National

Black-led organizations are calling for equitable funding for sickle cell disease programs, as they are being overlooked in favor of larger white-led organizations, despite being the ones doing the most direct, community-based work.

US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran, threatening extensive bombing if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened by a specified deadline. This declaration has been met with defiance from Tehran and has raised international concerns regarding potential war crimes should civilian infrastructure be targeted.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has processed 87.5 million tax returns, disbursing nearly 63 million refunds with an average payout of $3,521. Financial experts advise taxpayers to strategically allocate these funds towards high-interest debt reduction, emergency savings, or significant future expenses.

President Donald Trump has threatened to imprison a journalist, asserting that the public disclosure of details regarding a downed U.S. fighter jet in Iran hindered the administration's military rescue efforts.

Newly released city camera footage from Minneapolis has contradicted the initial account provided by an ICE agent regarding a January shooting involving two Venezuelan immigrants. This evidence led to the dismissal of federal charges against the immigrants, and two ICE agents have been placed on administrative leave for making false statements under oath, prompting an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

President Donald Trump has officially ordered the payment of all Department of Homeland Security employees during the ongoing partial government shutdown, with funds sourced from last summer's "Big, Beautiful Bill".

The Artemis II mission, NASA's inaugural crewed flight of its lunar program, has dispatched four astronauts on a record-breaking journey around the moon. This mission notably includes the first Black astronaut, woman astronaut, and non-American astronaut to travel beyond Earth orbit, with objectives to collect vital data for future lunar endeavors.

A recent White House proposal outlines a substantial reduction in NASA's overall budget, cutting it by $5.6 billion, while simultaneously allocating a billion-dollar increase to the moon-focused Artemis program. This dual approach has prompted inquiries into the agency's strategy for reconciling its ambitious exploration objectives with its foundational scientific research endeavors.

Democratic congressional leaders and voter advocacy organizations have initiated legal action against President Trump's executive order, which tasks the U.S. Postal Service with determining mail ballot eligibility. The lawsuits assert the directive contravenes constitutional mandates, federal statutes, and privacy regulations.

The Supreme Court convened to consider the legality of the Trump administration's initiative to limit birthright citizenship. During the proceedings, justices posed challenging questions, signaling skepticism regarding the administration's legal arguments, with President Trump notably in attendance.