Stories from United States

Justice Kavanaugh expressed uncertainty in a concurring opinion regarding whether states should have a time limit on conducting race-based redistricting. Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh raised questions regarding whether there should be a sunset provision for considering race during the redistricting process. In a concurring opinion related to the Allen v. The discussion occurs amid ongoing partisan redistricting disputes in states like Florida. UCLA Law Professor Rick Hasson stated that courts in states like Florida may be able to re-redistrict without considering Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Hasson noted that lawsuits will likely challenge existing maps, potentially impacting the 2028 election cycle. He also predicted future attacks on state-level Voting Rights Acts. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned U.S.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth engaged in strong verbal exchanges during congressional testimony. Ship tracking data shows the deployment is centered on the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship.

SoftBank is planning to create and list an AI and robotics company named Rose in the United States. The new entity will be involved in building data centers, according to reports from the Financial Times.

PEPCO reported providing approximately $39 million in energy assistance during 2024. Both PEPCO and Dominion Energy have established payment and assistance plans for customers in need. These responses were provided to WTOP regarding a report on household energy decisions.

The Seattle City Council passed an additional $10.6 million to be spent on a $120 million project intended to meet baseball standards. The funding is being drawn from an inter fund, which is part of the city's general fund.

The Chicago White Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels with a final score of 3-2. The Chicago Cubs also won their game against the San Diego Padres 5-4. The Chicago Fire are scheduled to play their next game at home. Sam Ananachi hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extras. Coulson Montgomery then hit a single into center field with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to drive in the winning run. Trout previously hit a solo home run earlier in the game.

Deputies evacuated an area near the Capital State Forest in Thurston County following the discovery of a possible pipe bomb. The device was located near Waddle Creek Road, southwest of Lake Lucinda. The Thurston County Sheriff's office and State Patrol are involved in the response. The Thurston County Sheriff's Office is responding to the incident, which began with an initial call around 2:00 PM. A bomb squad is reportedly en route to the scene near Capitol State Forest. The device measured 11 inches by 2 inches and was wrapped in multiple layers of duct tape. The State Patrol's bomb squad removed and safely disposed of the device. Thurston County Public Works crews discovered the device while performing trash collection. The incident follows a bomb scare reported near the Capitol State Forest on Wednesday.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to replace the economic minister and the public diplomacy minister at the embassy in the United States.

A tornado flattened buildings and injured more than five people on Tuesday night. Mayor Reagan Johnson declared a state of disaster following the event. Fire Chief Ryan Donne reported debris and collapsed buildings. No fatalities were reported in the incident.

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is proposing new redistricting maps in Tennessee to eliminate the state's remaining Democratic seat in Congress. This follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down Louisiana's redistricting map. Previously, federal law protected Memphis from racial gerrymandering. The proposed plan would place Memphis, a predominantly Black and Democratic city, in a district spanning roughly 200 miles that includes rural areas in the middle of the state. Democrats have criticized the proposal, stating it would dilute the power of Black voters. Previously, Memphis was protected from racial gerrymandering by federal law, and Tennessee Republicans had eliminated Nashville's Democratic seat during the 2022 redistricting process. This follows similar redistricting actions in Massachusetts that targeted Republican seats.