Senator Jim Justice, a Republican ally of President Trump, has suggested the Trump administration should reconsider its strict immigration enforcement policies. His comments come after ranchers and farmer groups reported harm from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in agricultural communities.
Key Facts
Senator Jim Justice said the administration should “step back” and review its immigration enforcement approach.
Justice spoke after three rancher groups criticized ICE for negatively affecting farming communities.
An ACLU investigation found that about 75% of over 593 people arrested in West Virginia by ICE in January had no criminal records.
Ranchers say ICE raids scare away legal, skilled workers needed for cattle and beef production.
Dairy farmers also worry that immigration enforcement could hurt their industry.
West Virginia has over 22,700 ranchers, mostly family-owned.
Other Republicans, like Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, have also voiced concerns about the administration’s immigration actions.
President Trump’s immigration enforcement policy remains a key part of his administration’s agenda.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two Democratic senators have asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to explain reports that DHS money was spent on TV ads supporting President Donald Trump. They sent a letter to the DHS Secretary requesting details about this use of funds.
Key Facts
Senators Patty Murray and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The letter questions how DHS funds were used to pay for TV advertisements.
These ads allegedly promoted President Donald Trump.
The senators want DHS to clarify the purpose and approval process for the spending.
The reports about the ads raised concerns about the proper use of government money.
The issue involves campaign-style advertising funded by a federal agency.
This inquiry is part of broader oversight of government spending and political activities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Eric Schmitt tried to accuse former special counsel Jack Smith of lying under oath about being in Atlanta during a key event but confused two basketball teams. Smith said he was actually at a University of Maryland versus Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball game, not an NBA Atlanta Hawks game. The mistake became widely noticed online and damaged Schmitt’s credibility during a Senate hearing.
Key Facts
Eric Schmitt is a Republican senator from Missouri.
He attempted to accuse Jack Smith of perjury during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Schmitt claimed Smith was in Atlanta at an NBA game with the Atlanta Hawks on February 3, 2024.
Jack Smith denied being at that NBA game and said he attended a University of Maryland vs. University of Iowa women’s basketball game instead.
Senator Amy Klobuchar pointed out Schmitt may have confused the Atlanta Hawks with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.
Video footage showed Smith attending the Maryland-Iowa game.
The failed accusation became a viral moment and damaged Schmitt’s political image.
Earlier the same day, Schmitt had been praised in a report as a potential vice-presidential pick for 2028.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut 20 percent of senior military positions for generals and admirals by 2027. This move follows earlier reductions and firings of top military leaders under President Donald Trump's administration and has raised concerns about political influence in military leadership.
Key Facts
The planned cuts will reduce about 800 general and admiral positions across all ranks.
Congress limits the number of generals and admirals; current active numbers are slightly below the maximum allowed.
Some senior roles will be removed, and others will be reassigned to lower-ranking officers.
Supporters say the cuts aim to reduce bureaucracy and improve command efficiency.
Since January 2025, more than two dozen senior military leaders have been removed or pushed to retire.
Several four-star officers, including top female military leaders, were dismissed.
The shake-up has raised questions about whether political loyalty is influencing military promotions and appointments.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned amid disagreements over handling senior military personnel.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Christa Pike’s execution by lethal injection in Tennessee has been temporarily delayed after a court granted a stay. The delay is to allow the court to review new legal questions about her history of sexual abuse and whether it could affect her death sentence.
Key Facts
Christa Pike was scheduled to be executed at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
She would have been the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years.
Pike has been on death row for about 30 years, convicted for a 1995 murder.
She was 18 years old when the crime happened and is now 50.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a temporary stay of execution.
The stay allows time to decide if Pike’s claim of sexual abuse history is new evidence or a reopening of her old case.
If the court reopens her case, it may reconsider her death sentence because the abuse history was not previously considered.
Prosecutors plan to ask the Supreme Court to remove the stay, but the Supreme Court recently refused to hear a related case.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Common Cents Act has been passed by the Senate and will be sent to President Donald Trump for approval. The bill will stop the production of pennies and introduce rounding of cash transactions to the nearest five cents while keeping electronic payments unchanged.
Key Facts
The bill ends the production of pennies after 234 years but existing pennies can still be used.
Cash payments will be rounded to the nearest nickel when exact change is not available.
Amounts ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents will be rounded down; amounts ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents will be rounded up.
Small transaction amounts of 1 or 2 cents can be rounded up to 5 cents.
Electronic payments, like credit or debit cards, will still be charged the exact amount.
The bill allows the Treasury to change the metal composition of nickels to reduce production costs.
Pennies currently cost about 3.69 cents to produce, which is more than their value, and stopping production is expected to save $56 million yearly.
The bill also requires 60 days' notice to Congress before the Treasury stops producing any other circulating coins.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Messages sent on Snapchat between students at Cornell University who are accused of rape may be important evidence in the case. These messages could provide details relevant to the investigation.
Key Facts
The case involves several Cornell University students accused of rape.
Snapchat messages between these students were sent around the time of the alleged crime.
Investigators believe these messages might show what happened or prove important facts.
The messages are being reviewed as part of the legal process.
Courts may decide whether to allow these messages as evidence in the trial.
The case is ongoing, and no verdict has been reached yet.
The investigation aims to ensure a fair legal process based on all available information.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article states that a judge who followed the established rules should not be blamed. It also mentions that claims against Judge Altman did not require a special committee to be addressed.
Key Facts
Judge Altman followed the official rules in their actions.
There were claims made against Judge Altman.
These claims did not need to be reviewed by a special committee.
The article argues that blaming the judge is unfair.
The focus is on proper procedure and fairness in handling judicial matters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal appeals court stopped Tennessee’s execution of Christa Pike, which was planned to be the first execution of a woman in the state in 200 years. Pike was convicted of murder 30 years ago but the execution was delayed just one hour before it was scheduled.
Key Facts
Tennessee planned to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection.
This would have been the first execution of a woman in the state in 200 years.
The execution was set for 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday.
Pike was convicted for a 1995 murder committed when she was 18 years old.
Her victim was 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, a classmate.
The state’s governor and supreme court had denied requests to stop the execution.
A federal appeals court halted the execution one hour before it was to happen.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A powerful storm hit Gary, Indiana, causing trees to fall and leaving thousands without power for several days. Nearly a month later, Mayor Eddie Melton shared how the community is working to recover from the damage.
Key Facts
A strong storm caused significant damage in Gary, Indiana.
Many trees were knocked down during the storm.
Thousands of people lost electricity for several days.
The storm happened almost a month ago.
Gary’s mayor, Eddie Melton, spoke about the ongoing recovery efforts.
The community is still dealing with the storm’s effects.
The report comes from a video segment on CBS News.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
During testimony by Special Counsel Jack Smith, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt mistakenly referred to an Iowa Hawkeyes college football game as an Atlanta Hawks basketball game. This mix-up happened during a Senate hearing related to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Senator Eric Schmitt is a Republican from the GOP party.
Schmitt confused the Iowa Hawkeyes, a college football team, with the Atlanta Hawks, a professional basketball team.
The confusion occurred during testimony given by Jack Smith, a special counsel.
The hearing involved topics concerning President Donald Trump.
The mix-up was noted during a live CBS News broadcast.
The Iowa Hawkeyes play college football, while the Atlanta Hawks play in the NBA.
This was a minor incident amid discussions on legal matters related to President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump’s nominee for U.S. surgeon general, Nicole Saphier, passed a vote in a key Senate committee. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved her nomination by a 12-11 party-line vote, moving her closer to a full Senate vote.
Key Facts
Nicole Saphier is President Trump’s nominee for U.S. surgeon general.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 12-11 to advance her nomination.
The vote was along party lines, with Republican support and Democratic opposition.
The nomination will now move to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.
This vote happened during the last week the Senate is in session for this period.
The surgeon general is a key public health position responsible for health education and communication.
The committee’s approval is a significant step toward Saphier becoming surgeon general.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Three people were shot and critically injured at a workplace in Manassas, Virginia. The police believe the shooter is a coworker and has not been caught yet.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at United Rentals in Manassas, about 30 miles from Washington, D.C.
Three victims were shot and are in critical condition.
Police think the shooter worked at the same place.
The suspect is still at large, meaning they have not been arrested or found.
The incident took place on the morning of September 30, 2026.
Police and authorities are investigating the case.
Manassas police provided the information about the shooting.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Senate committee approved President Trump's choice, Nicole Saphier, to be the next surgeon general, moving her nomination to the full Senate. Saphier is a radiologist and former Fox News medical contributor who supports vaccines and has criticized public health responses to COVID-19.
Key Facts
President Trump nominated Nicole Saphier in April to be surgeon general.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced her nomination in a party-line vote.
Saphier is a radiologist and breast imaging director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Monmouth.
She was a medical contributor for Fox News before her nomination.
Saphier wrote a 2020 book criticizing public health and government handling of health care.
She told the committee that the MMR vaccine is safe and important for fighting measles.
Saphier said she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism.
Committee chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy supported her nomination after hearing her vaccine statements.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Tompkins County District Attorney, Matthew Van Houten, said he did not see a transcript of an alleged rape victim’s interview before he decided not to press charges in a Cornell University case. The transcript, obtained by CBS News, shows the victim said with full confidence that she was raped, which has caused prosecutors to reopen the investigation.
Key Facts
District Attorney Van Houten was unaware of a transcript where the alleged victim said she was certain she was raped.
The transcript was from an interview conducted over two days in November 2024, weeks after the alleged incident.
The victim described drinking, drug use, gaps in memory, and being physically hit during the event.
She said she was initially okay with sexual activity but was later raped and could not remember how many people were involved.
The investigator asked detailed questions to clarify what happened, including if the victim consented or was coerced.
The DA’s office initially decided not to charge anyone, based on a written statement from the victim.
Cornell University conducted an internal investigation that led to suspensions and expulsions but no criminal charges at the time.
After the transcript was revealed, the DA said he would review it and continue the criminal investigation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Schmitt accused Special Counsel Jack Smith of lying during his testimony about investigations into President Trump. There was confusion during Smith’s testimony, partly because of a mix-up by a GOP senator about sports teams.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a special counsel investigating President Trump.
He testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator Schmitt accused Smith of perjury, which means lying under oath.
A GOP senator confused sports teams during the hearing, adding to the confusion.
Jack Smith defended his investigation process during the testimony.
The article focuses on political events connected to President Trump’s investigations.
The hearing was covered by CBS News and included video explanations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Steve Hilton, a former British political adviser and Fox News host, is running for governor of California as a Republican. Despite low poll numbers and the state's long history of Democratic leadership, Hilton is campaigning with bold ideas to shake up California’s government and policies.
Key Facts
Steve Hilton was a senior adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Hilton now hosts a Fox News show and is running for governor of California.
He is behind by around 20 points in the polls to Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra.
Hilton wants to abolish California’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
He proposes lowering gas prices to $3 a gallon and creating new cities in the state.
Hilton aims to cancel environmental regulations like energy-efficient tire rules.
He plans to stop the high-speed train project between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
His slogan is “Enough is enough,” reflecting his belief that Democratic rule has harmed California.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Texas Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa proposes giving Texas families a one-time $1,500 check funded by the state's savings account known as the Rainy Day Fund. She is running against Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who supports different property tax relief measures. President Donald Trump has also proposed $5,000 payments to Americans if Republicans keep control of Congress.
Key Facts
Gina Hinojosa wants to give each Texas household $1,500 from the Rainy Day Fund.
The Rainy Day Fund currently holds $27 billion; Hinojosa plans to keep $10 billion in reserve and distribute the rest.
Hinojosa calls this payment a "corruption tax refund" linked to her criticism of Governor Abbott.
Abbott supports reducing school property taxes and capping property tax growth to save homeowners money.
Hinojosa first revealed her plan in July and intends to seek legislative approval if elected.
President Trump has promised $5,000 payments to adult Americans if Republicans control the House and Senate after the midterms.
Hinojosa says President Trump "copied" her idea but that she knows the Texas fund source for payments.
Recent polls show a close race between Hinojosa and Abbott, with Abbott slightly ahead by about 2.3 percentage points.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas lowered his support in the Senate race. He also mentioned that the convention hurt the numbers for other Republicans as well.
Key Facts
Ken Paxton is Texas Attorney General and the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.
Paxton stated that the GOP midterm convention in Dallas caused a drop in his poll numbers.
He said the convention also reduced support for other Republican candidates.
Paxton described the current poll numbers as “not good.”
The convention was held to support Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lindsay Clancy appeared in court where her lawyer argued that there is no solid proof she killed her children. The lawyer said the case is based on guesswork, not clear evidence.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is facing charges related to the deaths of her children.
Her lawyer, Kevin Reddington, told the court that the case relies on speculation.
The lawyer challenged the strength of the evidence against Clancy.
The court hearing took place recently.
The article did not provide details about the evidence or what happened to the children.
Clancy’s defense focuses on questioning the reliability of the accusations.
No verdict or decision has been announced yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
