Stories from Washington D.C. · United States

The U.S. Department of Commerce is advocating for stronger authentication standards for foreign digital traffic to combat phishing and scam calls. This initiative aims to protect citizens from widespread text and email scams.

A teenager is striving to achieve the position of drum major in their high school marching band. The story is described as a 'love letter to his hometown mall,' with the teenager's mother being a fan of Celia Cruz. The narrative highlights the teenager's ambition and connection to their community.

The U.S. has experienced a significant loss of 89,000 manufacturing jobs, contributing to economic concerns. This decline is occurring despite some continuity between the Biden and Trump administrations regarding certain policies. The job losses are creating uncertainty for business leaders.

Rising college tuition costs, outpacing inflation, are making community colleges a more attractive option for high school graduates. The significant increase in student loan debt further incentivizes students to pursue more affordable educational paths. This trend indicates a growing preference for community college education. A new EAB survey of 9,516 graduates indicates 67% of students who did not enroll in college cited the cost of living as the primary reason. This figure represents a increase from the previous 51% reported.

The FY 27 budget proposal for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration includes $70 million in procurement funding. These funds are earmarked for investments in next-generation weather satellites to improve forecasting capabilities. The proposal comes as meteorologists monitor potential tornado outbreaks in the Kansas City area.

The U.S. Justice Department has stated that recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are not automatically protected from deportation. This represents the latest action by the Trump administration to reduce protections for approximately half a million individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children before 2007.

The average interest rate for US Treasury Bonds stood at 3.392% on March 31, 2026.

The US has successfully rebid a broadband expansion project, executing the plan for $21 billion, which is half the original $42 billion allocation. This leaves $21 billion remaining for further deployment, allowing for flexibility in technology choices like satellite, fixed wireless, or fiber.

Reports indicate that the US President has made claims regarding recent diplomatic communications with Iran. Trump criticized Democratic positions regarding the necessity of military processes. Iranian President Pezeshkian warned that such an action would contradict international law. The blockade would target the Strait of Hormuz to influence Iranian policy. He spoke to journalists during an event related to the signing of an executive order concerning pension adjustments. He expressed a desire to achieve an even larger margin of victory. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued statements contradicting these claims, asserting that Tehran considers itself the winner. This level is described as being within globally accepted parameters for operation. This move would represent a concession from the maximum position typically held at the start of negotiations.

The slogan 'Make America Great Again' used by Donald Trump is noted as a typical political tactic to encourage voter support by promising improvements. This strategy is common among American politicians aiming to offer a vision of the American dream.