Stories from United States

Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt are working on the Dragonfly mission. The mission aims to continue the deployment of the ViaSat-3 constellation. The mission utilizes an octocopter instrument approximately the size of an SUV to study drilled samples. Personnel are working in clean room environments to complete the integration process. The ViaSat-3 F3 (ViaSat-3 Asia-Pacific) spacecraft launch is scheduled for May 19, 2026, via a Falcon Heavy provider, resuming operations after an eighteen-month gap. NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day features imagery following the Moon and Venus, coinciding with recent space mission milestones. Scientists at Goddard Space Flight Center are testing hardware designed to analyze samples from Titan's frozen ground. The hardware is being built to withstand extreme cold during the mission.

A federal grand jury has handed down indictments against two suspects involved in an assault of Turning Point USA reporter Savannah Hernandez. The incident occurred during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.

The official launch of Seattle's boating season occurs this Saturday with the Windermere Cup held on the Montlake Cut. International rowing teams will compete against the University of Washington.

James Comey has been charged with threatening President Trump. Protesters reportedly swarmed Savannah Hernandez and yelled obscenities during the demonstration. He appeared briefly at the location, according to the report. He described the term as a 'mob term' used to target the 47th president. The Department of Justice is pursuing prosecution over claims he lied to Congress in 2020. Comey is accused of threatening President Donald Trump in an Instagram post made in May 2025. The warrant follows the publication of an image on the social media platform. Prosecutors allege the post contained a threat aimed at President Trump. The post featured an image of seashells forming the numbers 86 and 47. Comey, who turned himself in, denies any wrongdoing. The term 47.86 is cited as slang meaning eject or remove, which prosecutors claim was a threat against President Trump.

Kennedy has emerged as the primary candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump. Members of the MAHA coalition expressed disappointment with Secretary Kennedy, citing a failure to deliver reforms to national health and food systems. Some coalition members reported feeling politically alienated by recent Republican actions. The HHS statement noted that Kennedy used a report that was taken out of context. Kennedy initially denied making a specific comment but later issued a statement via email. HHS stated that Kennedy's comments were taken out of context and that he was referring to a practice used in psychotherapy. Kennedy declined to answer a series of detailed questions sent by NPR regarding the matter. Black lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding these statements.

A court ruling has compelled the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate dangerous air pollutants specifically emitted from vehicle tailpipes. The ruling mandates that the agency must now make a formal decision regarding these regulations.

The RSONDE-CO balloon was launched from Grand Mesa, Colorado, on April 29, 2026, at 18:04:28Z.

In Seattle, childcare costs can consume between 20 and 23 percent of a median household's income. Nearly 20,000 children in the area are currently not enrolled in public childcare programs.

A new childcare proposal includes longer operating hours and year-round preschool access. The plan aims to provide assistance to families earning up to $153,000 annually for a family of four. Additional components of the plan include more school-based health services.

The Environmental Protection Agency is set to dismantle the Office of Research and Development, which serves as the agency's scientific arm. The office employs 1,500 people tasked with identifying environmental threats and scanning future risks.