Minnesota state House Democrats walk out in effort to block GOP speaker vote

A 31-year-old mother, Brandie Gotch, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for driving her truck through a park in Peoria, Arizona, injuring a 12-year-old girl after a confrontation involving her children. She pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault after recklessly backing her vehicle toward the children, which could have resulted in more severe injuries. Need More Context? 🔎

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to mandate that nearly two dozen Democratic states cooperate with immigration enforcement to receive transportation funding, citing a lack of legal authority and arbitrary conditions. The ruling is a victory for the plaintiff states, who argue that such conditions threaten essential infrastructure funding while also reflecting ongoing tensions between federal and local immigration policies. Need More Context? 🔎

A teenager was struck by lightning in Central Park, New York City, amid severe thunderstorms affecting the Northeast, with a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for major cities along the I-95 corridor. The storms have caused widespread power outages, impacting over 500,000 customers, and led to nearly 600 flight cancellations, particularly at LaGuardia Airport. Need More Context? 🔎

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, running for New York mayor, faced backlash from Jewish organizations for defending the slogan “globalize the intifada,” which he claims reflects a desire for Palestinian rights. Critics, including the U.S. Holocaust Museum and Rep. Dan Goldman, condemned the phrase as antisemitic, while Mamdani acknowledged rising antisemitism and expressed his personal stance against it amidst a crowded primary race. Need More Context? 🔎

Hundreds gathered at Minnesota's Capitol for a vigil honoring former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed at their home. The event featured music, emotional tributes, and a memorial with flowers and photos, while the suspected shooter, Vance Boelter, faces charges for their deaths and an attack on another lawmaker and his wife. Need More Context? 🔎

A Missouri judge has ordered St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company to pay over $43 million to Ryan Ferguson, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for nearly a decade. Ferguson's conviction was vacated in 2013, and after a prolonged legal battle, a jury sided with him, with part of the award also benefiting the involved police officers. Need More Context? 🔎