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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Maine to talk about the Trump administration’s efforts to fight fraud before the state's primary elections. His visit focuses on promoting the work of the government’s anti-fraud task force, especially concerning government health program fraud.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance will speak in Bangor, Maine, about anti-fraud efforts ahead of the June 9 primary elections.
Vance chairs the Trump administration’s anti-fraud task force.
This visit is the first that focuses specifically on anti-fraud efforts, rather than economic topics.
The visit follows concerns about alleged fraud in Maine’s government health programs raised by Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Maine Governor Janet Mills called the fraud investigation a “political attack.”
Maine’s primary election will select candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House seats.
Governor Mills recently dropped out of the Senate race, leaving progressive Graham Platner as the Democratic candidate.
The Maine Senate seat is seen as important for control of the U.S. Senate, making the race highly competitive.
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The U.S. Senate approved a plan to hold back senators' pay during government shutdowns. This rule will start after the November 3 election and aims to make lawmakers face financial consequences when the government stops working due to budget disputes.
Key Facts
Senators voted unanimously to withhold their own pay during government shutdowns.
The pay would be kept by the Senate secretary until government funding is restored.
The measure takes effect the day after the November 3, 2026, general election.
Recent shutdowns caused long funding lapses, including a 76-day partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security.
The longest full federal government shutdown lasted 43 days in the last year.
The U.S. Constitution requires lawmakers to be paid even during shutdowns.
Some senators, like Lindsey Graham, have proposed constitutional amendments to stop pay during shutdowns, but these are harder to pass.
The resolution applies only to the Senate, with no similar rule currently for the House of Representatives.
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The Senate unanimously passed a rule to stop paying senators during future government shutdowns. This change aims to encourage senators to avoid delays in approving government funding.
Key Facts
The Senate approved the resolution on Thursday.
The measure was introduced by Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana.
It stops senators’ pay during times when the government shuts down.
The vote was unanimous and done by voice.
The goal is to motivate senators not to block funding bills.
This rule applies to future government shutdowns only.
The Senate is the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress.
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A recent poll shows Representative Thomas Massie is behind challenger Ed Gallrein in the Kentucky 4th Congressional District Republican primary. Gallrein has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who supported him during a disagreement with Massie.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by Quantus Insights on Monday and Tuesday.
908 people participated in the survey.
Ed Gallrein received 48.3% support from those surveyed.
Thomas Massie is currently the incumbent representative for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.
President Donald Trump endorsed Ed Gallrein last year.
The endorsement followed a public disagreement between President Trump and Thomas Massie.
The Republican primary is scheduled for May 19.
The poll results were released just days before this primary election.
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Vice President JD Vance will visit Bangor, Maine, to talk about the Trump administration’s work to fight fraud ahead of the state’s primary elections. He will speak at Bangor International Airport about these efforts.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance will appear in Maine on Thursday.
His visit aims to highlight the administration’s fight against election fraud.
The event is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EDT at Bangor International Airport.
Vance is the chair of the administration's anti-fraud task force.
The White House and Maine Republican Party announced the visit.
Vance is seen as a possible Republican presidential candidate for 2028.
This visit focuses on fraud prevention, unlike earlier visits that focused on the economy.
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Abdul Halim Khan, an imam in East London, was convicted of sexually abusing seven girls and women, some as young as 12, over 11 years. He used claims of supernatural powers and threats of black magic to control and silence his victims. Khan was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 20 years.
Key Facts
Abdul Halim Khan was a Muslim faith leader in East London.
He abused seven females, aged between 12 and early teens, from 2004 to 2015.
Khan claimed he had supernatural powers and was "curing" the victims of bad spirits.
He threatened that harm would come to victims or their families if they spoke out.
Khan used isolated places like cars and flats to assault his victims.
The abuse was reported to police in 2018 after a victim told a school therapist.
He was found guilty of rape, sexual assault, and child abuse.
Khan received a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years in prison.
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A Labour MP, Josh Simons, has said he will resign, creating a special election that may allow Andy Burnham to return to Parliament and run for Labour leader. Burnham was previously blocked from running by current Labour leader Keir Starmer, but party support for Burnham is growing.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham wants to return to Parliament and become the next Labour leader.
Keir Starmer, current Labour leader, stopped Burnham from running in an earlier byelection.
Josh Simons, Labour MP for Makerfield, announced he will stand down, triggering a byelection.
Makerfield is a Labour-held seat with a majority of about 5,000 votes.
Labour’s national executive committee blocked Burnham's earlier attempt to stand.
There is growing support within Labour for Burnham to have a chance to lead.
Recent local election losses have weakened Starmer’s authority and led to resignations.
Many Labour MPs, including some senior figures, want Burnham to get an opportunity.
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Tushar Atre, a tech executive and cannabis businessman in Santa Cruz, California, was kidnapped and murdered in October 2019. Four men, including two who worked briefly for Atre and had conflicts with him, were later arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for the crime.
Key Facts
Tushar Atre was kidnapped from his home early on October 1, 2019, and found dead hours later on one of his cannabis farms.
Atre died from stab wounds and a gunshot to the back of the head.
Investigators initially had no leads but focused on Atre’s cannabis business after interviewing employees.
Two men, Stephen Lindsay and Kaleb Charters, were repeatedly mentioned and had worked for Atre for less than two weeks before the murder.
Lindsay and Charters had conflicts with Atre, including losing his car keys and partial paycheck payment.
Atre reportedly made them do push-ups as punishment, which led to humiliation and resentment.
Along with Kurtis Charters (Kaleb’s brother) and Joshua Camps, the men were arrested and charged with the murder.
All four were found guilty in separate trials and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
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Ted Waitt, cofounder of Gateway, told U.S. lawmakers he had a romantic relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell from 2004 to 2010. He said if he had known about Maxwell’s crimes, he would not have befriended her or let her be near his children. His testimony was part of a House committee investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell.
Key Facts
Ted Waitt and Ghislaine Maxwell were in a romantic relationship from 2004 to 2010.
Waitt first met Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in Hong Kong in November 2003, at a dinner that included former President Bill Clinton.
Waitt avoided Epstein because he found him “off-putting” and considered him Maxwell’s ex-boyfriend.
Waitt never visited Epstein’s homes, flew on his plane, or went to Epstein’s private island.
Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.
Waitt said Maxwell ended her relationship with Epstein on her 40th birthday in 2001.
Waitt said he was unaware that Maxwell had avoided a subpoena in a civil case against Epstein in 2009.
The House committee is investigating Epstein’s network and Maxwell’s role in his crimes.
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More Americans are using personal loans to pay for everyday bills like groceries, rent, and utilities. Younger people, especially Generation Z, are borrowing the most for these basic expenses due to high costs and economic challenges.
Key Facts
8.2% of personal loan requests on LendingTree are for everyday bills, up from 3.4% in 2023.
Everyday bills are now the fourth most common reason people seek personal loans.
Borrowers using loans for daily expenses request an average of $4,317.
These borrowers often have lower credit scores, averaging 574 compared to the U.S. average of 713.
Generation Z (ages 18-29) has the highest share (10.5%) of personal loan requests for everyday bills.
Millennials follow at 9.3%, Generation X at 6.6%, and Baby Boomers at 5.6%.
Experts say younger Americans face ongoing economic pressures like high housing costs, student loans, inflation, and rising interest rates.
Younger generations are more likely to use new financial products like Buy Now, Pay Later and loan apps.
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The Senate agreed to a resolution that stops senators' pay during any federal government shutdown. Senators will only get paid after the shutdown ends. The rule will start after the November election because of a constitutional rule.
Key Facts
The Senate voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
The resolution was led by Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana.
Senators' pay will be withheld during any lapse in funding for federal agencies or departments.
Senators will get paid after the government shutdown is over.
The resolution only applies to the Senate, not the House of Representatives.
It will take effect after the next election due to the 27th Amendment, which stops pay changes from starting before an election.
There were two major recent government shutdowns: one lasted 43 days, another 76 days.
Senator Kennedy called the resolution a form of "shared sacrifice" since federal workers go without pay during shutdowns.
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Flags in the United States are flown at half-staff on certain days as a sign of respect or mourning. There are specific rules for how to lower and raise a flag to the half-staff position properly.
Key Facts
Flying a flag at half-staff is a sign of honor or mourning.
The flag is first raised all the way to the top of the pole.
Then, the flag is slowly lowered to a point halfway down the pole.
To end half-staff, the flag is raised back to the top before being taken down.
The flag should not touch the ground at any time during the process.
Half-staff is usually ordered by the President or state governors for certain occasions.
This practice follows the U.S. Flag Code, which guides flag etiquette.
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Oklahoma executed Raymond Johnson by lethal injection for killing his ex-girlfriend Brooke Whitaker and her baby nearly 20 years ago. Johnson was pronounced dead at 10:12 a.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary after his clemency request was denied.
Key Facts
Raymond Johnson, 52, was executed for the 2007 murders of Brooke Whitaker, 24, and her 7-month-old daughter, Kya.
Johnson killed Whitaker by hitting her with a metal claw hammer and then set fire to her and the house.
Whitaker died from head injuries and smoke inhalation; her daughter died from severe burns.
Johnson was the 11th person executed in the U.S. this year and the second in Oklahoma.
Johnson’s clemency request was unanimously denied by Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board in April.
Johnson apologized to the victims’ family during his clemency hearing, saying he had changed.
Whitaker’s family supported the execution, saying it would stop further harm to them.
Johnson had previously served nine years for a manslaughter conviction from 1996.
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A federal judge blocked the Justice Department’s demand for private medical records of transgender minors from a Rhode Island hospital. The judge ruled that the subpoenas were too broad and questioned the department’s fairness in handling the data.
Key Facts
Judge Mary McElroy stopped the Justice Department’s request for detailed records from Rhode Island’s largest hospital that treats transgender minors.
The subpoenas asked for personal details like birthdates, social security numbers, and addresses of patients over five years.
The Justice Department seeks the information to investigate possible fraud and unlawful drug promotion related to drugs like puberty blockers.
Courts in at least seven other states have limited or blocked similar subpoenas sought by the Justice Department.
The judge criticized the department for lacking trustworthiness and fairness in using its power.
A class-action lawsuit was filed by 11 families nationwide to block the Justice Department from accessing these medical records.
NYU Langone hospital confirmed it received a federal subpoena from Texas related to transgender youth care records.
Gender-affirming care involves medical and mental health support for individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
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Tushar Atre, a 50-year-old tech entrepreneur in Santa Cruz, California, was kidnapped and killed in October 2019. Surveillance videos show three masked suspects approaching his home, and Atre was later found dead in the nearby mountains with his hands tied and multiple wounds.
Key Facts
Tushar Atre was a tech executive who later started a cannabis business.
On October 1, 2019, surveillance cameras recorded three hooded people walking toward Atre’s home at around 2:48 a.m.
A houseguest heard loud noises and voices asking for a safe, followed by cars leaving around 3 a.m.
Police found no signs of forced entry or robbery inside the house; $80,000 was still in Atre’s safe.
Blood was found on the street near the home, and Atre’s girlfriend’s white BMW SUV was missing.
The SUV was found abandoned hours later in the Santa Cruz mountains near Atre’s cannabis farm.
Atre’s body was found close to the SUV, showing gunshot and stab wounds, with his hands tied behind his back.
Police released video showing one suspect carrying an assault rifle, but no arrests had been confirmed at the time of this report.
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Vice President Vance will speak from Maine about efforts to fight fraud in government programs. President Trump appointed Vance as the “fraud czar” to lead these efforts through a special White House task force.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance will give remarks from Maine on Thursday morning.
President Trump named Vance the “fraud czar.”
Vance leads a White House task force focused on stopping fraud in federal programs.
The task force was created to increase government efforts against fraud.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration expands its anti-fraud activities.
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The US Supreme Court ruled that Shawn Montgomery, who lost part of his leg in a truck crash, can sue CH Robinson, a large logistics company. The court said the company could be held responsible for hiring a risky truck driver, despite federal regulations.
Key Facts
Shawn Montgomery was injured in a 2017 crash when a speeding truck hit his parked vehicle.
Montgomery wants to hold CH Robinson liable because they hired the truck carrier even though there were safety concerns.
The truck driver had a previous careless driving citation, and the carrier had multiple crashes within five months.
CH Robinson argued they should not be sued because they rely on federal government licensing for carriers.
A lower court dismissed Montgomery’s case, but the Supreme Court reversed that decision unanimously.
More than 24 US states supported Montgomery’s case, saying it would improve trucking safety.
The Trump administration and companies like Amazon opposed making logistics firms liable under state laws.
The ruling notes that federal law usually overrules state law, but exceptions exist for safety reasons.
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Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, returned to hosting his show after being hospitalized for viral pneumonia. He said he is working on making a full recovery.
Key Facts
Rudy Giuliani is a former mayor of New York City.
He was hospitalized earlier this month with viral pneumonia, an infection that inflames the lungs.
Giuliani has resumed hosting his show called “The Rudy Giuliani Show.”
He described his health as improving and said he is making a full recovery.
The show’s recent episode marked his return after the illness.
Viral pneumonia is caused by viruses and can be serious but often improves with treatment.
Giuliani expressed it was nice to be back on the show.
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Louisiana is working on a new map for its U.S. House districts after the Supreme Court ruled the previous map was illegal because it used race improperly to draw a majority-Black district. South Carolina is also preparing to redraw its districts before the November midterm elections, as Republicans aim to gain more seats in the House.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map for using race illegally to create a majority-Black district.
Louisiana senators are considering a new map that removes one majority-Black district but could give Republicans an extra House seat.
South Carolina’s governor is pushing for redistricting before the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican states to redraw districts to try to win more House seats.
Republicans expect to gain up to 15 additional House seats in seven states with new district maps.
Democrats hope to gain about six seats from new maps in two states.
Legal battles over redistricting are still ongoing in some states.
The Louisiana redistricting plan changes the 6th District from majority-Black areas stretched over 200 miles to mostly white communities near Baton Rouge and southern Louisiana.
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Oklahoma executed Raymond Johnson, who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her 7-month-old daughter in 2007. Johnson was put to death by lethal injection after being denied clemency and exhausting his appeals.
Key Facts
Raymond Johnson was executed in Oklahoma at age 52.
He was convicted of killing Brooke Whitaker, 24, and her 7-month-old daughter, Kya, in June 2007.
Johnson attacked Whitaker with a metal claw hammer during an argument, causing severe injuries.
After the attack, Johnson set fire to Whitaker and her home, which led to the daughter's death by burns.
Johnson apologized during his clemency hearing but was denied by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.
His lawyers claimed his arrest was illegal and argued issues with his confession and trial, but these appeals failed.
This was the second execution in Oklahoma for 2024 and the 11th in the U.S. this year.
Johnson had a prior manslaughter conviction and served nine years in prison before.
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