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Capitol Police chief addresses 'human failure' that led to security lapses

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WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Tuesday largely applauded Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger for the department’s work keeping the campus safe, despite a string of recently disclosed security lapses involving staff and members of the public.

Manger was called to testify before the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee on steps taken ...Read more

Sammy Fretwell/The State/TNS

South Carolina could lose 1 million acres of wetlands as federal protections vanish, report says

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As flood threats rise, wetlands across South Carolina could play an important role in fending off high water before it soaks homes, businesses, roads and other property that people depend on.

But wetlands that control flooding and shelter wildlife are in substantial jeopardy as a result of a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Retiring forest service supervisor 'really worried' about Colorado public lands amid Trump administration job cuts

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DENVER — Newly retired White River National Forest supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams says he wants to take “the high road” when discussing challenges facing the agency in the aftermath of federal employee firings mandated by the Trump Administration, but he concedes they are worrisome.

After 35 years with the forest service, the last 15 as ...Read more

Natrice Miller/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS

Georgia ban on transgender girls, women playing female sports inches toward passage

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ATLANTA — Transgender student-athletes in Georgia could soon be blocked from playing K-12 and college team sports based on their “self-identification.”

A House panel passed Senate Bill 1 on Tuesday, which would keep students at public K-12 schools and universities from participating in single-sex team sports according to their gender ...Read more

Tracy Glantz/The State/TNS

Senate panel accuses SC treasurer of violating federal, state law in scathing $1.8B report

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In a scathing report into the $1.8 billion accounting error where a Senate Finance panel recommended removal of Treasurer Curtis Loftis, senators alleged the treasurer is in violation of federal law.

The report, as expected, recommended the removal of Loftis for willful neglect of duty. It is a move that would requires a two-thirds vote of each...Read more

Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS

Bill would pull ultra-processed foods from Florida schools. Lobbyists are pushing back

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An effort to ban Florida public schools from serving students ultra-processed foods, such as sugary drinks and artificially colored snacks, hit a snag in a state Senate committee on Tuesday after facing pushback from the industry that sells those products.

“There is a lot of money at stake,” Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-...Read more

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America/TNS

Democrats allege Social Security 'bedlam'; Trump nominee denies placing DOGE officials at agency

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WASHINGTON — As Democrats alleged “bedlam” at the Social Security Administration, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the agency denied he has intervened to help install officials backed by billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting organization.

During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, nominee Frank Bisignano was ...Read more

Jill Toyoshiba/Kansas City Star/TNS

Kansas to eliminate 3-day grace period for mail-in ballots after GOP overrides Gov. Laura Kelly

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Beginning in 2026, Kansans who vote by mail can expect more doubt about whether the ballots they cast will be counted by election officials.

The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature on Tuesday overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill eliminating the three-day grace period for late-arriving mail ballots that lawmakers of both ...Read more

Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman/TNS

Idaho continues its 'historic' tax cuts. Here's what residents can expect

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Idaho residents can expect to see more property tax relief after Gov. Brad Little signs a bill into law that would cut $100 million in taxes a year.

Little on Tuesday in a news release said he plans to sign House Bill 304, which would direct $50 million each year toward a fund that would distribute the property tax savings to residents for ...Read more

Shaul Golan/Pool/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Israel approves budget, giving Netanyahu political respite

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TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s parliament approved the state budget for this year, boosting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after days of market turmoil related to the conflict in Gaza and the government trying to fire top officials.

A majority of 66 members of the Knesset signed off on the bill versus 52 who objected. If the budget had ...Read more

News briefs

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Luigi Mangione wants access to laptop while awaiting trial in case of United HealthCare CEO killing

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, the Towson, Maryland, man accused of gunning down a United HealthCare CEO, are requesting he have access to a laptop while in federal custody to review documents and other material related to his case, according to a...Read more

Brendan Smialowski/AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

Fiscal groups call for New England delegation to put aside politics, renew Trump Tax cuts

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A coalition of fiscal watchdog groups are warning that President Donald Trump’s signature first-term tax plan must be renewed to avoid serious financial consequences for New England families.

Not renewing the tax law before many of its provisions expire at the end of the year will cost taxpayers thousands of dollars each year, according to ...Read more

Jeffrey F. Bill/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Maryland House Republicans say they're 'shut out' of the budget negotiations

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BALTIMORE — Republicans criticized the legislative process during a marathon floor session Tuesday as the Maryland House of Delegates sifted through nearly 300 amendments to the state’s major budget bills.

“We’re shut out,” House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy, a Frederick County Republican, said during a debate on the proposed state ...Read more

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images North America/TNS

Republicans stand by Pete Hegseth amid text dispute as Democrats call for his resignation

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WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth’s text chain shared with a journalist divulging national security plans resulted in calls for his resignation just months into his tenure leading the Pentagon.

Democrats called for a full investigation into what happened — and some for Hegseth’s and President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike ...Read more

Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images North America/TNS

Billionaire casino owner resigning to join Trump administration

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Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire businessman whose hospitality and entertainment empire includes several casino hotels in Nevada, is giving up the reins of his company to take a role in the Trump administration.

Fertitta plans to resign from his role as chief executive officer of Fertitta Entertainment LLC if his nomination for U.S. ambassador ...Read more

Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS

Border czar Tom Homan vows Boston return after feds arrest illegal 'criminals' and 'collaterals'

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Border czar Tom Homan has vowed to return to the Bay State as there is more “work to do” after last week’s “enhanced operation” that saw federal authorities sweep up nearly 400 “illegal aliens,” which he said included “many” collateral arrests.

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Tuesday, Homan said he didn’t know how ...Read more

Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

'Tip of the iceberg': Can Trump's national security adviser survive Signal scandal?

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WASHINGTON — National security adviser Mike Waltz expressed bewilderment Tuesday about how a prominent journalist was added to a text thread of high-level Trump administration officials a day after a report implicated him as the offender.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, wrote that Waltz had connected with him earlier this ...Read more

Alex Derosier/Pioneer Press/TNS

Minn. Gov. Tim Walz will require state employees to work in-person 50% of their workdays

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Gov. Tim Walz Tuesday announced that he will require state workers to be in the office at least 50% of their workdays beginning around June 1.

The governor noted that the policy change supports the economic vitality of office districts like downtown St. Paul, which depend on foot traffic back to businesses and public spaces that public ...Read more

Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee/TNS

UC Davis dissolves law student group after it implemented boycott of Israel

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The University of Caliornia, Davis School of Law dissolved the Law Student Association after it passed a resolution that would institute an association-wide academic and fiscal boycott of Israel for its “ongoing genocide and occupation in Palestine.”

UC Davis School of Law Dean Jessica Berg announced Monday that UC Davis suspended ...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Reformers push Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to adopt Law Department changes

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CHICAGO — Would-be reformers are firing back against Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, arguing ethics changes targeting the city’s Law Department can move forward.

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg first proposed the changes last month in an effort to bolster her office’s investigative independence. The mayor-controlled ...Read more