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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
A judge declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s New York rape retrial after the jury could not agree on a verdict. This was the third trial related to the rape charge, and prosecutors will decide whether to try the case again.
Key Facts
The jury in Weinstein’s rape retrial said it was deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision.
The case involves an accusation of third-degree rape by Jessica Mann, who said Weinstein forced unwanted sex in 2013.
Weinstein’s lawyers argued the encounter was consensual and noted Mann continued to see Weinstein afterward.
This retrial follows two previous trials related to the same charge, with one conviction overturned on appeal.
Weinstein has been convicted of other sex crimes on different charges and remains in jail.
The judge asked the jury to keep discussing before declaring the mistrial.
A hearing is scheduled for June 24 to decide if prosecutors will attempt a fourth trial.
Jessica Mann testified for five days during the trial, but Weinstein did not testify.
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Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen announced he will retire after his district was divided in a redistricting process. The changes came after a Supreme Court ruling that limited the use of race in drawing voting districts, which led to Tennessee's 9th district being split into three parts.
Key Facts
Steve Cohen is a Democratic representative from Tennessee.
He will not run for reelection and plans to retire at the end of his current term.
His Memphis-based congressional district, the 9th district, was split into three by state lawmakers.
The redistricting followed a Supreme Court decision that found race-based district drawing unconstitutional.
Cohen and civil rights groups have filed lawsuits against the new map.
Tennessee’s redistricting may help Republicans win the seat currently held by Cohen.
Cohen has represented a majority-minority district as a white congressman.
He is the 22nd Democrat to decide not to run again in this election cycle.
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A 19-year-old transgender student, Juniper Blessing, was stabbed over 40 times and found dead in a University of Washington off-campus laundry room. The suspect, 31-year-old Christopher Leahy, turned himself in and faces first-degree murder charges.
Key Facts
Juniper Blessing was a transgender student at the University of Washington.
Blessing suffered more than 40 stab wounds to multiple parts of the body.
The killing happened in the laundry room of the Nordheim Court student housing.
Christopher Leahy, 31, surrendered to police and was booked for first-degree murder.
Surveillance video showed the suspect returning to the laundry room and inspecting the area.
Witnesses identified the suspect, including his brother and a friend who recognized him in photos.
Blessing was a talented singer studying atmospheric science, music, and philosophy.
Blessing’s family described them as highly intelligent and deeply caring.
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The House Committee on Ethics is investigating Representative Chuck Edwards from North Carolina. The investigation is about sexual harassment claims made against him.
Key Facts
Rep. Chuck Edwards is a Republican from North Carolina.
The House Committee on Ethics is conducting the investigation.
The probe concerns sexual harassment allegations.
The allegations have prompted official action.
CBS News reporter Taurean Small is covering the story.
The investigation is part of congressional ethics oversight.
No conclusions or outcomes have been announced yet.
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The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end on May 21 as CBS cancels the program due to financial losses. The final episodes will feature guests such as Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, David Byrne, and Bruce Springsteen.
Key Facts
Stephen Colbert’s Late Show is ending after a long run on CBS.
The last episode will air on May 21.
CBS decided to cancel the show because it was losing money.
The final week includes special guests Jon Stewart, Steven Spielberg, David Byrne, and Bruce Springsteen.
The announcement was made as part of CBS’s public release.
This marks not only Colbert’s departure but the end of the Late Show on CBS.
The show has been a major part of late-night TV for many years.
The lineup also promises musical performances and surprises.
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A fire and explosion happened at Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont, Maine, injuring at least five people. Officials called it a "mass casualty event" and sent emergency teams from nearby areas to help, while the cause is still being investigated.
Key Facts
The explosion took place at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine.
At least five people were hurt in the incident.
Authorities declared a "mass casualty event," meaning many injuries.
Emergency responders came from multiple areas due to the scale of the event.
Maine State Police and fire marshal are investigating the cause.
The 911 Director said many resources are being used at the site.
Governor Janet Mills told people to stay away while emergency crews work.
The lumber mill is about 95 miles from Portland, Maine.
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A couple from Nottingham took their underage sons to Pakistan in 2023 to marry them, breaking a new UK law that bans child marriage. The couple received suspended prison sentences and unpaid community work for causing their children to enter into marriage under the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022.
Key Facts
The couple took their sons, who were under 18, to Pakistan for marriage in early 2023.
The law changed in February 2023, making it illegal to cause anyone under 18 to marry, even abroad or in religious ceremonies.
The bride was originally to marry one son, but ended up marrying the other son after the first rejected her.
The couple admitted guilt and received two-month suspended sentences and 100 hours of unpaid work each.
Police were alerted by a place of education, leading to the couple’s arrest in June 2023.
Messages on the parents’ phones showed they were actively seeking marriage proposals for their sons before the trip.
The court found no evidence of violence or threats but said the couple acted on misguided cultural beliefs.
The marriage is recognized under Islamic and Pakistani law but not automatically legal in the UK without registration.
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Organizers in Southern states are planning a series of marches and events this summer to protest changes in voting laws and new political district maps. These actions respond to recent court decisions and Republican-led efforts to redraw maps, which critics say weaken voting rights, especially for Black communities.
Key Facts
Activists have planned a "Summer of Action" with marches starting this weekend across Southern states.
The Supreme Court recently limited the Voting Rights Act, making it harder to challenge district maps based on racial discrimination.
Republican-led state governments in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi are redrawing voting districts, often targeting areas with Black voters.
Demonstrations in Selma, Alabama, connect to civil rights history, including the legacy of Bloody Sunday and the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Organizers expect the summer protests to be part of a larger, ongoing movement for voting rights beyond just elections.
Some Hispanic groups plan to join protests, expressing concern about voting rights and immigration policies.
Experts warn that these changes may result in the loss of 10 to 15 seats held by Black members of Congress.
President Donald Trump has gained some support from Black voters despite criticism over his rhetoric and policies related to race and voting rights.
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President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to record low levels on both the economy and healthcare, according to recent national polls and analysis by CNN. These declines show that key areas Trump previously relied on politically are now causing problems for his support ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
Trump’s disapproval rating is 65% on healthcare and 70% on the economy, the highest for any president this century on these issues.
Economic approval ratings for Trump are stuck in the low 30% range, with negative net ratings between -24 and -40 in major polls.
Approval on the economy has dropped more than 30 points since early in Trump’s current term.
Many Americans now believe the economy is getting worse and costs are increasing.
Healthcare disapproval is also very high, with Trump surpassing previous peaks seen under Presidents Obama and Bush.
Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” health agenda faces challenges as its coalition weakens, partly due to controversial vaccine messaging.
Democrats lead by 16 points on vaccine policy, an area where Republicans are vulnerable.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., linked to Trump’s health policy efforts, has lost favorability among voters, especially independents.
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Texas Children’s Hospital agreed to open the country’s first "detransition clinic" to help patients undo gender-affirming treatments. The hospital will also fire five doctors and pay $10 million to the state as part of a deal with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Key Facts
Texas Children’s Hospital must create a clinic for patients who want to reverse gender-affirming care.
The clinic will be the first of its kind in the United States.
As part of the settlement, the hospital will fire five physicians.
The hospital will pay $10 million to the state of Texas.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement.
The focus is on patients who had gender-affirming healthcare and seek to detransition.
The agreement is unusual and marks a legal action by the state regarding gender-related medical care.
The settlement aims to address concerns raised by the Texas government about gender-affirming treatments for youth.
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Senators Tammy Duckworth and Tammy Baldwin have asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for more information about how airplane evacuation tests are done. They are also concerned that fewer flight attendants on some long-distance flights might affect passenger safety during emergencies.
Key Facts
Senators Tammy Duckworth (Illinois) and Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin) are requesting information from the FAA.
They want details on how airplane evacuation tests are conducted.
They are worried about reduced numbers of flight attendants on some long-haul widebody flights.
The concern is that fewer flight attendants might make it harder to evacuate passengers quickly in emergencies.
The issue relates to passenger safety during airplane evacuations.
The senators are seeking answers to ensure current safety standards are adequate.
The news was reported by CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave.
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The U.S. Justice Department will seek the death penalty for Elias Rodriguez, who is charged with killing two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C. He faces hate crime and murder charges after shooting the victims outside a Jewish museum while shouting political slogans.
Key Facts
Elias Rodriguez is accused of killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in May 2026.
The victims were staff members at the Israeli Embassy and were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack and said he did it for Palestine and Gaza.
Prosecutors accuse him of a hate crime motivated by antisemitism.
Rodriguez traveled from Chicago to Washington with a handgun in his luggage.
Surveillance showed him shooting the couple and reloading before fleeing.
After the shooting, he entered the museum and declared his motive tied to Palestine.
The Justice Department’s decision means Rodriguez could face the death penalty if convicted.
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The U.S. Department of Justice will seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy workers outside a museum in Washington, D.C. This is a formal step announced in court to pursue the most severe punishment.
Key Facts
The accused shot and killed two staff members of the Israeli Embassy.
The attack happened outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
The Department of Justice will ask for the death penalty for the suspect.
The U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine, formally notified the court of this decision.
DOJ leaders had previously indicated they might seek the death penalty.
The case is being handled in the federal court system.
The death penalty is the most severe legal punishment available in the U.S.
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The top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro, announced plans to charge parents if their teenagers break local curfew laws. This action aims to reduce the problem of large groups of teens causing disturbances in the city’s popular areas.
Key Facts
Jeanine Pirro is the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.
She announced targeting parents if their teens violate curfew rules.
The move is part of efforts to address "teen takeovers," where large groups of teens gather and sometimes cause trouble.
D.C. has a juvenile curfew set at 11 p.m. for those under 18 in areas like the Navy Yard waterfront.
Pirro plans to use the law against parents who contribute to minor delinquency.
The prosecutor’s office cannot charge teens directly for curfew violations—this is handled by the local attorney general.
The announcement was linked to President Trump’s law enforcement surge started last summer to reduce violent crime in D.C.
Pirro emphasized parents need to take responsibility or the law will step in.
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The Long Island Rail Road, the biggest commuter train system in North America, might shut down soon. Workers and management are trying to agree on a new contract to prevent a strike, but they have not yet reached a deal.
Key Facts
The Long Island Rail Road serves New York City's eastern suburbs.
It is the largest commuter rail system in North America.
Unionized workers include locomotive engineers, machinists, and signalmen.
Negotiations for a new contract have been ongoing for several months.
A deadline is approaching to reach an agreement and avoid a strike.
A strike could cause a shutdown of train services.
The outcome of these talks affects many daily commuters in the region.
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A woman in Suffolk who drowned after getting stuck headfirst in sea rocks might have been saved if emergency services had acted faster, a coroner said. The ambulance service delayed informing the fire service, which arrived last and freed her quickly, but she was declared dead shortly after.
Key Facts
Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, drowned after getting stuck headfirst in sea defence rocks in Lowestoft, Suffolk, on February 2, 2025.
A 999 call was made at 7:52 pm, describing her trapped position and struggle in the water.
The ambulance service did not immediately alert the fire service; they were informed only at 8:04 pm.
Firefighters arrived at 8:22 pm and freed her within 30 seconds after first touching her at 8:29 pm.
Cole-Nottage was declared dead at 8:44 pm.
The coroner said earlier fire service involvement might have allowed her to be saved but survival was not likely.
Concerns were raised about the ambulance service’s slow recognition of the rescue situation and the early declaration that she was deceased.
The coroner criticized the advice given to the caller not to try to rescue her, which followed strict entrapment rules rather than immediate drowning response guidelines.
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Mamdani has closed a budget gap and is investing $122 million in public schools. This move aims to make life more affordable and improve public services.
Key Facts
Mamdani has addressed a budget shortfall successfully.
$122 million will be invested specifically in public schools.
The investment targets improving education services.
The goal is to make life more affordable for residents.
Critics are invited to provide alternative solutions rather than just criticism.
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The wife of a US Army sergeant and Afghanistan veteran was released from detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She had been detained during a scheduled immigration appointment while applying for a program that allows military spouses to stay in the US.
Key Facts
Deisy Rivera Ortega, from El Salvador, was detained on 14 April in El Paso, Texas.
Her husband, Sgt Jose Serrano, is a US Army member with nearly 28 years of service.
The couple was applying for parole-in-place, letting military spouses stay in the US during immigration processing.
Rivera Ortega had a 2019 court order protecting her from deportation due to potential harm in El Salvador.
Immigration officials considered deporting her to Mexico after her arrest.
US Senator Tammy Duckworth contacted the Department of Homeland Security about the case.
This is the second known case in April where ICE detained a military spouse during an immigration appointment.
Rivera Ortega was released and reunited with her husband shortly after detention.
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Thousands of federal student loan borrowers expecting debt forgiveness soon may face delays or losing relief because the U.S. Education Department is appealing a court decision that requires loan cancellations in certain cases. The legal dispute involves borrowers who claimed their schools misled them, and while many have received forgiveness, a final group remains in limbo as the government contests deadlines.
Key Facts
The issue centers on the Borrower Defense to Repayment program, which cancels loans if a school misled students.
In 2022, a court settlement required the Education Department (ED) to process and approve some relief claims, resulting in many loan discharges.
A last group of borrowers from the Sweet v. McMahon case, called post-class applicants, were supposed to receive decisions by June 15, 2024.
The ED has appealed a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision and requested a delay (stay) to extend relief deadlines, which was initially denied.
The ED argues it needs more time to verify eligibility and prevent undeserved cancellations.
Some borrowers might see their forgiveness canceled depending on future court rulings.
Borrowers affected typically come from for-profit schools that misrepresented job placement or credits but passed official reviews.
Legal and administrative delays mean some borrowers may have to wait longer but might still receive relief within the next year.
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Some papers about Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the US are being kept from Members of Parliament (MPs), according to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). The government has been asked to publish these documents within 28 sitting days but has withheld some files and heavily redacted others, raising concerns about transparency.
Key Facts
The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) reviewed 337 documents related to Lord Mandelson's appointment.
Some documents, including Mandelson's vetting file, are being withheld from MPs without their approval.
UK Security Vetting (UKSV) recommended against clearing Lord Mandelson for the ambassador role, but the Foreign Office approved him anyway.
The government redacted information widely, including personal details and legal information, beyond what Parliament allows.
MPs voted to force the government to publish all papers through a process called a humble address.
The government initially opposed full publication due to national security and diplomatic concerns but agreed to the ISC review as a compromise.
The ISC criticized the government for conducting business on unofficial channels like WhatsApp, which lacks proper record keeping.
The Cabinet Office says it is working to publish as much material as possible while protecting national security.
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