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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Rep. Christian Menefee is expected to win the Democratic primary runoff against Rep. Al Green for Texas’s 18th Congressional District. Menefee won a special election earlier this year to fill the seat left by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner.
Key Facts
The race is for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, based in Houston.
Christian Menefee is 37 years old.
Menefee previously won a special election in January.
The seat was previously held by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner.
Al Green is the current incumbent and Menefee’s opponent in the runoff.
Decision Desk HQ reports Menefee is projected to win the runoff.
This primary runoff is part of the Democratic Party’s nomination process.
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The White House is building a UFC fighting cage on its South Lawn for an event called UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for June 14 to celebrate 250 years of American independence. The event will have two championship fights and will primarily host military members, with many free tickets for the public nearby.
Key Facts
The UFC cage will be set up on the South Lawn of the White House.
UFC Freedom 250 will take place on June 14, 2024.
Two championship title fights will headline the event.
About 4,300 people, mostly military members, will watch live at the White House.
85,000 free public tickets will be available at Ellipse Park near the White House.
No tickets will be sold to the general public.
VIP "high roller" packages may cost around $1.5 million.
UFC will spend about $60 million on the event but will not seek to make a profit.
This is the first professional live sporting event held on White House grounds.
The event is part of a series of changes and construction projects made by President Trump at the White House.
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A 56-year-old woman died after a strong wind blew a table umbrella into her neck at a restaurant patio in South Carolina. Emergency responders found her unresponsive and could not save her; authorities are investigating the incident as an accident.
Key Facts
The woman, Dana Winger from Huger, was dining with her husband on May 23 at Driftwood Grill in Summerton, South Carolina.
A sudden strong wind caused the umbrella on their patio table to dislodge and hit her head and neck.
Emergency responders found her unresponsive with a cut to her neck and were unable to revive her.
The Clarendon County Coroner’s Office is investigating the incident as an accident.
An autopsy is planned for May 27 to determine more details.
The restaurant expressed condolences on social media and asked for privacy for the family and those affected.
A grief support team met with staff and community members after the event to help those emotionally impacted.
Local fire and sheriff’s departments have been contacted for information.
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Republican lawmakers in South Carolina blocked a plan to redraw voting districts that would have helped their party win an extra seat in the US House of Representatives. They chose not to change the maps because many voters had already started voting in the midterm elections. Meanwhile, a federal court in Alabama temporarily stopped a GOP redistricting plan, ruling it was racially discriminatory.
Key Facts
South Carolina Republicans rejected a new voting map that would have favored their party.
The decision helped Democrat Jim Clyburn keep his House seat.
Some lawmakers said they did not want to interfere with an election already in progress.
South Carolina’s Republican governor encouraged voters to participate confidently.
In Alabama, a federal court blocked a GOP redistricting plan for being racially biased.
The Alabama court ordered the use of an older map with two majority-black districts.
The Supreme Court recently reduced protections under the Voting Rights Act, allowing more partisan gerrymandering.
Democrats and civil rights groups condemned Republican efforts to redraw maps that reduce minority representation.
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President Donald Trump stated that it is very important for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to have exclusive control over prediction markets. This comment came after several states faced lawsuits for trying to ban or regulate betting markets related to predictions.
Key Facts
President Trump emphasized the importance of the CFTC's sole authority over prediction markets.
Prediction markets are betting systems where people place bets on the outcome of future events.
Several states have tried to ban or create rules for these betting markets.
States attempting to regulate these markets have faced legal lawsuits.
The CFTC is a federal agency that oversees certain types of financial markets, including futures and options.
President Trump supports keeping the regulation of prediction markets under federal control rather than state control.
The issue involves balancing federal authority with state attempts to regulate or restrict these markets.
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Republican voters in Texas are voting in a Senate primary between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. This race is the most expensive Senate primary ever in Texas and it has effects beyond the state, influencing national politics.
Key Facts
The race is between two Republicans: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.
It is the most costly Senate primary ever held in Texas.
Texas Republican voters are casting their ballots now.
The outcome of this race could affect politics across the United States.
CBS News is providing detailed analysis of the race and its broader impact.
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There has been a large increase in school suspensions in England due to racist, homophobic, and disablist abuse from 2020 to 2024. Education experts link this rise to less anti-bullying support and wider social problems. A mother whose autistic son died by suicide said bullying played a major role in his struggles.
Key Facts
Over 55,000 suspensions were related to racist abuse in English schools from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
Homophobic or transphobic abuse led to more than 13,000 suspensions in the same period.
Disablist abuse caused about 1,600 suspensions during these years.
There was a 68% increase in suspensions mentioning prejudice-related abuse in under four years.
Schools can list up to three reasons for each suspension, so these numbers show how often abuse types are recorded, not exact incidents.
The mother, Kirsten Coutts, said her son Sam was deeply affected by bullying due to his autism, impacting his mental health.
Education experts say cuts in support services, social media harms, political divisions, and lack of teacher training contribute to rising abuse issues.
School leaders and unions say discriminatory behavior is not tolerated but note larger societal problems influence schools.
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Construction has started at the White House to set up a UFC fight cage for an event planned on President Donald Trump’s birthday in June. Political experts discussed this event on CBS News.
Key Facts
The UFC fight cage is being built on the White House lawn.
The event is scheduled for President Trump’s birthday in June.
Construction work for the fight has already begun.
The fight will take place at the White House grounds.
Political strategists Kendra Barkoff Lamy and Terry Sullivan talked about the event on CBS News.
The story was shared through the CBS News app and website.
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MPs in England and Wales want the government to introduce a £250 annual cap on leasehold ground rents sooner than planned. The government currently aims to enforce the cap by late 2028 but MPs suggest bringing it forward to late 2027 to help leaseholders who face rising fees and difficulty selling their homes.
Key Facts
Ground rent is an annual fee paid by leaseholders to the freeholder for the land their home sits on.
The government plans to cap this fee at £250 per year and aims to start the cap in late 2028.
A committee of MPs wants the cap introduced earlier, by late 2027.
About five million homes in England and Wales are leasehold properties.
The government also plans to end new leasehold flat sales and promote commonhold ownership, where owners share responsibility for their buildings.
Some leaseholders face rising ground rents that make it hard to sell or get a mortgage.
Ground rents currently often rise over time, sometimes doubling or increasing with inflation.
The government proposes reducing ground rents to nearly zero after 40 years, but MPs want this transition period shortened to 20 years.
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President Donald Trump plans to increase the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. from 7,500 to 17,500 per year. The extra 10,000 places are specifically for white South African refugees due to reported racial violence in South Africa, according to a White House memo.
Key Facts
President Trump is raising the U.S. refugee cap from 7,500 to 17,500.
The additional 10,000 refugee slots are reserved only for white South Africans.
This change comes because of alleged increases in racially motivated violence in South Africa.
The decision is explained in a White House memo to multiple government departments.
The memo mentions an "unforeseen emergency refugee situation" due to recent events in South Africa.
The memo is to be officially published on a Wednesday.
The memo is addressed to the secretaries of state, homeland security, and health and human services.
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A home and a car were destroyed in an explosion overnight in western Michigan. One man died, a neighbor was burned while helping a woman, who is now in critical condition. Police are investigating the cause of the explosion.
Key Facts
The explosion happened overnight in western Michigan.
A house and a car parked in the driveway were destroyed.
Police found one man dead at the scene.
A neighbor who helped a woman suffered burns.
The woman is in critical condition at the hospital.
Police are currently investigating what caused the explosion.
Doorbell camera footage from the area was obtained by reporters.
No other injuries have been reported so far.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has instructed ICE attorneys to increase the number of fraud cases against immigration lawyers. This guidance comes from a memo obtained by CBS News.
Key Facts
DHS sent a memo to attorneys working with ICE.
The memo directs them to focus on fraud cases involving immigration lawyers.
ICE is the agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
The goal is to identify and act against immigration lawyers committing fraud.
CBS News obtained and reported on the memo.
The information was shared by CBS News homeland security correspondent Nicole Sganga.
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A chemical tank exploded on Tuesday in Longview, Washington, causing a serious accident with many injuries and deaths. The chemical was used in making products like tissues and packaging from wood pulp.
Key Facts
The explosion happened in Longview, Washington.
It involved a chemical tank used in processing wood pulp.
The chemicals help make tissues, wrapping paper, and other packaging materials.
Authorities called the incident a "mass casualty event," meaning many people were hurt or killed.
First responders arrived quickly to manage the situation.
The exact number of casualties has not been detailed in the report.
Officials continue to investigate the cause of the blast.
Emergency teams are providing aid to victims and securing the area.
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The Scripps National Spelling Bee moved from a Maryland suburb to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. for 2024. While some competitors found the new location exciting and historic, others experienced inconvenience due to limited dining, crowded spaces, and security measures linked to an upcoming UFC event near the White House.
Key Facts
The spelling bee was held for 15 years in a Maryland convention center before moving to Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
Constitution Hall is a large, historic concert venue built in 1929, located near the White House and national monuments.
The move brought new challenges like crowded hallways, fewer food options, and shuttle bus rides between hotel and venue.
Security was increased with guards, metal detectors, and bomb-sniffing dogs because of a recent security incident near the White House.
An outdoor UFC octagon is being constructed on the White House lawn for an event celebrating President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the US founding anniversary.
Some spellers and families enjoy the proximity to cultural sites and city life, while others preferred the old, more spacious and centralized venue.
About 167 spellers remained after initial elimination rounds to take a written test determining the finalists.
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Construction has started on a 5,000-seat arena on the South Lawn of the White House for a UFC fight scheduled on June 14. President Donald Trump said UFC president Dana White will build the arena and set up large screens nearby for people to watch.
Key Facts
The UFC event will take place at the White House South Lawn on June 14.
A 5,000-seat arena is being built for the fight.
The arena is located just outside the White House front door.
Eight large screens will be set up in a nearby park for fans.
UFC president Dana White, an ally of President Trump, is leading the project.
The event is part of the America 250 celebrations.
Preparations for the event are currently underway.
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A temporary Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena is being built on the White House lawn to host mixed martial arts fights on June 14. The event will celebrate both the United States’ 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
Key Facts
The UFC fights will take place in a temporary 5,000-seat arena on the White House lawn.
Construction began with cranes and equipment seen on the South Lawn.
The cage will be octagon-shaped and surrounded by a stage decorated with red, white, and blue colors.
Two title fights are scheduled: one lightweight championship and one interim heavyweight championship.
President Trump announced plans for this event as part of 250th U.S. anniversary celebrations.
The event was originally planned to be larger, with more fights and a crowd up to 25,000 people, but these plans were reduced.
President Trump is a long-time fan of mixed martial arts and is friends with UFC President Dana White.
Construction at the White House lawn is affecting nearby events, such as the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which had to adjust routes due to the arena build.
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A federal court has stopped Alabama’s new congressional map because it was found to unfairly hurt Black voters. The Republican leaders who supported the map plan to ask the Supreme Court to review this decision.
Key Facts
A federal court blocked Alabama’s congressional redistricting plan.
The court ruled the map intentionally discriminated against Black voters.
The redistricting plan was supported by Republicans (the GOP).
Republicans plan to appeal the court’s decision to the Supreme Court.
The case involves how voting districts are drawn in Alabama.
This decision impacts elections and representation in Congress.
The issue relates to protecting voting rights and preventing racial discrimination.
CBS News legal correspondent Jan Crawford reported on the case.
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President Donald Trump withdrew his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and U.S. Treasury over the leak of his tax returns after reaching a settlement. The settlement includes a government apology, protection from further IRS audits linked to the matter, and Trump dropping other claims related to FBI investigations.
Key Facts
The lawsuit accused the IRS and Treasury of not protecting Trump's confidential tax information after a contractor leaked it.
The contractor responsible, Charles Littlejohn, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Trump, his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization were all involved in the lawsuit.
The settlement bars government agencies from pursuing past or pending IRS claims tied to Trump's tax returns.
The government will issue a formal apology but will not pay Trump directly.
Trump also abandoned claims seeking compensation for the FBI’s 2022 Mar-a-Lago search and the Russia campaign investigation.
Joe Rogan publicly reacted to the settlement, comparing it to protecting someone from prosecution forever, calling it "so crazy."
The settlement came along with a nearly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, though that fund is separate from Trump’s IRS dispute.
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A federal appeals court has temporarily stopped the re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a 31-year-old activist with a US green card. His lawyers plan to ask the US Supreme Court to review his case, which involves issues of free speech and immigration.
Key Facts
Mahmoud Khalil is a 31-year-old activist born in Palestine and holds a US green card.
He is married to an American citizen and has an American child.
Khalil was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for 104 days last year in Louisiana.
The government claims his views threaten US foreign policy, while supporters say his activities are legal free speech.
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked his re-detention as his case proceeds.
Khalil’s lawyers intend to ask the US Supreme Court to clarify government powers over detention and deportation related to free speech.
The case is linked to the Trump administration’s focus on pro-Palestinian activism on US campuses.
The US Secretary of State argued that allowing Khalil to stay would undermine efforts to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish students.
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