There were plenty of theatrics again in this week’s news.

The buzz fodder ran from first-spousal hand swats to congressional race “body slams” to an intense analysis of the US president appearing to push aside the Montenegrin prime minister (who called the move “inoffensive”). Concerns about Russia kept rippling.

Other matters of justice – ones of real concern to people for whom mobility could mean a better life, as well as those concerned about security – tiptoed through the news crawl. Once again, a federal appeals court blocked the implementation of President Trump’s travel ban, which now appears headed for the Supreme Court.

Also, in an act of discretion Thursday related to immigration, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe pardoned Liliana Cruz Mendez on a 2014 conviction for driving without a license. The 10-year resident and mother of two, pulled over for a broken headlight, had no other criminal convictions. Her husband has work authorization in the US; her in-laws are legal permanent residents. A “stay of removal request” may delay her deportation. Still, for some, it’s a simple matter of legality.

Now to our five stories of the day, including a cleareyed, four-part graphic on immigration and public perceptions.