Politics

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 752, which creates criminal penalties for knowingly entering a bathroom designated for the opposite sex; the law takes effect July 1.

The Hillsborough County Commission voted to schedule a public workshop on the proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium and approved a review of whether the Community Investment Tax can be used to finance the project.

The Diocese of Des Moines reported a 51% rise in new Catholics, with 36 converts at St. Anthony's, 25 at Sacred Heart and 24 at Christ the King, and local clergy say interest has grown since COVID and after the election of Pope Leo XIV.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill to rename Loop 202 for Charlie Kirk and said any renaming must follow the state board's process.

Vice President JD Vance will publish Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, a 304-page memoir about his conversion to Catholicism that he began writing in 2019 and is due in late spring.

The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors violates the First Amendment in a case brought by therapist Kaley Chiles; the decision directs lower courts to apply stricter free-speech review and could affect similar laws in more than 20 states.

Bruce Springsteen opened his Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour in Minneapolis, performing his recently released song "Streets of Minneapolis" amid protests and public outcry after the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers. He described the tour as political and topical and said it will visit Portland and Los Angeles before ending May 27 in Washington, D.C.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J. Trump International Airport, with the change slated for July; the renaming still requires Federal Aviation Administration approval and a trademark agreement with Palm Beach County.

Texas has removed candy and sweetened drinks from SNAP benefits for about 3.3 million recipients under Senate Bill 379, and the state will survey SNAP recipients before and after the change to assess its effects.

Pope Leo XIV, an American who spent much of his ministry in Peru, has publicly rejected using God to justify war and has opposed broad deportation policies; the Vatican declined a White House July 4 invitation and the pope planned a trip to Lampedusa to meet migrants.

Reports say U.S. forces have used hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles in strikes related to Iran, a figure described as several times the usual annual procurement. Officials and industry representatives say production capacity is being increased but a full ramp-up will take years.

The Kansas Supreme Court dismissed Gov. Laura Kelly’s petition in a narrow, divided ruling in a dispute with Attorney General Kris Kobach over who may represent the state in certain lawsuits, and both officials issued statements describing the outcome as favorable to their positions.

As U.S. pump prices approach $4 amid tensions with Iran, some lawmakers have proposed temporarily suspending the federal gas tax; the White House says the president has "thought about" it, but Congress would need to approve any suspension.

Dean Roy, a 14-year-old Stowe High freshman who formed the Freedom and Unity Party, qualified to appear on Vermont's general election ballot for governor in November. Vermont's constitution sets no minimum age for the office and requires four years of state residency.

President Trump said he will sign an order directing the Homeland Security secretary to pay Transportation Security Administration agents, while senators worked overnight on a separate package to fund parts of the Department of Homeland Security.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested Americans might be required to complete a period of national service of roughly six months to 18 months, and he did not outline whether that would include military service.

President Trump made inconsistent public statements on the U.S. campaign in Iran, saying the war was 'already won' while also discussing troop movements and the possible seizure of resources; he later announced a 10-day pause on attacks on Iranian energy facilities as talks continue.

A California bill would create a "California Certified" label for products described as not ultraprocessed, with applicants able to seek accreditation beginning by June 2028 and certifications renewed every three years.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he has not ruled out a 2028 presidential bid and described his wife Casey DeSantis's 2021 breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent declaration of being cancer-free in 2022.

Long security lines and recent travel disruptions have increased anxiety for U.S. air travelers; officials point to a funding standoff and temporary staffing measures as contributing factors.

Current and former U.S. officials say President Trump is considering deploying ground forces into Iran; the White House says no plans have been announced and declines to disclose military strategy.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized over half a million ballots from a November 2025 special election citing a reported count discrepancy; county officials dispute the claim and a judge has appointed a special master to supervise a resumed count.

The airport released a 20-year master plan proposing a new parking garage, road changes, redevelopment of the old terminal and a second terminal, with the first phase targeted for 2031; the plan has been submitted to the FAA and awaits approval which could take weeks or months.

Dana Williamson, a former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom, said "I'm recovering" after a recent liver transplant as she prepares to face a federal 23-count indictment alleging a scheme to divert roughly $225,000 and related tax offenses; her case is scheduled to return to court on April 16.

Alaska counts mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within 10 days (15 days for overseas ballots), and residents in isolated villages say flights, weather and long distances make that grace period essential as a pending U.S. Supreme Court case could change the rule.

President Trump signed an executive order at a White House ceremony to block other college football games from being scheduled during the Army-Navy game's traditional time slot on the second Saturday in December, and he presented the Navy Midshipmen with the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

Top Minnesota lawmakers said they will move to repeal the state law recognizing César Chávez Day after a New York Times investigation reported abuse allegations.

Charles Simmons, whose son Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons died in a recent refueling plane crash, said he did not tell Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to 'finish' the job; Hegseth had said families told him that message after private meetings at Dover Air Force Base.

President Trump said Gov. Gavin Newsom's dyslexia would make him a poor fit for president; Newsom has publicly discussed his dyslexia for years and a licensed dyslexia therapist spoke about the issue on CBS News.

Chávez's family said they were "devastated" by a recent report and asked for privacy; city officials told Axios they have not received formal requests to rename Chicago sites bearing his name.