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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
A former Columbus police officer, Ricky Anderson, pleaded guilty to reckless homicide for fatally shooting Donovan Lewis, a Black man, in 2022. Anderson made an Alford plea, accepting that evidence could convict him without admitting guilt, and now faces sentencing.
Key Facts
Ricky Anderson was a K-9 officer with the Columbus Police Department.
The shooting happened in August 2022 when officers came to Lewis’ apartment early in the morning to arrest him.
Donovan Lewis, 20, was lying in bed when he was shot.
Anderson faced charges of murder and reckless homicide; the murder charge was dropped after the plea.
An Alford plea means Anderson accepts that evidence could convict him but does not admit guilt.
Lewis’ family’s lawyer said bodycam video shows Anderson fired almost immediately after opening the bedroom door.
A civil lawsuit by Lewis’ family is still ongoing.
The U.S. Justice Department has reviewed Columbus police practices following several fatal shootings of Black people.
Anderson’s sentence could range from probation to three years in prison and will be decided later.
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Liz Oyer, a former Justice Department pardon lawyer, sued after she says she was fired for refusing to recommend restoring actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights. Oyer claims her firing was unlawful and done to punish her for not granting a political favor linked to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Liz Oyer was a pardon attorney at the Justice Department.
She refused to recommend restoring Mel Gibson’s gun rights due to his past domestic violence conviction.
Oyer says she was fired in March 2025 after declining the request from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s staff.
Blanche denies knowing about the request or that it influenced her firing.
Oyer filed a lawsuit claiming her termination violated civil service rules and her free speech rights.
The Merit Systems Protection Board delayed acting on her complaint, prompting the lawsuit in federal court.
Oyer argues this case is about protecting career government workers from political pressure.
Blanche said Oyer was fired for multiple reasons related to her actions as a pardon attorney, not due to political reasons.
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The Trump administration announced that excavation will begin soon on a large arch planned for Washington, D.C. This arch is meant to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States but has faced legal challenges and criticism over its impact on historic views in the city.
Key Facts
Excavation work on President Donald Trump’s proposed arch will start within the next two weeks.
The arch is planned to be 250 feet tall and located between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The arch will feature gold details and a statue resembling Lady Liberty with wings and a torch.
The phrase “ONE NATION UNDER GOD” will be inscribed on the arch.
A National Park Service report supports the project but notes it will harm the sightlines of many important historic sites.
Some veterans and an architectural historian filed a lawsuit saying Congress must authorize the arch by law.
Other projects by President Trump in Washington include renaming the Kennedy Center, building a new White House ballroom, refurbishing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and redesigning a golf course in East Potomac Park.
Critics say these projects could disrupt public use of parks and historic areas.
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The Trump administration announced that excavation will begin soon for a memorial arch in Washington, D.C., planned to mark the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. The arch will be 250 feet tall and located between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, despite opposition and a legal challenge.
Key Facts
Excavation work for a memorial arch in Washington will start within two weeks.
The arch is planned to be 250 feet (76 meters) tall and gilded (covered in gold color).
It will be built between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The memorial is meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum described the arch as a great piece of American architecture.
Some critics say the arch will disrupt historic views in Washington, D.C.
A lawsuit has been filed to stop the arch from being built.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing investigations into voter fraud through its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit before the midterm elections. At least nine states, including Missouri, will receive more agents to look into possible election fraud cases.
Key Facts
DHS is using Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to investigate voter fraud across the U.S.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigators will assist in these efforts.
Missouri is one of the states scheduled to get more HSI agents for voter fraud investigations.
HSI is working with other law enforcement agencies like the FBI and U.S. Marshals in some operations.
DHS claims illegal voting by non-citizens has happened but data shows it is very rare.
A contract for up to $5 million is being sought to help deliver and analyze public voter registration and history files.
DHS aims to use this data to detect fraud and support ongoing investigations.
The efforts align with President Donald Trump’s stated goal of protecting election integrity.
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The Lindsay Clancy murder trial jury has been deadlocked after more than 35 hours of deliberations over six days. Judge William Sullivan showed jurors individual questioning and gave instructions about reasonable doubt, prompting concern from a defense attorney about the judge’s handling of the jury.
Key Facts
The jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial has been unable to reach a unanimous verdict after six days of deliberation.
Judge William Sullivan questioned jurors one by one in the courtroom to understand the deadlock.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington said one juror refused to listen to the law about reasonable doubt.
The judge told the jurors it wasn’t proper for him to side with any juror or group.
The jury was sent back to deliberate after the judge read instructions about reasonable doubt.
Defense attorney Mark O’Mara called the judge’s handling “extraordinarily dangerous” and warned it could create new legal procedures.
The jury had previously received a special instruction meant to encourage agreement called the Tuey-Rodriquez instruction or “dynamite charge.”
A hung jury means the jurors cannot agree, but it does not always lead to mistrial immediately; judges decide if deliberations should continue.
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Thomas Ross, a Republican candidate in Missouri, is charged with plotting to plant cocaine and amphetamines on his political opponent after narrowly winning a primary election. Ross allegedly told his former campaign manager to hide drugs in the opponent’s belongings to harm her reputation.
Key Facts
Thomas Ross is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
He is accused of instructing his former campaign manager to plant drugs on Louise Secker, his opponent in the Missouri House District 161 primary.
Ross won the primary by only 33 votes.
The former campaign manager gave police a glove containing cocaine and Adderall, a prescription stimulant.
Text messages from Ross allegedly showed him directing the drug planting while he was out of state.
The former manager wore a recording device during a meeting with Ross, where they discussed making an anonymous tip.
Missouri GOP Chairman called the accusations serious and asked Ross to quit the race.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said it will keep working to ensure fair elections and punish violations of public trust.
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A defence lawyer in the Lindsay Clancy case has asked the judge to remove one juror. The lawyer says the juror is not following the judge’s instructions about what counts as reasonable doubt in the trial. The jury is continuing their discussions after the judge gave them more legal guidance.
Key Facts
The case involves Lindsay Clancy.
The defence lawyer is Kevin Reddington.
He wants one juror dismissed for not following instructions.
The issue is about understanding “reasonable doubt” in a criminal case.
The jury foreperson reported the concern.
The judge gave additional instructions to the jury before sending them back to deliberate.
The jury is still meeting to make a decision.
This is happening in the United States.
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A Republican candidate for the Missouri House, Thomas Christopher Ross, is facing federal charges for allegedly planning to put drugs on his primary election opponent. He appeared in court in Springfield, Missouri, where the case against him was presented.
Key Facts
Thomas Christopher Ross is running for the Missouri House of Representatives.
He is accused of trying to plant cocaine on his opponent before the primary election in August.
The charges against him are federal, meaning they involve the national government.
Ross made his first court appearance in Springfield, Missouri.
The case is part of the election process leading up to the upcoming primary.
The plot was allegedly designed to harm his opponent’s reputation.
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Reform UK party officials, including Nigel Farage’s team, were filmed in an undercover investigation discussing ways to avoid UK election laws on foreign donations. The footage shows a US-based donor paying for party polling without proper disclosure, and Reform UK denies wrongdoing, calling the investigation a hoax.
Key Facts
Investigative journalists posed as potential Reform UK supporters and a US donor who paid £30,000 for polling benefiting the party.
The polling was not reported as paid for by Reform UK or the US donor in the media or to the Electoral Commission.
A senior adviser suggested the US donor could give money through a UK supporter to avoid rules.
Nigel Farage was seen thanking the fake donors in a filmed meeting.
Reform UK is already under inquiry and police investigation over finances and donations.
Reform UK denies breaking the law and calls the investigation a hoax by climate activists.
The investigation showed party officials discussing keeping the donor arrangements secret from Farage.
Political leaders from Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for police and official investigations.
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Senator John Cornyn will not go to President Donald Trump’s Republican National Convention in Texas next week. Cornyn lost his Senate primary to Trump-backed Ken Paxton, who now faces a close race against Democrat James Talarico in the 2026 midterms.
Key Facts
Senator John Cornyn confirmed he will not attend the Texas Republican National Convention next week.
Cornyn lost the Republican primary to Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was endorsed by President Trump.
Republicans see the Texas Senate race as more competitive than usual for the 2026 midterms.
Paxton faces Democratic state Representative James Talarico in a close race, with some polls showing Talarico leading or tied.
Cornyn had been considered a traditional conservative and sometimes critical of Trump.
Trump called Cornyn a “RINO” after Cornyn supported a bipartisan gun-safety bill in 2022.
The convention aims to unify Republicans and rally support for candidates like Paxton.
Texas voted strongly for Trump in 2024, but the state’s Republican advantage has decreased since then.
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The U.S. Postal Service introduced new rules for mail voting that require states to add barcodes and submit voter information to a federal online system. Many state and local election officials say these rules are very hard to follow and could cause delays and other problems before the November elections. A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Postal Service from fully applying these rules while a lawsuit takes place.
Key Facts
The Postal Service's new mail voting rules were announced on August 21.
The rules require unique barcodes on mail ballot envelopes and submission of voter data to a federal portal.
Election officials warn that following these requirements would cost a lot of money and strain local resources.
Some officials say it would take years of work to process all voter information as the rule demands.
Postal workers must check and verify ballots meet the new rules or they will be returned to election offices.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked parts of the rule for the November 3 elections.
A lawsuit involving 24 states and the District of Columbia challenges the new Postal Service rule.
Each state sets its own mail voting procedures under the U.S. Constitution, which adds complexity to implementing a uniform federal rule.
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An ICE officer named Christian Castro has been charged with lying to federal investigators about shooting a Venezuelan man, Julio Sosa-Celis, during immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis. The case involves both state and federal charges, and there are concerns about the handling of the investigation and possible civil rights violations.
Key Facts
Christian Castro, an ICE officer, shot Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg in Minneapolis during an immigration crackdown in January 2026.
Castro has been charged federally with making false statements to investigators about the shooting.
He was also charged in Minnesota state court with assault and false crime reporting.
Castro was released from jail after Texas Governor Greg Abbott delayed extradition to Minnesota.
The Trump administration launched “Operation Metro Surge” in December 2025, sending thousands of agents to Minnesota to arrest immigrants.
Julio Sosa-Celis was initially accused of attacking agents but charges against him were dropped due to conflicting evidence and video showing he dropped the shovel.
Two other people, US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by agents during the same operation.
Federal prosecutors tried to file civil rights charges against Castro but were blocked by the Justice Department.
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House lawmakers from both parties introduced a bill to limit the cost of insulin to $35 a month for people with private health insurance. This effort aims to make insulin more affordable as past attempts faced opposition from some Republicans who do not want government-set price controls.
Key Facts
The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of House members, including Republicans from key election districts.
It proposes a monthly cap of $35 for insulin for people with private health insurance.
Insulin prices have been a concern for many years due to high costs.
Previous efforts to set insulin price limits failed partly because some Republicans oppose government involvement in price setting.
The new bill marks a renewed push to address insulin affordability through legislation.
The cap applies only to private insurance holders, not necessarily to those with other types of coverage.
This legislation signals cooperation across party lines on a healthcare cost issue affecting many Americans.
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Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta criticized current Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth for causing problems in the U.S. military. Panetta said Hegseth’s actions are weakening the military, especially the Army, by disrupting its leadership.
Key Facts
Leon Panetta served as U.S. Defense Secretary before the current administration.
Pete Hegseth is the current Secretary of the Pentagon under President Donald Trump.
Panetta accused Hegseth of harming the military’s strength.
The criticism focuses on disruptions in the military’s command structure.
Panetta highlighted negative effects particularly within the Army’s leadership.
The comment was made during a talk with a TV host.
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The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research stations in more than a dozen states to save money and focus resources on Western states. Employees will be relocated, and the agency’s headquarters will move from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City to be closer to public lands.
Key Facts
The Forest Service will close 23 research stations but continue their work at other locations.
Another 41 research facilities that were at risk of closing will stay open after local opposition.
The agency plans to save about $16 million by closing these stations and some regional offices.
The headquarters of the Forest Service will move from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City by next summer.
The goal of the move is to bring leaders closer to the lands and people they serve.
The Forest Service has lost about 6,000 employees (15% of its workforce) during President Trump’s second term.
Conservation groups have expressed concern that these changes could limit forest access and harm wildlife and the environment.
Similar moves have happened before, such as relocating the Bureau of Land Management during Trump’s first term, which was later reversed by President Biden.
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Vice President JD Vance responded to public concerns about data centers, saying worries about higher power bills and local impacts drive much of the opposition. He highlighted the need to build more power plants alongside data centers and emphasized President Donald Trump’s efforts to support energy growth and infrastructure to keep the U.S. competitive in artificial intelligence (AI).
Key Facts
Many people oppose building new data centers because they fear higher electricity bills and neighborhood changes.
Polls show 47% of President Trump’s 2024 voters oppose new data centers in their communities, with 52% worried about increased power costs.
A Gallup poll found 70% of Americans do not want data centers near them.
Vance said the solution is not stopping data centers but increasing power generation, including nuclear energy.
President Trump supports data centers, saying they create jobs, bring investment, and help compete with China.
Trump warned communities rejecting data centers may fall behind economically.
Some Republicans want more local control and restrictions on data center construction.
The Biden administration has tried to make it easier to build power plants near AI data centers to support this infrastructure.
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Maria Bartiromo, a long-time Fox News host known for supporting President Donald Trump, has left Fox News after 12 years. Fox did not give a reason for her departure, leading to speculation she might join the Trump administration.
Key Facts
Maria Bartiromo worked at Fox News for over 12 years.
Her departure from Fox News was immediate, with no official explanation given.
Bartiromo's Sunday program was Fox's highest-rated weekend show, averaging about 1.9 million viewers recently.
Fox renamed her weekly show to FBN’s Wall Street after she left.
Speculation exists that she may join the Trump administration, possibly replacing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Bartiromo has been a prominent supporter of President Trump but has occasionally challenged his administration on issues like tariffs.
She faced controversy for giving airtime to Trump's election fraud claims after the 2020 election, which led to legal actions against Fox News.
An incident occurred in 2020 when an impersonator fooled Bartiromo during a live interview, later acknowledged by her as a prank.
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The US House of Representatives voted to penalize American universities that boycott Israel or its academic institutions, including those in the occupied West Bank. The bill would cut federal funding to these universities, but critics argue it violates free speech rights protected by the US Constitution. The bill now must pass the Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump to become law.
Key Facts
The House passed the bill with a vote of 237-169, including 33 Democrats supporting it and 2 Republicans opposing it.
The bill targets universities that boycott Israeli entities, including those in West Bank settlements considered illegal under international law.
Universities that boycott Israel would lose federal funding, which many rely on to operate and support students.
The bill requires US universities to certify yearly that they cooperate with Israeli academic institutions.
Critics say the bill conflicts with the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and protects boycott activities.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that Israeli settlements in the West Bank violate international law.
Public support for Israel in the US has declined, with a 2024 survey showing 62% of Americans view the Israeli government unfavorably.
The bill is part of a long-standing US effort to restrict the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
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