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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Six candidates debated to become California’s next governor after Eric Swalwell’s campaign ended amid allegations. The race is open with no clear leader, and candidates focused on issues like high costs, homelessness, and how to handle Donald Trump’s influence.
Key Facts
The debate included two Republicans and four leading Democrats.
Eric Swalwell’s campaign ended due to sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
The race is to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom in California.
Nearly 25% of voters are still undecided ahead of the June 2 primary.
Democrats agreed on many policies but disagreed on the best ways to lower prices and oppose Trump.
Republicans blame 16 years of Democratic leadership for California’s problems.
Steve Hilton is the Republican front-runner and has President Trump’s endorsement.
Candidates discussed homelessness, housing affordability, and the threat of artificial intelligence during the debate.
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Amy-Jane Davies from Wales is on six NHS waiting lists for different medical treatments, including surgery for her endometriosis. She has waited 21 months for a key procedure and the long waits are affecting her life and mental health.
Key Facts
Amy-Jane Davies has endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body.
She is on six NHS waiting lists and has waited 21 months for a laparoscopy surgery needed before referral to specialist treatment.
She previously paid £4,000 for private surgery to remove endometriosis but now faces bigger, more complex surgery requiring specialists.
Long NHS waiting times doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some waits reaching 8 to 10 years.
Amy-Jane has symptoms including pain, fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, and severe bloating.
She has reduced work hours because of her symptoms and cannot afford private surgery quoted at no less than £15,000.
NHS waiting times are a key issue for the upcoming Welsh government elections.
Endometriosis is not life-threatening but greatly impacts quality of life and fertility.
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Voters in Virginia approved a new congressional map that favors Democrats, potentially helping them win more seats in the US House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm elections. This redistricting is part of a larger trend where both parties redraw electoral maps mid-decade to gain political advantage, which experts warn could change how maps are drawn in the future.
Key Facts
Virginia voters approved redistricting that may increase Democratic seats from 6-5 to as much as 10-1.
Redistricting usually happens every 10 years after the census but is now happening mid-decade in several states.
President Donald Trump supports Republican-led redistricting efforts, especially in Texas, aiming to gain five more seats.
Other states like Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio are also redrawing maps to favor Republicans.
Democrats responded with redistricting efforts in California, Utah, and Virginia to gain new districts.
Experts say this back-and-forth redistricting creates a political “arms race” and may undermine democratic fairness.
Current predictions show Democrats leading slightly in many congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Control of Congress by Democrats could limit President Trump’s ability to push his agenda in his final two years.
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Keir Starmer and the Labour government have promised to ban ticket touting, which is when people resell event tickets at much higher prices. Music groups warn that without this law soon, fans could lose hundreds of millions of pounds to ticket resellers exploiting events like BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Key Facts
Labour’s 2024 manifesto includes a promise to outlaw selling tickets for profit (ticket touting).
Music industry groups and artists like Radiohead, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay support this ban.
Ticket touts are reselling tickets to Radio 1’s Big Weekend on sites like Viagogo and StubHub at prices up to 1,000% above face value.
Despite rules limiting local buyers to two tickets, touts listed up to 30 tickets in one posting.
Over 500 tickets were resold at inflated prices for Big Weekend between March 12 and March 31.
Many resold tickets were posted internationally, violating consumer protection rules.
The government may delay including the ticket tout ban in the upcoming King’s Speech, causing concern among music groups and consumer advocates.
Industry experts estimate fans have lost about £60 million due to ticket reselling since the policy was announced.
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Six candidates for California governor participated in a debate on Wednesday. The debate highlighted the challenges Democrats face in uniting behind a single candidate before the June primary, especially after Congressman Eric Swalwell left the race.
Key Facts
Six candidates took part in the California governor's debate.
The debate happened on a Wednesday before the June primary election.
Democrats have not yet agreed on a leading candidate.
Congressman Eric Swalwell, previously a top Democratic contender, withdrew from the race.
Swalwell also resigned from his position recently.
The debate did not clarify which candidate is the strongest choice.
The election will determine the next governor of California.
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Journalist Jodi Kantor wrote a book called How to Start to help young people find meaningful work amid difficult social and political times. The book was inspired by her talks with anxious students at Columbia University and her own life changes, including a cancer diagnosis and turning 50. Kantor’s work often focuses on early career challenges and social issues like the #MeToo movement.
Key Facts
Jodi Kantor gave a speech at Columbia University during a time of protests and campus unrest.
President Trump ordered a $400 million federal funding cut to Columbia, later reinstated after a settlement.
Columbia students expressed anxiety about finding life’s work in a troubled world.
Kantor’s book How to Start offers practical advice for young people and others seeking career direction.
The book was written during a personal transition for Kantor, including her breast cancer diagnosis.
Kantor helped expose sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein, sparking the #MeToo movement.
She noticed rising fear and cynicism among young people about starting their careers.
Kantor’s daughter and her friends also inspired her insights on today’s youth challenges.
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Three Republican senators voted with Democrats to support a change aimed at stopping insurance companies from delaying or denying needed medical care. The amendment was introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff and passed despite opposition from most Senate Republicans.
Key Facts
The vote took place on Wednesday night in the Senate.
The amendment was sponsored by Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia.
Three Republican senators voted in favor: Susan Collins (Maine), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), and Josh Hawley (Missouri).
The amendment focuses on preventing insurance companies from delaying or denying medical treatments.
Most Senate Republicans opposed the amendment.
The three senators who voted for it represent diverse political standings within the GOP.
The issue highlights concerns about insurance companies’ handling of medical care.
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CBS News California Investigates has created an online tool to help voters learn about candidates running for California governor in 2026. The tool shows detailed interview answers from several candidates side by side, allowing users to compare their views on important issues before an upcoming debate.
Key Facts
The interactive guide features over 20 hours of interviews with top candidates for California governor.
It presents candidates’ answers to key issues in a side-by-side format for easy comparison.
The guide was made by CBS News California Investigates and led by correspondent Julie Watts.
Topics covered include homelessness, housing, gas prices, environment, immigration, health care for undocumented immigrants, crime, public safety funding, and insurance problems.
The guide complements an April 28 debate hosted by CBS California stations with participation from several Democratic and Republican candidates.
The debate and guide aim to give voters a deeper understanding beyond short debate answers.
Eight active candidates were invited to the debate after participating in interviews.
Users can view full responses and follow-up replies to better understand each candidate’s stance.
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Senate Republicans voted against a proposal to restore $187 billion cut from the food assistance program SNAP and to help lower grocery prices. Senators Susan Collins and Dan Sullivan disagreed with most Senate GOP leaders by supporting this proposal.
Key Facts
Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) proposed an amendment to reverse SNAP cuts and lower grocery costs.
The proposed amendment was defeated in the Senate.
The cuts to SNAP came from last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, totaling about $187 billion.
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income people buy food.
Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) broke with most Republican senators by backing the amendment.
Most Senate Republican leaders opposed the amendment.
The vote reflects different views within the Republican Party on how to handle food assistance funding.
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New York City Council member Chi Ossé was arrested while protesting an eviction of a city resident. He was released later and said he was physically handled by three men during the incident.
Key Facts
Chi Ossé is a member of the New York City Council.
He took part in a protest to stop a resident from being evicted.
Ossé was arrested during this protest.
He was released after the arrest.
Ossé reported that three men physically grabbed him.
The incident took place at the New York City Police Department’s 79th Precinct.
The protest aimed to prevent someone from losing their home.
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Police in Memphis found the remains of three unidentified children, estimated to be between 3 and 7 years old. The remains were discovered starting in early March and may have been there for years, with investigations ongoing to identify the children and find the cause of death.
Key Facts
A skull was first found on March 8 by someone walking a dog near a wooded area in Memphis.
A larger search followed, involving police and specialized teams, including a K-9 cadaver dog.
Another skull and 14 bones were found by April 2 in and near a drainage system.
About 170 personnel from agencies like the FBI and search and rescue were involved in the investigation.
The children are not listed as reported missing in the Memphis area.
Authorities do not believe there is any current public safety threat.
Police are working to identify the children and determine how they died.
Officials asked the public to come forward if they know about any missing children related to the case.
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Massive wildfires in Georgia have caused severe damage, turning streets into ashes. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is thinking about giving financial help to Spirit Airlines.
Key Facts
Large wildfires are currently burning in Georgia.
These fires have caused significant damage to streets and property.
The Trump administration is discussing a financial bailout for Spirit Airlines.
A bailout means giving money to support a company in financial trouble.
Spirit Airlines is a U.S.-based budget airline.
The issues with wildfires and airline bailout are two separate news topics in this report.
CBS Evening News covered both the wildfires in Georgia and the airline bailout talk on April 22.
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Australian Health Minister Mark Butler announced significant changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), aiming to reduce the number of participants and control costs. The government plans to cut the scheme’s growth and shift some people to other state-based supports, despite concerns from disability advocates and political opposition.
Key Facts
The NDIS currently supports 760,000 people, but by 2030 this will be reduced to 600,000 participants.
The government plans to cut the annual growth of the NDIS funding to 2%, which is below inflation, effectively reducing real funding.
About 160,000 people may lose their NDIS support and be moved to other state-run programs that are not yet finalized.
Minister Butler admitted many feel uneasy but said the NDIS will remain one of the best disability support programs worldwide.
The proposed changes aim to address cost issues and fraudulent providers in the scheme.
The Greens strongly oppose the changes, calling them harsh and pledging to fight them.
The Coalition supports the reforms, viewing them as necessary for the scheme’s sustainability.
The government recently announced $53 billion in new defense spending, which some see as conflicting with cuts to social programs like the NDIS.
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Senate Republicans voted against a Democratic amendment that aimed to ensure any future budget bills would reduce health care costs for people. The amendment was proposed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer but did not pass because most Republicans rejected it.
Key Facts
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sponsored an amendment focused on lowering out-of-pocket health care costs.
The amendment wanted to create a rule to block any budget bill that did not lower these costs.
Schumer asked to waive the usual Budget Act rules to consider his amendment.
Most Senate Republicans voted against the amendment.
Two Republicans broke ranks and did not follow the majority of their party.
The vote took place in the U.S. Senate on a Wednesday.
The amendment did not pass, so there is no current rule requiring future budget bills to reduce health care costs.
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she had a positive meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. They talked about getting help from FEMA to support areas of Los Angeles still recovering from last year’s wildfires.
Key Facts
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass met with President Donald Trump.
The meeting took place at the White House.
They discussed FEMA aid for wildfire recovery in Los Angeles.
The wildfires happened last year in Palisades and Eaton areas.
Mayor Bass described the talk as positive.
She shared a photo of the meeting on social media platform X.
FEMA stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which helps with disaster recovery.
The discussion focused on helping people and neighborhoods affected by the wildfires.
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The death of Representative David Scott, age 80, has raised concerns among Democrats about the party’s older leaders and how their age and health affect their ability to serve. His passing reduces the Democratic vote in the House during a closely divided Congress, prompting calls for younger candidates to take over.
Key Facts
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) died at age 80 after serving more than 20 years in Congress.
Scott’s health had been a concern, leading to his removal as ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee in 2024.
He was running for reelection, facing younger and well-funded challengers in the Democratic primary.
Scott is the eighth House member to die in office in the last two years; seven of them were Democrats aged 70 or older.
Democrats hold 212 House seats, while Republicans have 218, making every vote crucial.
The death comes shortly after Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) resigned amid allegations of misusing COVID aid funds.
Some Democrats express that older members should consider stepping down if they cannot fully perform their duties.
Others argue that age alone should not be a disqualifier and mention several prominent older Democrats currently serving.
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The Pentagon announced that John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his position immediately, with the navy undersecretary, Hung Cao, stepping in as acting secretary. This change happens amid increased tensions involving the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and other upheavals within the Pentagon’s leadership.
Key Facts
John Phelan, the navy’s top civilian official, is leaving his job immediately.
Hung Cao, the navy undersecretary, will become acting secretary of the navy.
The Pentagon did not give a reason for Phelan’s sudden departure.
The U.S. navy has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports amid a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war.
Iranian forces seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil supply.
The Pentagon recently fired other top military leaders including the army’s chief, Gen Randy George.
Polls show President Trump’s approval ratings slipping in areas like the economy, immigration, and the Iran conflict.
The White House is working on a possible $500 million loan package to help Spirit Airlines amid rising fuel costs.
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Deisy Fidelina Rivera Ortega, the wife of an active-duty U.S. Army sergeant, was detained during a routine immigration interview and faces deportation to Mexico. She was initially told she would be released but was later informed she would be deported instead, despite holding a valid work permit.
Key Facts
Rivera Ortega was arrested on April 14 in El Paso during an immigration interview related to "Parole in Place," a program for undocumented military family members.
She is married to Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano, who has served 27 years in the U.S. Army and been deployed to Afghanistan three times.
Rivera Ortega has a valid work permit through 2030 and had previously been granted withholding of removal from El Salvador.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said she has a final order of removal issued in 2019 and was convicted for illegal entry.
Rivera Ortega and her attorney say she is entitled to a credible fear interview, which screens for risks if deported.
Her lawyer filed legal motions to try to stop her deportation and get her released.
Sgt. Serrano reports that his wife leads a normal life, working and attending church.
Serrano is undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and has been affected by his wife’s detention.
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President Donald Trump claimed without proof that the recent Virginia vote to redraw congressional districts was rigged. A judge blocked the new map, saying the process did not follow the proper rules, and legal challenges to the vote are ongoing.
Key Facts
Virginia voters approved a redistricting plan favoring Democrats, potentially helping them win up to four Republican House seats.
President Trump called the election "rigged" and blamed mail-in ballots without providing evidence.
A Virginia county judge blocked the new map due to issues with the constitutional amendment process and misleading ballot language.
Virginia’s Attorney General plans to appeal the judge’s order to allow certification of the vote results.
The Supreme Court of Virginia allowed the referendum but may later invalidate it.
The Republican National Committee sued to block the new map.
The redistricting fight is part of a larger national effort to influence control of the House before midterm elections.
President Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on election results he disagrees with, despite no proof of widespread fraud found by courts or election officials.
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Police are searching for a man who left a baby girl alone in a stroller in Times Square just before midnight. The baby appeared to be safe and unharmed when found.
Key Facts
A baby girl was abandoned in a stroller in Times Square before midnight.
Police found the baby unharmed.
Authorities have started a search for the man who left the baby.
The incident occurred on April 22, 2026.
Times Square is a busy area in New York City.
The police are actively investigating the situation.
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