Republican progress on immigration bill stalls out over Trump’s ballroom, DOJ settlement

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans appear increasingly unlikely to meet their self-imposed deadline for passing a roughly $70 billion immigration enforcement bill this week as questions about security funding for the White House and the Trump administraton’s $1.8 trillion settlement fund effectively derailed progress. Republicans were already expected to abandon $1 billion in security money for the White House complex and President Donald Trump’s ballroom amid backlash from members of their own party. But then questions about the the settlement fund added to some of the senator’s concerns. They are questioning the timing of the request and who would get the money.

Facing intense internal pressure, DNC releases postelection autopsy that criticizes Kamala Harris

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has released a critical study of the party’s performance in the 2024 campaign. His decision on Thursday followed intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic operatives who had publicly demanded the release of the postelection autopsy. The 192-page report, which was concluded last December and authored by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, calls for “a renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South, who have come to believe they are not included in the Democratic vision of a stronger and more dynamic America for everyone.” The autopsy also points to a reduction in support and training for Democratic state parties, voter registration shifts, and “a persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”

Trump calls off plan to sign artificial intelligence order due to concern it could hurt the industry

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has called off plans to sign a new executive order on artificial intelligence hours before an expected White House ceremony. He says he’s worried the measure could dull America’s edge on AI technology. order on artificial intelligence because he worried it could dull America’s edge on AI technology. Trump said he was postponing the Thursday signing because he didn’t like what he saw in the order’s text. The push for some kind of government action to vet the most powerful AI systems follows growing concern within the banking industry and other institutions about the leaps in AI’s abilities to find cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the world’s software.

Ukraine says its drones hit another refinery deep inside Russia as long-range strikes escalate

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian drones have struck another Russian refinery, igniting a fire and producing massive black smoke. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that the attack targeted the Syzran oil refinery, over 500 miles inside Russia. The governor of Russia’s Samara region reported two deaths but did not mention the refinery. Ukraine has expanded its strike capabilities, frequently targeting Russian oil assets that fund Moscow’s invasion. These attacks have pressured Moscow’s economy and President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s intensified campaign has also supported recent battlefield gains, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Trump eases refrigerant rule in a bid to address surging grocery costs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is loosening a federal rule that requires grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment. Officials say the change reflects a push to lower grocery costs. President Donald Trump announced the changes at a White House event Thursday. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency says the Biden-era refrigerant rule imposes costly restrictions that limit the type of refrigerants that businesses and families can use. But it’s not clear how much or how quickly the loosening of the refrigerant rule might ease grocery prices. Industry groups said the move could even raise prices because manufacturers have already redesigned products and retooled factories to build and service next-generation equipment.

Residents burn an Ebola treatment center in Congo as anger grows over the outbreak

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — People have set fire to an Ebola treatment center in one of the towns at the heart of the outbreak in eastern Congo as fear and anger grows over a health crisis authorities and aid agencies are struggling to contain. Aid groups and experts have warned of the steep challenges in slowing the outbreak of a rare Ebola virus that spread for weeks before it was identified. It’s hit a region long beset by problems of insecurity, insufficient facilities and the large displacement of people. Authorities have so far announced 148 suspected deaths and nearly 600 suspected cases, though the World Health Organization says the scale of the outbreak is much bigger.

Some see white livestreamer’s freedom of speech claims as cover for race-baiting

Experts say free speech claims by a white livestreamer charged with shooting a Black man outside a Tennessee courthouse don’t constitute a blanket shield if unwanted interactions escalate and result in violence. As more users of livestreaming social media platforms find being performative with racist language can draw big bucks, the line is blurring between freedom of expression and people’s right to feel safe. Even within livestreaming communities, some assert they have a right to say whatever and earn revenue while others support setting boundaries. Racial justice advocates worry throwing money into the equation will only heighten and normalize racist antics. Dalton Eatherly, who goes by the moniker “Chud the Builder,” is facing attempted murder and other charges.

Woman at center of sprawling Minnesota fraud case gets nearly 42-year prison sentence

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The former leader of a Minnesota nonprofit has been sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison for her role in a staggering $250 million fraud case. Aimee Bock ran Feeding Our Future, which had claimed it provided millions of meals to children in need during the pandemic. She appeared Thursday in Minneapolis federal court. Her lawyer had argued for a sentence of no more than three years, saying she had been unfairly painted as the mastermind. Authorities later announced charges against 15 more people accused of fraud in receiving federal payments for a variety of social services in Minnesota.

Tennessee governor grants Tony Carruthers one-year stay after his execution was halted

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has granted a one-year stay of execution for Tony Carruthers after difficulties establishing an intravenous line forced officials to call off his lethal injection. Maria DeLiberato, an attorney for Carruthers, was addressing reporters when the reprieve was announced Thursday and began crying. DeLiberato said she saw Carruthers “wincing and groaning” while officials attempted to find a vein, calling it “horrible” to watch. Carruthers was sentenced to death after he was found guilty of the 1994 kidnappings and murders of three people in Memphis.

Memorial Day: Higher fuel prices have some Americans scaling back their travel plans

Higher fuel prices and other inflationary pressures are making most forms of travel more expensive as Memorial Day kicks off the summer season in the U.S. Industry forecasts show millions of people still plan to get away during the holiday weekend and over the summer. But elevated prices may be changing the types of trips they take. The nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that Americans will collectively spend an extra $3.5 billion on gasoline this long weekend. The latest consumer price index showed airfares were 20.7% higher in April than a year earlier. Some travelers are opting for shorter getaways, closer destinations and low-cost activities like hiking.