Stories from Washington DC · United States

Republican chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are objecting to a decision by Secretary Hagith to withdraw a U.S. The decision was reportedly made late Friday. The objection comes as part of a broader discussion regarding U.S. troop presence in Germany.

The Justice Department, under Todd Blanche, has asked an appeals court to dismiss seditious conspiracy convictions for members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers involved in the January 6th Capitol attack.

Flight attendant Phoebe Whalen secured a deal with ABC to produce a reality television series. Whalen used recovery time provided by American Airlines to develop and pitch the project. The show will depict conflicts between flight crews and passengers.

The Voting Rights Act has been struck down after 60 years of existence. Harvard Law Professor Nick Stephanopoulos stated on social media that while Section 2 was not totally struck down, the new requirement to prove intent will prevent the law from helping minority voters in virtually all circumstances. The law originated from civil rights marches in the 1960s. The White House stated the decision returns the law to its original intent to protect against intentional racial discrimination. Bob Driscoll, a former leader of the Civil Rights Division under President George W. Bush, said the ruling was not surprising given the court's recent movement toward race neutrality in employment and affirmative action cases. A dissent in a case addressed the practice of divvying up by race. This section previously required maps to be drawn without discrimination against racial minorities.

Fifteen historically black colleges and universities have formed the Association of HBCU Research Institutions. The group aims to achieve top research status to increase competitiveness for billions of dollars in government funding. This status is intended to benefit both students and professors at the participating institutions. Wilson, the association's president, is leading the initiative. The move aims to make these institutions more competitive for federal grants. The association is chaired by President David K. Wilson, president of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) association, is working to boost the research status of these institutions. The discussion follows recent decisions regarding government funding for competitive school initiatives. The association was announced last week and includes Prairie View A&M University.

A Democratic U.S. House member stated that only roles performed by humans with their consent are eligible for acting awards. The proposal suggests that AI creations, such as Tilly Norwood, would be ineligible for Best Actress Oscars.

A lawsuit was filed last week against Sequoia Rowe Consulting and its CEO, Paul Lawrence. The complaint alleges the company falsely claimed to be a Washington D.C.-based, resident-owned business while being operated by a Georgia resident from a virtual or minimally used D.C. office. The misrepresentation allegedly allowed the firm to secure at least 32 local set-aside contracts valued at over $13 million. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the company illegally misclassified janitorial workers as independent contractors.

courts of appeal regarding whether states can impose pesticide disclosure requirements exceeding those set by the EPA. Some states have enacted laws to shield manufacturers like Bayer and Monsanto from liability.

Participants carried portraits of World War II veterans past the White House to the National World War II Memorial. The event included citizens from Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, and the United States.

An accident occurred in northeast Washington, D.C., at Crittenden Street. Both eastbound and westbound lanes of Capitol Street are affected by the incident. Traffic in Virginia and Maryland remains moving well, according to the report.