outlets from the White House, redesigning parts of Washington, and easing rules on artificial intelligence. The administration also made a deal with Denmark and Greenland for U.S. security control of Greenland.
Key Facts
President Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House events, citing national security.
The administration defended press restrictions, Pentagon reporter rules, and journalist subpoenas as national security measures.
Trump proposed a 250-foot arch near Washington, D.C., to house snipers, drones, and ammunition for national security.
The White House ballroom project was pursued after demolishing the East Wing, justified by national security needs.
The Justice Department said laws limiting AI development could threaten national security in a copyright lawsuit context.
Courts give strong respect to national security claims but have ruled that such claims don’t automatically override laws.
The U.S. reached a deal with Denmark and Greenland giving America permanent security control over Greenland.
The administration’s immigration and narcoterrorism policies have also been framed as national security efforts.
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Americans continue to buy beef even though prices have gone up, with the cost of ground beef reaching a record high in August 2026. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said demand stays strong because people want beef for their families, despite rising prices. The Trump administration is taking steps to help ranchers and address high beef costs.
Key Facts
The price of uncooked ground beef hit $7.16 per pound in August 2026, a record high.
The number of U.S. cattle dropped to 86.2 million, the lowest in 75 years.
There are 450,000 fewer cattle ranchers now than in 1997.
Drought is affecting 75% of the beef cow herd, contributing to higher prices.
Rising diesel fuel costs are another challenge for farmers and ranchers.
The Trump administration signed two executive orders to assist ranchers, including reviewing wolf protections and updating compensation for predator losses.
The administration is also reviewing rules on country-of-origin labeling and looking into violations of fair meatpacking laws.
Agriculture Secretary Rollins blamed policies under President Biden’s administration for discouraging cattle herd growth.
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Early polling for the 2028 U.S. presidential election shows Vice President JD Vance trailing several potential Democratic candidates, including Pete Buttigieg and Jon Ossoff. Among the Democrats polled, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the only one currently behind Vance.
Key Facts
Pete Buttigieg leads JD Vance by about 4.6 points in recent polls.
Jon Ossoff holds a similar lead over Vance, around 4.4 points.
Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom also lead Vance by smaller margins.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trails Vance by nearly 3 points.
Ossoff has stated he is not interested in running for president in 2028.
No candidates from either party have officially declared their 2028 campaigns yet.
Buttigieg is currently the top-ranked Democrat in primary polls.
About 13% of voters remain undecided or persuadable in these matchups.
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Vice President Kamala Harris is actively campaigning for Democratic candidates in key states like Michigan ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Her efforts may influence her chances if she decides to run for president again in 2028.
Key Facts
Harris is campaigning for Democrats, starting in Michigan for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Michigan is notable because Harris lost the state to President Donald Trump in 2024 and it plays a key role in the next presidential nomination process.
She has planned rallies in Nevada and Georgia, two important political states.
Some Democrats think Harris should not run for president again, while others believe she deserves more time to decide.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he would not run if Harris does.
Harris has a complicated history in Michigan due to voter concerns over the 2024 Israel-Gaza conflict and differing views within the Democratic party.
Harris's campaign with El-Sayed, a progressive critic of Israel, aims to unite different voter groups but highlights tensions within the party.
Harris has not yet announced plans to campaign in South Carolina, the first primary state for Democrats.
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A radio equipment problem caused flights to stop temporarily at three busy airports in the northeastern U.S. The government report warns that the systems guiding aircraft are vulnerable to hacking and interference, highlighting security risks and the need for better protections.
Key Facts
Flights were halted at Newark Liberty, Philadelphia international, and Teterboro airports due to radio equipment issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a ground stop after radio frequencies at the Philadelphia radar center were affected.
A government report found the FAA has not finished security risk assessments or updated protections against hacking attacks like spoofing and jamming.
Spoofing means sending false messages, such as fake flight cancellations, which can cause delays or safety risks.
Some FAA communication systems are outdated and lack modern protections like encryption, which keeps data private.
The FAA currently cannot detect threats in real time and investigates only after problems are reported.
The report made nine recommendations, including better risk assessments, continuous monitoring, and information sharing, all accepted by the FAA.
Similar technical problems have happened before at Newark and Philadelphia airports, causing flight delays.
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President Donald Trump has banned several news outlets, including MSNBC, Politico, and CNN, from the White House. A lawsuit has been filed challenging this ban, arguing that press access should not depend on positive coverage.
Key Facts
President Trump restricted access to the White House for MSNBC, Politico, and CNN.
These news organizations claim the ban is unfair.
A lawsuit was filed in response to the ban.
The lawsuit argues that journalists should have access regardless of whether their coverage is favorable.
The White House press corps is responsible for reporting the president’s words and actions.
Access to the president is important for transparent reporting.
The issue raises questions about press freedom and government transparency.
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President Donald Trump, who previously criticized China strongly, is now welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House with a state dinner. Despite ongoing competition between the two countries, Trump has praised Xi and softened his stance on China.
Key Facts
Trump called China a threat to the U.S. economy during his first presidential campaign.
Now he speaks positively about President Xi Jinping, calling him a great gentleman.
Trump is hosting a state dinner for Xi and has prepared special arrangements like a helipad.
Trump tried using high tariffs to pressure China but these measures backfired.
China dominates important industries like rare earth minerals and advanced tech, challenging the U.S. and other countries.
Trump has weakened some U.S. alliances, which reduces collective pressure on China.
This new friendly approach has led to symbolic visits and some trade balance improvements.
Some experts say Trump’s actions help China appear more stable and responsible to other nations.
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President Donald Trump said that a project called the "Triumphal Arch" near Washington, D.C. will be used for national security. He explained that the facility will serve as a base for snipers and drones.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the use of the "Triumphal Arch" project for national security purposes.
The project is located around Washington, D.C.
The facility will be used for sniper operations.
It will also serve as a base for drone activities.
The announcement was made publicly on September 21, 2026.
The project is part of several developments by President Trump in the area.
No additional details about the timeline or size of the facility were provided in the article.
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Bo French, a Republican candidate in Texas, made comments about the racial makeup of the Texas Longhorns' cheering section. His remarks suggested negative views about the crowd’s diversity.
Key Facts
Bo French is running for Texas railroad commissioner as a Republican.
He spoke about the race and ethnicity of people cheering at Texas Longhorns games.
French described the cheering section’s racial makeup as "far worse than anyone imagined."
The Texas Longhorns are the sports teams of the University of Texas.
The article does not provide direct quotes from other politicians or responses to French’s comments.
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Flights at three major New York City area airports—Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia—were delayed because of equipment problems at the Philadelphia TRACON air traffic control facility. The FAA said a main circuit and its backup line broke, causing a pause on flights until repairs are finished.
Key Facts
Flights at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports were delayed due to an equipment outage.
A ground stop (temporary halt of flights arriving) was ordered starting around 10 a.m. for Newark and later for JFK and LaGuardia.
The FAA said the problem originated from the Philadelphia TRACON, the radar and radio center guiding planes near these airports.
The main circuit at Philadelphia TRACON failed, and the backup line was also broken.
The break in the fiber optic line is between New Brunswick and Newark.
Repair work is expected to take about 13 hours.
The FAA is installing a new circuit to fix the problem.
Travelers were advised to contact their airlines for updates on flights.
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A Texas rancher who supported President Trump in 2024 said the fast growth of AI data centers might influence his vote in the 2026 midterm elections. At the same time, Florida Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar talked about how Hispanic voters feel about President Trump's immigration policies.
Key Facts
A Texas rancher who voted for President Trump in 2024 is concerned about the rapid increase of AI data centers.
This rancher believes data center growth could affect his vote in the 2026 midterms.
Florida Representative María Elvira Salazar, a Republican, spoke about Hispanic voter opinions on immigration policies.
The discussion highlights how both technology development and immigration are important issues for voters.
These topics could influence voting decisions in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
The information was shared during CBS News coverage by Norah O'Donnell and Fin Gomez.
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A new bill called the Combat Veterans Retirement Restoration Act was introduced to help combat-injured veterans who had to leave the military early due to injuries. It would allow these veterans to receive both military retirement pay and disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the same time, increasing their financial support.
Key Facts
The bill was introduced by Indiana Republican Representative Victoria Spartz.
It aims to help veterans medically retired before 20 years of service due to combat injuries.
Currently, these veterans have their retirement pay reduced if they receive VA disability compensation.
About 50,000 veterans could benefit from this change.
Military retirement pay rewards service, while VA disability compensation pays for injury-related disabilities.
The bill is still in early stages and has no co-sponsors.
It is designed to stop veterans from losing money because their injuries ended their military careers early.
The bill was introduced on September 16 and has been sent to a committee for review.
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Air traffic in the Northeast U.S. is closing for at least 30 minutes due to a problem with equipment at air traffic control facilities in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Some flights have been redirected to other airports while the issue is being fixed.
Key Facts
A circuit at a Philadelphia air traffic control center blew out on Monday morning.
The backup system failed because the backup line was accidentally cut at a construction site in New Jersey.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided to close the airspace in parts of the Northeast for at least 30 minutes to fix the problem.
Flights coming into Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport were paused.
Some incoming flights were diverted to different airports.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford provided the information about the outage and airspace closure.
The issue involves important equipment that controls the safe movement of aircraft in the sky.
The situation is under investigation and updates will be provided as more details become available.
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Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican running for Senate in Iowa, said that Iowans should not have to pay higher prices because of the war in Iran. She connected the military conflict to increased costs for gas and groceries in the U.S.
Key Facts
Ashley Hinson is a Republican running for Senate in Iowa.
She spoke about the war in Iran, which has lasted seven months.
Hinson said Iowans should not pay more at gas pumps or grocery stores due to the war.
She linked the military conflict to rising prices in the United States.
The topic reflects voters’ concerns about the cost of living and foreign conflicts.
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A top Federal Reserve official said that reducing inflation might require causing some economic pain, such as higher unemployment. He explained that the Fed needs to raise interest rates to lower demand because ongoing supply problems are keeping inflation high.
Key Facts
Austan Goolsbee is the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Goolsbee said supply shocks like higher oil prices and tariffs have kept inflation high.
Normally, the Fed would wait for these shocks to fade instead of raising interest rates.
Due to ongoing supply issues, the Fed must raise rates to lower demand.
Raising rates helps bring inflation down to the Fed’s 2% target.
Lowering inflation this way may push unemployment above desired levels temporarily.
Goolsbee said this process will be painful for the economy.
This view differs from Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, who said the labor market does not need to be harmed to reduce inflation.
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A Venezuelan man named Wilber Rafael Garces Perez was shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas. He was hospitalized with a bullet still in his back and is now being held at an ICE detention center while an investigation is ongoing.
Key Facts
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, was shot while making a DoorDash delivery in Austin.
Perez called his wife to say he was shot but hasn’t spoken to her since.
He has been released from the hospital but still has a bullet in his back and no pain medication.
Perez is in ICE custody at a Texas detention center about 130 miles from Austin.
ICE said Perez had a final order of removal but little else about the incident has been released.
Perez entered the U.S. through a parole program and is seeking asylum, with no criminal record.
The shooting happened during a rise in ICE enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term.
Local police in Austin were not involved, but city officials want local law enforcement to help investigate.
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President Trump has banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House access, causing the suspension of the TV press pool system that covers his events. The ban means no network TV pool team will travel with him on his upcoming trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Key Facts
Five TV networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC) normally take turns covering President Trump’s events and share footage with other news groups.
CNN was scheduled to provide pool coverage on Monday but was banned along with MSNBC and Politico.
The TV press pool is now suspended temporarily because of these bans.
The banned news organizations have sued the White House, claiming the ban violates the First Amendment right to free press.
The White House Correspondents’ Association says access cannot be denied based on news coverage content.
The pool system started during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency to ensure consistent press coverage and manage limited space on presidential trips.
Coverage of other government officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance continues as normal.
President Trump announced the bans, calling the outlets “Fake News” in a public statement.
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