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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Hospitals in England have met a key target by treating 65.3% of NHS patients within 18 weeks in March, the first time above 65% since November 2021. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said this shows progress under Labour’s plan for the NHS, though some other targets like emergency and cancer care waits were missed.
Key Facts
Hospitals treated 65.3% of NHS patients within 18 weeks in March, surpassing the 65% target.
Labour’s goal is to see 92% of patients within 18 weeks by 2029.
The NHS waiting list dropped by over 500,000 people since Labour took office, down to 7.11 million in July 2024.
Extra NHS funding of £120 million helped hospitals increase patient appointments and clear waiting lists.
Some hospitals earned money by removing patients who no longer needed care from waiting lists.
Other NHS targets, like waiting times for emergency care, cancer treatment, and ambulance responses, were missed.
NHS performance on waiting times has generally been below 60% for years before this recent improvement.
Experts warned the NHS may find it hard to keep up this quick pace of reducing waiting times.
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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin discussed his goals for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an interview. He spoke about ICE’s role during the World Cup and addressed the closure of a detention facility nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz."
Key Facts
Markwayne Mullin is the new Secretary of Homeland Security.
He talked about his priorities for ICE, which enforces immigration laws.
ICE had a presence during the World Cup event.
A detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" has been closed.
The discussion came after a challenging period under the previous leader, Kristi Noem.
The interview was conducted by CBS News correspondent Nicole Sganga.
DHS aims to improve support and operations for ICE under Mullin’s leadership.
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Wes Streeting resigned as the UK health secretary and called on Labour Party leader Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister. Streeting wants a leadership contest with many candidates but will not challenge Starmer immediately, saying Starmer’s leadership is causing problems for the party.
Key Facts
Wes Streeting quit his role as health secretary.
He asked Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister and Labour leader.
Streeting wants a leadership race with many candidates, including Andy Burnham.
Streeting is gathering support but does not currently have enough MPs to challenge Starmer directly.
Some of Streeting’s close allies have also called for Starmer to resign.
Starmer has said he will fight any leadership challenge and is still popular among some MPs.
Streeting criticized Starmer’s leadership style and policy decisions for hurting the party.
Starmer’s popularity is at a record low two years after winning with a large majority.
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Midsized cities in the United States maintained steady populations while the overall national growth slowed. Smaller cities with populations between 25,000 and 70,000 experienced the most population growth according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Key Facts
The U.S. Census Bureau released data on population changes on Thursday.
Midsized cities kept fairly steady population numbers amid slower national growth.
Smaller cities that are not part of large metropolitan areas grew faster than others.
Cities with populations ranging from 25,000 to 70,000 showed the most growth.
The data reflects recent trends in where people are living in the U.S.
National population growth is slowing down overall.
High-traffic metro areas did not see as much residential gain compared to smaller cities.
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Kouri Richins, a mother from Utah, was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. She was found guilty of killing her husband by giving him a deadly amount of fentanyl in 2022.
Key Facts
Kouri Richins is from Utah.
She was convicted of murdering her husband.
The cause of death was a fatal dose of fentanyl, a strong opioid drug.
The crime happened in 2022.
She received a life sentence without parole, meaning she will not be released from prison.
The sentencing happened recently, as reported by CBS News.
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A group of Miami residents has sued President Donald Trump and the state of Florida over land given for his planned presidential library. The lawsuit claims the land transfer was illegal and could give the president personal financial benefits, which is against the US Constitution.
Key Facts
Miami residents and a nonprofit have filed a lawsuit against President Trump and Florida.
The lawsuit challenges the transfer of nearly three acres of waterfront land formerly owned by Miami Dade College.
The plaintiffs say the transfer violates the US Constitution’s domestic emoluments clause, which bans presidents from gaining personal profit from their position.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved giving the land to Trump’s project.
The land is planned for a presidential library, hotel, and museum near Miami’s Freedom Tower.
The project includes a 50-story building with a large golden statue of President Trump and a jumbo jet displayed in the lobby.
Critics say the land gift allows President Trump to profit from the property.
Miami Dade College’s initial land transfer to the state was made in a closed meeting without public input, leading to another lawsuit.
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House leaders Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries support a bipartisan effort to create new rules to stop sexual misconduct in the U.S. House of Representatives. This project is a joint effort by the Republican and Democratic Women’s Caucuses to address recent problems with sexual misconduct in the House.
Key Facts
Speaker Mike Johnson is a Republican from Louisiana.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is a Democrat from New York.
Both leaders back a bipartisan (both parties working together) reform effort.
The initiative aims to address sexual misconduct issues in the House of Representatives.
The Republican Women’s Caucus and Democratic Women’s Caucus are working together on this effort.
The House has recently faced problems related to sexual misconduct.
The goal is to create proposals for rules to better prevent and handle sexual misconduct cases.
This effort shows cooperation across party lines on this issue.
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Muskets like those used in 1776 are mostly not considered firearms under current U.S. federal and state laws. This means they are largely exempt from modern gun regulations, allowing even some convicted felons to buy and own them.
Key Facts
Muskets such as the Brown Bess flintlock use black powder to fire lead balls at high speed.
Federal law and most states exempt antique or replica guns from firearm regulation if they use old ignition systems like flintlock or percussion caps.
This exemption applies to guns made before 1898 or replicas that haven’t been changed to fire modern ammunition.
Convicted felons can legally own such muskets in many places because of these rules.
The Gun Control Act of 1968 included this exemption to help collectors, historians, and museums avoid strict gun laws.
The NRA event in 2000 highlighted the symbolic importance of muskets in the debate over gun rights.
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A report that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. operated robotic hands on a live patient during heart surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio is false. The clinic confirmed that the robotic machine was disconnected from the patient when Kennedy Jr. tested the console.
Key Facts
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
A story originally claimed he briefly operated robotic surgical hands on a live patient during heart surgery.
Cleveland Clinic stated the robotic system was disconnected from the patient during Kennedy Jr.’s use.
The reporter who wrote the story updated it after being informed of the clinic’s clarification.
A surgeon explained that Kennedy Jr. could use the console without affecting the patient unless he took specific control actions.
Social media users shared the initial report, raising safety and consent concerns.
The article was corrected to remove the false claim.
The overall claim that Kennedy Jr. performed heart surgery on a live patient is untrue.
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Nigel Farage bought a £1.4 million house soon after receiving a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The UK parliamentary watchdog is investigating Farage for not properly declaring the gift, which Farage says was for his security costs.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received a £5 million personal gift from Christopher Harborne, a crypto billionaire based in Thailand.
Shortly after, Farage bought a £1.4 million property in cash.
Farage claims the property purchase began before he got the gift and money checks were done in advance.
The parliamentary standards watchdog opened a formal investigation into Farage for failing to declare the gift.
MPs must declare financial interests and gifts received in the year before taking office within one month of election.
Farage says the gift was meant to pay for personal security and didn't need to be declared.
Critics argue the gift should be reported and see a possible conflict of interest because Farage promised crypto tax cuts.
If found guilty of serious rules breaches, Farage could be suspended and face a recall petition, risking his parliamentary seat.
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Wes Streeting, the Member of Parliament for Ilford North, recently resigned as health secretary and is considering running for Labour leader, challenging current leader Keir Starmer. People in his local area generally like him and think he could be a good prime minister, although opinions on changing Labour’s leadership vary.
Key Facts
Wes Streeting is the MP for Ilford North and resigned as health secretary.
He may run for Labour party leadership against Keir Starmer.
Streeting is popular locally and often seen talking with constituents in cafes and shops.
Some locals want a new prime minister and see Streeting as a possible choice.
Others worry that changing Labour’s leader could cause more problems for the party.
Streeting currently has a small majority of 528 votes in his constituency.
In public polls, Streeting ranks third among potential Labour leadership candidates.
Labour members rank him fourth, behind Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, and Ed Miliband.
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The South Carolina Supreme Court canceled Alex Murdaugh's convictions for the murders of his wife and son. The court decided there should be a new trial. Murdaugh had previously been given two life sentences in 2021.
Key Facts
Alex Murdaugh was convicted in 2021 for the murders of his wife and son.
He received two life sentences consecutively (one after the other).
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned these convictions.
The court ordered a new trial for Murdaugh.
The decision was announced on a Wednesday.
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Scott Naso, a single father in Rhode Island, won a court case against his late wife’s parents, who wanted visitation rights with his daughter. The legal battle lasted two years.
Key Facts
Scott Naso is a single father.
He was sued by his late wife’s parents.
The lawsuit asked for visitation rights with his daughter.
The case took place in Rhode Island.
The court case lasted for two years.
Scott Naso won the case and maintained custody.
The article focuses on family legal issues and parental rights.
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Motability has stopped requiring new drivers under 30 and new leaseholders to use black boxes in vehicles after users raised concerns. The black boxes tracked driving habits to improve safety and manage insurance but caused problems for some disabled drivers.
Key Facts
Motability runs a scheme that lets people with certain disability benefits lease vehicles.
Since April, new drivers under 30 and new leaseholders were required to have black boxes installed.
Black boxes tracked driving, rating habits like speed and braking using an app.
Poor ratings could lead to removal from the Motability scheme.
Drivers reported the app was inconsistent and did not handle their driving adaptations well.
Actor and disability campaigner Keron Day, who has cerebral palsy, helped lead criticism against the black box rule.
Following feedback, Motability paused the "Drive Smart" black box program starting May 22.
Motability plans to work with users to improve the program and create a panel for feedback.
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The article discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than just health in the United States. It explains that the pandemic also changed the general emotional state and stress levels of Americans, influencing how people react to new health threats like the hantavirus outbreak.
Key Facts
COVID-19 impacted Americans’ emotions and mental health deeply.
The usual level of stress and anxiety in American life increased after COVID.
This change influences how people respond to other health issues now.
The hantavirus outbreak is a new health concern that reveals these emotional effects.
Understanding this emotional shift can help in managing public health responses.
The article connects mental health changes to ongoing health challenges in the U.S.
The focus is on American society and health-related emotional effects after COVID.
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Wes Streeting resigned as the UK’s Health Secretary, stating he met important health targets like reducing NHS waiting times and increasing staffing. However, he lost confidence in the party leader’s ability to lead after poor election results and concerns over rising nationalism and party direction.
Key Facts
Wes Streeting served as the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
NHS waiting lists fell by 110,000 in March, the largest monthly drop outside of Covid since 2008.
Ambulance response times for heart attacks and strokes are the fastest in five years.
2,000 more general practitioners (GPs) were recruited, and public satisfaction with health services rose from 60% to 74.5%.
The target to recruit 8,500 mental health staff was achieved three years early.
The NHS met financial goals by balancing the budget for the first time in nine years.
Streeting announced his resignation due to losing confidence in party leadership after election losses.
He expressed concerns about rising nationalism across the UK and its threat to the country’s unity.
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A Texas State University philosophy professor, Idris Robinson, was reinstated after being fired for a talk he gave about Palestine in another state. A federal judge ruled that firing him violated his First Amendment right to free speech and ordered the university to pay him until his lawsuit is resolved.
Key Facts
Idris Robinson was fired by Texas State University after giving a talk on the liberation of Palestine in North Carolina.
The university ended his contract, which would have stopped his paycheck starting May 31.
Judge Alan Albright, appointed by President Trump, ruled that the university violated Robinson’s First Amendment rights by firing him.
The judge ordered Texas State to continue paying Robinson for up to one year or until the lawsuit ends.
Robinson's speech was a motivating factor in the university’s decision to fire him, according to the judge.
Robinson had received strong performance reviews at the university before this incident.
Robinson says other academics have faced discipline for speaking about Palestine and related topics.
Robinson has faced online harassment and threats since the case became public, including racist attacks.
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President Trump promised to "drain the swamp" in Washington but instead has increased conflicts of interest involving family business ties, political donations from large companies, and government contracts. His family and associates have grown wealthier during his term, and some critics say this has created serious ethical concerns.
Key Facts
President Trump promised to reduce corruption ("drain the swamp") but has increased conflicts of interest.
Trump’s family, including his sons and son-in-law, have business investments connected to government contracts and foreign interests.
Trump pardoned a crypto billionaire linked to increasing the value of the Trump family’s crypto company by about $2 billion.
The Trump campaign received about $75 million from oil and gas companies before cutting environmental rules that those companies supported.
The Pentagon awarded a $24 million contract to a company advised by Eric Trump to test technology with the US Marines.
Jared Kushner’s investment firm has sought money from Saudi Arabia, while Kushner serves as a Middle East peace envoy.
Trump and his allies raised almost $2 billion for projects including a new ballroom, often from donors who later received government favors.
Trump was criticized for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and for not releasing Epstein’s files until forced by Congress.
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Many candidates running in the 2026 elections have family members who are well-known politicians. This trend is seen in several races, including the Maine governor race where multiple candidates have close political relatives. It is unclear if voters are influenced by these family connections.
Key Facts
Several candidates in the 2026 elections come from political families.
The Maine governor race includes Angus King III, son of Senator Angus King.
Another Maine candidate is Hannah Pingree, daughter of Representative Chellie Pingree.
Family ties appear in races at many levels, not just statewide offices.
It is uncertain how much voters care about candidates’ family political backgrounds.
This shows politics can often be a family activity or tradition.
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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries faces a tougher challenge to win the House majority and become the first Black speaker of the House due to recent court rulings. These rulings have undone Democratic gains in Virginia and threaten Black representation in the South, forcing Democrats to work harder against Republican-favored districts.
Key Facts
Jeffries warned Republicans they would regret challenging congressional redistricting.
Democrats briefly gained seats in Virginia after redrawing maps, but courts reversed those gains.
Court rulings now threaten to reduce Black representation in the Deep South.
Democrats were expected to regain the House in November partly because of President Trump’s lower approval ratings.
Jeffries says Democrats may need to flip twice as many Republican seats as before to win control.
Republicans are relying on redistricting maps, while Democrats count on voters and candidates.
Jeffries called recent court rulings against voting protections “disgusting.”
He urged Democrats to campaign with “righteous intensity” to overcome Republican efforts.
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