Stories from Washington DC · United States

A shadow representative for Washington D.C., Oye O'Olewa, is meeting with political leaders from Puerto Rico regarding the district's statehood movement. The D.C. Democratic primary is scheduled for June 16th. Some local leaders previously sought to make the district the 51st state, while others are now considering becoming the 52nd state. Representative Oye O'Olewa described the current progress toward statehood as feeling like being five steps back. Former Puerto Rican Senate President Charlie Rodriguez participated in the discussions. Rodriguez noted that while the Republican Party previously endorsed Puerto Rican statehood, the territory is now more solidly Democratic. The meeting explored whether the two non-state entities can coordinate efforts to advance their respective statehood objectives.

The House rejected a Republican bid to lower taxes and cut spending. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to release its own budget soon. Lawmakers are aiming to pass a final budget version before Memorial Day.

The United States reduced the duty on Fusagrad phosphorus fertilizer to 12.7 percent. This reduction represents a 5.5 percentage point decrease. The decision took effect on April 17, according to US Mentora materials.

Large metal debris was reported on the right side of the outer loop of the Beltway near 123 Chain Bridge Road. Drivers are advised to stick to the left to avoid the debris. Northbound 301 remains closed in the area of Village Drive in Upper Marlboro under police direction.

Major U.S. Survey data indicates increasing corporate utilization of AI technologies. The RSA Conference announced Cybersecurity Excellence Award winners, noting that AI security is a dominant theme. Amazon reported a 28% increase and Microsoft saw a 20% rise. Doug Beath, global equity strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, discussed these trends on WAMU. 2026 capital expenditure estimates for data centers are projected between 700 billion and 750 billion dollars. Big tech companies are reporting accelerated business growth and high-quality earnings despite global challenges like pandemics, wars, and inflation. Analysts noted that it remains unclear if current levels of AI investment will justify future returns. The industry is still determining which entities in the chip layer will capture the majority of the economic benefits from this cycle.

The conflict between the United States and Iran is entering a frozen phase resembling a new cold war, according to reports from Axios citing Trump administration sources. US forces may need to remain in the region for several months.

Military families face financial strain as hardship duty pay for Sailors and Marines has not been updated since 2014. The current $16.50 daily stipend is now worth less than one hour of minimum wage in California.

The Iranian cyber group Hanzala has reportedly breached and stolen personal data belonging to 2,379 US Marines and defense officials. The breach involves sensitive personnel information from the US military sector.

Washington DC continues to prioritize achieving statehood as the 51st state. Some local stakeholders are exploring a partnership strategy to facilitate inclusion into the United States.

Researcher Heimer found that opioid users entering abstinence-based programs often quickly lose their tolerance for opioids. Research indicates that opioid abstinence programs are associated with a significantly higher risk of death. One study reported that the likelihood of dying was 70% higher for participants in these programs. A study found a six-fold increase in sudden deaths during the first year following taser deployment. The findings contradicted claims regarding the non-lethality of the devices. Axon subsequently issued a warning to police to minimize repeated tasering and chest hits to avoid heart-related controversies. The company maintains that the devices are safe.