Stories from United States

Immigrant communities, doctors, and advocates are calling on California legislators to reject a proposal by Governor Newsom to cut Medi-Cal benefits for refugees and asylum seekers. The request was made during a report by KQED's Catherine Monahan.

A US soldier is accused of placing approximately 13 bets related to a military effort to capture Maduro. The source reported the specific number of bets placed during the incident. The Department of Justice has arrested a soldier for allegedly making $400,000 in bets regarding the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Army Master Sergeant Gannon Van Dyke appeared in federal court in New York on Wednesday. He is accused of placing bets on the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro in January and allegedly collected over $400,000 in winnings before the raid was public. Van Dijk allegedly collected more than $400,000 in winnings.

The US government announced plans to release a limited series of 25,000 specially designed passports to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. US officials stated the portraits will appear on some passports soon. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggett confirmed the limited release, according to the report. The announcement was reported by MPR's Michelle Kellerman. The White House will release a limited number of passports to commemorate 250 years since the United States declared independence. The release is being coordinated with international press agencies. Trump will be the first living president featured on such a travel document. The new passports are expected to be available shortly before Independence Day on July 4. State Department is releasing limited edition passports to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Great America in July.

5th Circuit Judge George Hanks dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Kash Patel. The court also granted a motion to dismiss filed by Frank Figliuzzi.

An AI-focused startup based in Emeryville has secured a $2.25 billion gene editing agreement with Eli Lilly. The deal focuses on advancing gene editing technologies through collaborative research and development.

A warrant requirement amendment failed in the House Rules Committee following a six-to-six tie vote. The amendment was offered by Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, criticized the amendment and discussed concerns regarding data collection mandates in vehicles. The debate included discussions on the implications of a 'kill switch' for vehicle data collection. The requirement amendment tied six to six, resulting in its failure. The amendment was tied to a broader discussion regarding redistricting efforts to create more Republican-leaning districts. This move is described as an attempt to maintain GOP control of the U.S. The vote resulted in a 6-6 tie, preventing the amendment from moving forward. Two Republicans, Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, voted alongside Democrats on the measure.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has classified memecoins as digital collectibles. This regulatory shift aims to remove uncertainty and potentially increase capital for meme token presales.

An individual entered a guilty plea in the Northern District of Florida for making threats against multiple political leaders, including President Trump. The announcement was made during a report on threats against individuals. The case follows similar threat cases in the Eastern District of North Carolina. One defendant in North Carolina recently pled guilty to threatening former President Biden. Another related case is scheduled for trial this summer. The Department of Justice stated that threats against the President of the United States will not be tolerated. This plea follows dozens of cases involving threats against various individuals charged by the department over the past year.

Illinois state senators have introduced legislation aimed at implementing stricter online safety regulations. The proposed laws are designed to increase protections for children using digital platforms.

A Seattle-based coffee chain reported increased profits for the second consecutive quarter. CEO Brian Nicholl stated that the second quarter marked a milestone for the business, showing growth in both top and bottom lines.