All USA
First LookSupreme Court agrees to hear Trump’s bid for legal immunityThe Supreme Court has agreed to decide if former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges of interfering with the 2020 election. The timing could raise doubts about whether a trial can finish prior to the November election.
Tough Texas immigration law nears. Residents have questions.If a new Texas law goes into effect next week, it will set up dueling immigration systems. Concerns abound over how this will work.
Treaty on pandemics: Why nations seek it. Why it’s so hard.World Health Organization talks seek to address pandemic prevention and response. But consensus is difficult to reach.
First LookMcConnell to step down as Senate leader: ‘It’s time to move on’After a record-setting 17 years as Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell said he will end his tenure in November. The departure punctuates his party’s transition from Reagan-brand conservatism to the populism of former President Donald Trump.
First LookSan Francisco begins reparations with an apology. Is it enough?San Francisco Supervisors officially apologize for racism, becoming the second big city after Boston to take this step. Many city council members say that there is still work to be done, but the reparations committee has not yet agreed on next steps.
First LookWhy is the Army cutting 24,000 jobs? It’s a new era, Pentagon says.The U.S. Army is slashing the size of its force by about 24,000, which is nearly 5%. The cuts will mainly be in already-empty posts – not actual soldiers. The cuts include jobs related to counter-insurgency that swelled during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
An indie publisher finds its future – with a public libraryAngel City Press in Los Angeles has long published local authors. In a bold move, its founders are now giving the press to the city’s public library.
FocusWhy a Native American vet drives 1,200 miles to care for her peersMany Native Americans who serve in the U.S. military face post-service challenges. Efforts are underway to better help veterans on the Navajo Nation.
Biden should drop out! No, he shouldn’t! Debate rages.Erstwhile allies are calling on President Biden to leave the race, amid concerns he could lose. Others call the criticism unhelpful – and unwarranted.
Lights on, but trust off. Texas tries to rebuild confidence in grid.The Texas power grid is more reliable today than it was three years ago, but Lone Star state residents remain cautious as costs rise.
FocusToo many California kids can’t read. Phonics alone may not be the fix.States are leaning into the “science of reading” to address a growing crisis in learning. But can the approach be effective if underlying issues like student hunger and absenteeism aren’t also addressed?
First LookPhone use is ‘out of control,’ teachers say. What’s the solution?Educators around the country say cellphone use during class is interfering with learning. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have enacted cellphone bans in classrooms as school policies vary and are hard to enforce.
First LookArab Americans use Michigan primary to send a message to BidenAs the Gaza war rages on, Arab Americans in Michigan voting in the state’s primary Feb. 27 vow to withhold their support for President Biden. A loss of support in Michigan, a crucial battleground state, could affect the 2024 general election.
First LookRepublicans scramble to contain backlash from IVF court rulingAlabama’s Feb. 21 ruling that frozen embryos are considered children has Republicans scrambling to contain the backlash as IVF clinics shutter statewide. In a Republican internal poll, 85% of respondents said they supported IVF, a family planning measure.
First LookShould government restrict teen social media access? Florida says yes.A new Florida bill would ban social media apps for anyone under age 16. The measure now goes to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis after being passed by the state House of Representatives in a 108-7 vote. Critics say the bill violates the right to free speech.
Why Haley focuses on long game, despite Trump’s South Carolina leadPolls suggest that Nikki Haley has little hope of pulling off a primary win in her home state. At present, Donald Trump’s sway over the party is too large. But she is taking a longer view.
First LookWhen cellphone outages strike, landlines can help – if you have oneLandlines are handy to have when mobile networks go down – but they’ve disappeared from nearly 3 in 4 American households. The shift is part of a broader evolution in our expectations around communication.
First LookDo you carry credit card debt? Why Capital One is betting on it.Swelling American credit card debt has Capital One Financial counting on a $30 billion merger with credit-lending heavy hitter Discover Financial. Since the pandemic, American consumers have relied more on credit card usage to support increased spending.
As GOP groups go MAGA, some see trouble for party apparatusEfforts to put Trump supporters in charge of Republican infrastructure at all levels are bearing fruit. Some laud it as grassroots activism. Others call it a hostile takeover.
First LookAlabama IVF providers pause programs in wake of court rulingA second in vitro fertilization provider in Alabama is pausing services after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are legally considered children. They are evaluating whether patients or doctors could face criminal charges or punitive damages.
