Louisiana congressional primaries are suspended as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s congressional primaries are not going forward as scheduled in May as a result of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Thursday issued an executive order suspending the congressional primary to give time for state lawmakers to draw new House districts. That came after the high court on Wednesday struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana. Early voting had been scheduled to begin Saturday in advance of the May 16 primaries. Primaries for other state offices will go forward as scheduled. President Donald Trump is urging other states to also consider revising their districts in response to the court ruling.
Supreme Court hollows out a landmark law that had protected minority voting rights for 6 decades
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Voting Rights Act over its six decades became one of the most consequential laws in the nation’s history, preventing discrimination against minorities at the ballot box and helping to elect thousands of Black and Hispanic representatives at all levels of government. On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court knocked out a major pillar of the law that had protected against racial discrimination in voting and representation. It was a decision that came more than a decade after the court undermined another key tenet of the law. Voting and civil rights advocates say the decisions hollow out the law and will lead to a severe erosion of minority representation.
Prosecutors release video of armed man storming correspondents’ dinner
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have released a video showing the moment authorities say an armed man with guns and knives tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in an attempt to kill President Donald Trump. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, posted the video Thursday on social media amid questions over whose bullet struck a Secret Service officer as Cole Tomas Allen ran through security with a long gun toward the gala packed with journalists, administration officials and others. Prosecutors had previously claimed the agent was shot in the bullet-resistant vest during the melee, but had not confirmed it was Allen who shot the agent. Pirro, however, said Thursday that there is no evidence that the officer was hit by friendly fire.
Trump signs bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, ending record shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed a bill funding much of the Department of Homeland Security and ending the longest agency shutdown in history. The bipartisan funding package passed the House earlier Thursday. The Trump administration had warned that temporary funds to pay Transportation Security Administration and other personnel would “soon run out” if Congress failed to act. The shutdown lasted for more than 70 days as Democrats refused to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement operations without changes. Republicans instead adopted a budget resolution to eventually provide $70 billion for immigration enforcement though a separate process on their own, without Democratic help.
Iran’s supreme leader vows to protect nuclear and missile capabilities
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's supreme leader says the Islamic Republic will protect its nuclear and missile capabilities as a national asset. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei made the statement Thursday, likely drawing a hard line as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks a wider deal to cement the war's shaky three-week ceasefire. Khamenei also said Americans belong “at the bottom” of the Persian Gulf. His remarks come as Iran's oil industry is struggling under a U.S. Navy blockade and as the global economy feels the strain of Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. World oil prices surged above $126 a barrel on Thursday. The Trump administration is trying to persuade other nations to help reopen the strait.
Trump pulls Casey Means' stalled surgeon general nomination. New pick is radiologist Nicole Saphier
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's nominating former Fox News Channel contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier for surgeon general after Dr. Casey Means’ path forward stalled in the Senate. In a social media post Thursday, Trump said Saphier is “a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment.” Senators of both major political parties grilled Means on her vaccine stance and other health topics during a tense confirmation hearing. Means told The Associated Press her nomination fell apart after a “smear campaign." Saphier has aligned with many of Trump's positions but in at least one case pushed back on his messaging around Tylenol during pregnancy.
Takeaways from Hegseth's first hearings in Congress since the start of Iran war
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has appeared before Congress at a pair of hearings this week for the first time since the Trump administration started the Iran war. Hegseth faced tough questions from skeptical Democrats. He seemed to emerge with solid Republican support over his leadership and handling of the war. But a few GOP lawmakers questioned his dismissal of a top Army general. Some also sought assurances that the Pentagon is doing everything possible to prevent civilian deaths. The hearings on Wednesday and Thursday were before the House and Senate Armed Services committees. They were held officially to review the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal.
Tax refunds and AI boom have offset some US economic pain from Iran war and high gas prices, so far
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are paying for the war in Iran with every visit to the gas station, but some of the damage to the U.S. economy is being offset — for now anyway — by big tax refunds and an investment boom driven by artificial intelligence. According to a slew of economic data released Thursday, prices rose at the fastest pace in almost three years last month, U.S. economic growth is steady and layoffs fell last week. But an inflation gauge closely monitored by the Fed had its biggest gain in three years, driven by soaring gasoline prices.
Camp Mystic drops summer reopening plan over outrage by families and Texas lawmakers
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Camp Mystic officials have withdrawn their application for a license to operate this summer, a year after devastating floods tore through the river-side camp site, killing 25 young campers and two teenage counselors. Thursday's decision follows months of outrage by Texas lawmakers and the families of the girls who died in flood over the July 4 weekend last year. The camp’s owner, Dick Eastland, was also killed by the deluge. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the camp withdrew its application. The decision was praised by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has opposed reopening the camp while investigations continue.
Britney Spears charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears has been charged in California with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office says Spears was charged Thursday with a single misdemeanor count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug. The California Highway Patrol said the 44-year-old pop star was driving erratically in her BMW on March 4 on U.S 101 near her home outside of Los Angeles. She was arrested and jailed after taking several sobriety tests. A representative for Spears called her actions “completely inexcusable” and said she planned to comply with the law. Spears' representative later said she voluntarily checked into a substance abuse treatment facility.
