Healthcare is Newsom’s biggest unfinished project. Trump complicates the task

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the death of Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, also known as "Abu Khadija," the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, killed in a joint operation by Iraqi national intelligence service and U.S.-led coalition forces. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the news on social media, praising the operation that terminated al-Rifai's "miserable life." The operation, conducted in Al Anbar Province, also resulted in the death of another...

An outbreak of wildfires fueled by dry conditions and hurricane-force winds spread across the Texas Panhandle and parts of Oklahoma, prompting evacuations, causing road havoc, and leaving thousands without power. The fires destroyed homes in Oklahoma, resulting in at least three deaths in Texas. Emergency crews struggled to contain the rapidly developing blazes, with the greatest concentration in east-central Oklahoma. Evacuation orders were issued in Stillwater, Oklahoma, as fires spread into populated areas, while dangerous...

The Trump administration is considering implementing a new travel ban targeting citizens from as many as 43 countries, including a "red" list of 11 countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Venezuela to be outright barred from entering the United States. Additionally, an "orange" list of 10 countries would face travel restrictions with mandatory in-person interviews for visa applicants, such as Belarus and Pakistan. The State Department has been tasked with identifying countries with deficient vetting information,...

A suspect has been arrested for making a threatening call to Huntington Hospital, leading to a temporary lockdown. The man, who was a patient, called in the threat after being discharged. This incident follows recent swatting calls at other medical facilities in Southern California, though it is unclear if they are connected. Full Article

An appeals court lifted a block on executive orders by President Trump seeking to end government support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, allowing them to be enforced as a lawsuit unfolds. The court found that the orders could eventually raise concerns about First Amendment rights but ruled that the nationwide injunction was too broad. The orders, which target DEI programs, had been challenged for being unconstitutional and discouraging support for diversity initiatives. Full Article

President Donald Trump admitted in an interview that he was being sarcastic when he claimed during his campaign that he could solve the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours. Despite the exaggerated claims, his administration is still working to broker a solution 54 days into his second term. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow for talks on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted, while Trump expressed optimism that Russian President Putin will agree...