Stories from United States

The mother of 12-year-old Maya Gabala, who was shot three times at close range, has rejected a recent apology from Sam Altman. Sia Gabala released a statement saying a simple phone call could have prevented the shooting.

Congress has filed a judicial challenge against President Donald Trump regarding potential military operations. The dispute centers on the President's authority to deploy forces without prior Congressional approval.

Lester Wright died at the age of 103. He grew up in the South Shore, Roseland, and Ashburn neighborhoods of Chicago. Wright was a graduate of Bogan High School and DeVry University. He previously worked for American Express Travel assisting customers with travel bookings.

Business investment in data centers and artificial intelligence is providing a boost to GDP. However, the residential portion of GDP remains weak as the housing market continues a slump. Consumer spending is currently described as top-heavy, with stock market highs driving spending for specific groups. A broader distribution of spending would indicate a healthier economy, according to the report. This growth is driven largely by investments in data centers and artificial intelligence. Despite this boost to GDP, the housing market remains weak as mortgage rates continue to climb. Consumer spending is growing but at a slower pace than in previous periods. The Commerce Department reported a increase in business investment during the first three months of the year. High gas prices are currently being cushioned by newly issued tax refunds, though analysts warn this effect may be temporary.

Pierce County officials shut down 45 spas and massage businesses on Tuesday due to fire safety concerns. Six teams of fire marshals and code enforcement officers conducted inspections across Pacific Avenue, Parkland, Spanaway, Elk Plain, Meridian, Puyallup, South Hill, and Graham. Fire Marshal Ken Price described the action as the largest fire code enforcement operation in recent memory. Each affected business received a stop-work order and a no-trespassing sign. Businesses may reopen only after addressing the identified violations. Police are searching for 12-year-old Angeline and 8-year-old Alexander, who are siblings. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office stated the children left the 207 East Apartments on foot around 9:30 p.m. Sheriff's spokesperson Lori Capetto said police do not suspect foul play but expressed concern regarding the disappearance.

Lester Wright has died at the age of 103. At age 100, Wright set a record for his age in the 100-meter dash with a time of 26.34 seconds.

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.

Illinois Republican leaders in Springfield are calling for changes to a law that allows criminal defendants to be released on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial. The shooting occurred around 9:00 AM in the 200 block of North Second Street after a report of a body floating in a river. The Kane County Coroner's Office is investigating the identity of the deceased man. It remains unclear how the man ended up in the river. Republicans have filed bills in both the Illinois House and Senate to automatically revoke pretrial release for individuals who commit a felony while on electronic monitoring. The legislation aims to address concerns regarding the supervision of defendants on electronic monitoring. The proposed legislation targets those currently subject to electronic supervision. No specific timeline for a vote was provided in the report.

The Trump administration is rolling back gun control regulations established during the Biden administration. One specific repeal targets a 2024 rule requiring firearms dealers to conduct background checks for buyers at gun shows. Gun rights groups have claimed the rule violates the Second Amendment. The Department of Justice stated the move aims to cut unnecessary red tape.