Lesbian bars in the United States are becoming fewer. One bar gained attention after the owner changed its long-standing mask rule, which had been in place for six years, sparking online complaints.
Key Facts
Lesbian bars are decreasing in number across the U.S.
One specific bar had a mask policy requiring masks for six years.
The bar owner recently relaxed the mask requirement.
This policy change caused people to express their opinions online.
The online reactions brought more attention to this bar.
Mask policies have been important in public health during the pandemic.
Changes in these policies can impact customer reactions and business visibility.
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A man in Virginia pleaded guilty to hurting nearly 20 cats and using videos of their suffering to trick people into giving money, falsely claiming the cats had cancer. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, the longest animal cruelty sentence in Virginia, and banned from having animals for life.
Key Facts
Rodney Travis Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and computer fraud charges.
He tortured cats and posted videos online to get donations by lying about the cats' illnesses.
The scam collected over $400,000 from people who thought they were helping sick pets.
Travis was sentenced to 15 years in prison and banned from owning or contacting animals forever.
He also faces $25,000 in fines and five years of probation after release.
The case began after social media users reported posts showing cats in pain to authorities.
Police found and rescued the cats from Travis’ home, where they received medical care.
This is the longest animal cruelty sentence recorded in the state of Virginia.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping finished his visit to Washington, D.C. on Friday. During the visit, President Donald Trump welcomed Xi with a formal and grand ceremony, which led to criticism from outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
Key Facts
President Xi Jinping visited Washington, D.C. and met with President Donald Trump.
President Trump gave Xi a formal, high-profile welcome, described as a "red-carpet rollout."
Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican who is leaving office, strongly criticized the welcoming event.
The visit ended on Friday.
CBS News reporters Weijia Jiang and Anna Coren covered the event.
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A woman named Santos Maria Chilel Soto was shot and killed by a hunter in Delaware, who said he thought she was a deer. The hunter, Walter Moorhead, was arrested and charged with manslaughter and other crimes. Authorities are investigating the case while family members say the killing was not an accident.
Key Facts
Santos Maria Chilel Soto was shot dead while walking in a cornfield with her partner and children.
Walter Moorhead, aged 74, shot her, claiming he mistook her for a deer.
Moorhead was hunting from a ground blind and fired his rifle around 7:40 pm.
Deer hunting with a rifle was not in season, but the land had a permit for hunting antlerless deer out of season.
Moorhead faces manslaughter, firearm possession during a felony, and reckless endangering charges.
Manslaughter and firearm possession are class B felonies in Delaware, punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
Moorhead posted a $43,000 bond for release pending trial.
Family members believe the shooting was intentional and suggest racism might be involved.
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Two men were arrested in New York City after being seen coming out of a manhole near a hotel linked to the United Nations General Assembly. They face charges of conspiracy and trespassing, and authorities are increasing security due to the event and previous similar incidents.
Key Facts
Two men, Kevin Rodriguez (26) and Samuel Reveron (25), were arrested by the NYPD in New York City.
They were seen coming out of a manhole near a hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was expected to stay during the U.N. General Assembly.
The men were charged with conspiracy and trespassing and had fled when police arrived.
Both men pleaded not guilty and were released from custody after a court hearing.
The NYPD has noticed several cases recently of people entering the city’s sewer system to look for valuables or scrap metal.
Entering the sewer system is illegal and dangerous due to risks like toxic gases and flooding.
The city warns the public never to enter any underground pipes, drains, or manholes.
Earlier incidents include people climbing out of manholes in Queens, near Penn Station, and South Brooklyn.
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Several U.S. cities and states have declared September 25 as Dolly Parton Day to honor the late singer and her contributions to music and charity. California and Ohio have officially recognized the day, with many communities planning events like parades, music, and other tributes.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton Day is set for September 25, inspired by her hit song "9 to 5."
California’s governor signed a law making September 25 Dolly Parton Day every year in the state.
Ohio declared Dolly Parton Day only for the year 2026 through a proclamation.
New York and Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering similar honors.
Nashville holds large celebrations including pink lights, posters, a special license plate, and fireworks.
Events across the country include parades, karaoke, and live music.
Dolly Parton’s charity, the Imagination Library, promotes children’s literacy by providing free books worldwide.
U2 announced a new album featuring Dolly Parton’s final recorded song, a duet with Bono.
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Gas prices in the United States have risen by more than $1.50 per gallon since the war with Iran started. Many Americans are struggling with these record-high prices at the pump.
Key Facts
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. has increased over $1.50 since the conflict with Iran began.
GasBuddy's expert Patrick De Haan provided an outlook on gas prices for the coming week.
The rise in gas prices has reached a record high, causing difficulty for many Americans.
The increase affects the cost of daily travel and other expenses for U.S. residents.
The article reports the situation as of late September 2026.
No specific solutions or government actions were mentioned in this report.
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Democratic candidate James Talarico has asked Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, to participate in a debate on Fox News. The challenge was reported by CBS News.
Key Facts
James Talarico is running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate.
Ken Paxton is his Republican opponent.
Talarico invited Paxton to debate on Fox News.
The debate invitation was covered by CBS News.
The article does not provide details on whether Paxton accepted the challenge.
The debate would focus on the U.S. Senate race.
James Talarico is actively campaigning and engaging with his opponent publicly.
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The US Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to use a voter verification system called SAVE weeks before the November midterm elections. This system checks voter eligibility, but some groups say it may wrongly flag citizens as non-citizens, risking their removal from voter rolls.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court’s emergency order lets the Department of Homeland Security use the SAVE system for voter verification.
SAVE stands for Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements and was updated by the Trump administration in 2025.
Voting rights groups warn the system can incorrectly identify US citizens as non-citizens.
In Travis County, Texas, up to 25% of those labeled as non-citizens by SAVE were actually citizens.
States are not required to use SAVE, but some Republican-led states have decided to use it voluntarily.
Current laws prevent states from removing voters from rolls within 90 days of an election.
The court’s decision is temporary until a final ruling is made.
Three liberal Supreme Court justices disagreed with the decision, worrying about harm to lawful voters.
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Senator Susan Collins, who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, warned the Trump administration to use over $1 billion in global health funds before they expire on Wednesday. She sent a letter to key officials urging them to spend the money that Congress has already approved.
Key Facts
Senator Susan Collins represents Maine and chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.
More than $1 billion in global health funding is currently unused.
This funding was approved by Congress previously.
The funds will expire on Wednesday if not spent.
Collins sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others in the Office of Management and Budget.
She asked the administration to ensure the funds are used in time.
The letter was addressed to top officials involved in budget decisions.
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Senator Tammy Duckworth asked the Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reject President Donald Trump’s plan to turn his proposed triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., into a military site for launching drones. She expressed concerns over safety in the city’s airspace.
Key Facts
Senator Tammy Duckworth represents Illinois and wrote a letter on this issue.
She addressed the letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
The letter asked these government officials to reject the plan.
President Trump wants to build a triumphal arch in Washington, D.C.
The arch is planned to be used as a military drone launch site.
Duckworth’s main concern is keeping the airspace over Washington safe.
The Pentagon manages military operations, and the FAA controls U.S. airspace rules.
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Kush Desai, a senior White House spokesperson, will leave his job in the White House next month. He will move to a new role as assistant director of national intelligence for strategic communications at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Key Facts
Kush Desai is currently the senior deputy press secretary at the White House.
He plans to leave the White House next month.
Desai will take a senior communications role at the ODNI.
His new title will be assistant director of national intelligence for strategic communications.
Desai shared this news with NewsNation.
He is involved in searching for a replacement at the White House.
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Two recent polls show Republican Rick Jackson leading Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the race for Georgia governor by a small margin. At the same time, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff holds a strong lead over his Republican challenger Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate race.
Key Facts
Polls show Rick Jackson ahead of Keisha Lance Bottoms by about 2-3 points in Georgia’s governor race.
Jackson leads 47.6% to 45.7% among registered voters in one poll and 48.7% to 46.7% among likely voters in another.
Bottoms had a small lead in earlier polls but recent data suggest a shift toward Jackson.
Likely voters who are undecided showed a slight lean toward Bottoms, narrowing Jackson’s lead to about one point in one poll.
Jon Ossoff, the Democratic senator, leads his Republican opponent Mike Collins by at least 10 points in the same recent polls.
Some voters who supported President Donald Trump also backed Ossoff, showing cross-party support in the Senate race.
The current Republican governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, can’t run again due to term limits, so this election will decide which party controls the governor’s office.
Georgia is considered a battleground state, having voted for President Trump in 2024 but for Joe Biden in 2020.
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A recent poll shows Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed leading Republican Mike Rogers by three points in Michigan. Multiple polls suggest El-Sayed holds a narrow advantage in the open Senate race.
Key Facts
A Rasmussen Reports poll found El-Sayed at 47% and Rogers at 44% among likely Michigan voters.
The poll surveyed 1,099 people via phone and online on September 22, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.
Other recent polls from Suffolk University, Washington Post/Schar School, and New York Times/Siena also show El-Sayed slightly ahead.
Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball changed the race rating to “Leans Democratic” based on polling trends.
El-Sayed’s campaign says it is grassroots-funded, raising $14.5 million primarily from individual donors and refusing corporate donations.
El-Sayed supports issues like Medicare for All, higher taxes on billionaires, environmental protection, and lowering prescription drug prices.
Mike Rogers has criticized El-Sayed’s stance on safety issues and the economy, including linking higher fuel costs to the war with Iran.
The average prices for diesel and regular gas in Michigan have roughly doubled compared to last year.
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A recent poll shows Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, trailing Democratic nominee Amanda Janoo by 6 points ahead of the November election. Scott, once very popular, is facing a tougher fight as his approval falls among Democrats and after trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada have affected Vermont voters' opinions.
Key Facts
Vermont Governor Phil Scott is behind Democrat Amanda Janoo 43% to 49% in a University of New Hampshire poll.
The poll surveyed 882 Vermont residents from September 17 to 21, with a margin of error of ±3.4%.
Scott had been popular in this mainly Democratic state but now has lower support among Democrats (20%) compared to Janoo (73%).
Scott’s approval among Republicans has risen to 77%, but it has dropped to 35% among Democrats.
Trade conflicts between the U.S. and Canada have affected voter concerns in Vermont, with 71% disapproving of President Trump’s handling of trade talks.
The race was rated as "Solid Republican" or "Likely Republican" by major political analysts despite the closer poll numbers.
Janoo’s support grew significantly after winning the Democratic primary in August, narrowing Scott’s previous lead.
Vermont Democrats initially sought other candidates but ended up with Janoo after others declined to run against Scott.
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Caleb Flynn, a former "American Idol" contestant, is on trial accused of killing his wife. During the trial, his former mistress testified that Flynn made hateful remarks about his wife.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn was a contestant on "American Idol."
He is currently standing trial for the murder of his wife.
Alleigha Botner, Flynn's former mistress, gave testimony in court.
Botner said Flynn made hateful comments about his wife.
The trial is covered by CBS News.
Flynn is also known as a music pastor.
The testimony is part of the evidence being presented in the case.
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Oregon's Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, said many people are very worried about the honesty of elections. This happens even though there is no proof of widespread cheating, and the Trump administration continues to say elections are not safe.
Key Facts
Dan Rayfield is Oregon's Democratic attorney general.
Many people feel afraid about whether elections are fair.
There is no evidence of large-scale voter fraud.
President Trump’s administration has repeatedly claimed elections are insecure.
These claims have increased public concern about election integrity.
The topic was discussed in a CBS News report.
Election integrity means the elections are fair and honest.
Oregon’s Attorney General spoke to reassure or address these fears.
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A U.S. appeals court has upheld the Pentagon's decision to exclude the AI company Anthropic from its supply chain. This ruling came after Anthropic refused to remove certain safety limits on its AI model Claude, leading to canceled military contracts and restrictions on the use of its technology.
Key Facts
The Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic when the company refused to remove safeguards on its AI model Claude.
This decision canceled Anthropic’s military contracts and barred other Defense Department contractors from using its technology.
Anthropic claims the blacklisting caused billions of dollars in lost business and harmed its reputation before a planned public stock sale.
The case is unusual because the Pentagon rarely uses this power against U.S. companies.
The White House disagrees with Anthropic’s warnings about AI dangers; President Trump called those warnings a hoax.
The appeals court ruling conflicts with another court’s decision in California that ruled a broader ban on Anthropic illegal.
Anthropic is considering further legal action against the Pentagon’s designation.
The military has used Anthropic’s Claude AI in sensitive and classified operations, including one in Venezuela.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spent over $20 million on warehouses it now plans to sell after expanding detention facilities without proper planning. This expansion was funded by a large increase in government money signed into law by President Donald Trump for immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
ICE bought 11 warehouses between January and April for about $1.07 billion.
By June, ICE started trying to sell 7 of these warehouses.
The agency spent $7.7 million on costs it cannot recover, like zoning and insurance, plus $12.8 million on utilities and security for these buildings.
President Donald Trump approved a law in 2025 giving ICE $45 billion to expand detention and $30 billion for arrests and deportations.
A government watchdog said ICE did not make a detailed plan before buying warehouses and expanding detention.
The warehouse plan was initially led by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, but her successor, Markwayne Mullin, reevaluated it.
ICE planned to open 24 warehouse detention centers but changed course after legal and planning problems.
Some warehouses face legal challenges, including a lawsuit from Maryland’s attorney general that halted work.
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The US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use an expanded federal database to check the citizenship of registered voters before the November elections. Critics say this system may wrongly remove eligible voters, while the administration says it helps stop non-citizens from voting.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked a judge’s order that stopped states from using Social Security numbers to verify voters' citizenship.
The database is called SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) and was redesigned last year to allow large-scale citizenship checks.
Some Republican-led states have used the database to cancel voter registrations flagged as non-citizens.
Critics warn the system may wrongly disenfranchise eligible voters, especially those who often vote Democratic.
A judge previously ruled the database is unreliable and threatens voters’ privacy and rights.
The Justice Department called the judge’s previous block "indefensible" and said using SAVE protects election integrity.
Non-citizen voting is very rare, with verified cases numbering fewer than 100 since 2000, according to data from the Heritage Foundation.
Some people wrongly flagged as non-citizens have been removed from voter rolls due to outdated or incorrect SAVE data.
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