Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead Medicare and Medicaid, avoided questions about supporting a House budget resolution that could result in significant Medicaid cuts. Oz, a former surgeon and TV personality, emphasized fighting waste in the health care system but did not commit to protecting Medicaid funding. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Oz discussed using artificial intelligence to improve prior authorization processes and expressed concerns about Medicare Advantage insurers potentially engaging in...

Sean "Diddy" Combs pleaded not guilty to new allegations in court, including lengthened timeline of sex trafficking and racketeering, added victims, and forcing employees into sexual encounters. Diddy appeared with grayer hair, wearing a tan jumpsuit, supported by family. Trial scheduled for May 5, with prosecution claiming evidence not shared by defense. Diddy remains in jail pending trial, facing potential life sentence if found guilty of running criminal enterprise. Full Article

A San Diego middle school agreed to expunge the suspension of student J.A., accused of attending a football game in blackface, after a lawsuit revealed he was actually wearing eye black. The student's attorney highlighted the potential long-term impact of the false allegations on his education and career opportunities. The school district settled in February, removing the suspension from J.A.'s record following the incident at a high school football game between La Jolla High School...

Maryland judge Jennifer Schiffer sentenced Adnan Syed to time served for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in 1999, with five years of supervised probation, under a new state law for crimes committed as a minor. Syed, now 43, maintains his innocence and has a job at Georgetown University. The victim's family expressed gratitude for the court's decision, which reinstated Syed's conviction after it was vacated and highlighted the importance of victims' rights in criminal justice...

High school students in Oklahoma would be asked to identify “discrepancies” in the 2020 election as part of U.S. history classes, following new social studies standards approved by the Oklahoma Board of Education. The proposed standards have drawn criticism for aligning with President Trump’s false claims about the election results. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a Trump ally, defended the changes as promoting critical thinking skills and not taking a specific stance on the election outcome....

Alan K. Simpson, a former Republican senator from Wyoming, died at 93 after struggling to recover from a broken hip and complications from frostbite. Known for his folksy demeanor and controversial remarks, Simpson championed immigration reforms and conservative Supreme Court candidates, while clashing with women's groups, environmentalists, and the press. He had a tumultuous youth, but redeemed himself through a successful political career and bipartisan efforts on issues like immigration and abortion rights. Full Article