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Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington hold their primary elections today. The spotlight will be on Michigan, where winning an open Senate seat is crucial for Democrats as they vie to regain control of the chamber. Michigan voters will choose between two Democratic candidates who are competing to face Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers in the November midterm elections. Here's what you should know about the five states holding primaries today.
A man walks outside Lincoln Liquor & Wine on Monday in Oak Park, Mich. The highly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is bringing national attention to Michigan ahead of voting on Tuesday. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to move forward with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation vote today after Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis dropped their objections. Their change of heart came after Blanche provided written confirmation that the controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" established by the Department of Justice would be rescinded. The fund, which was created as part of a settlement deal for a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, had been a sticking point in Blanche's confirmation process. Critics pointed out its potential to compensate the president's allies and the Jan. 6 rioters. Blanche also provided written confirmation that a tax immunity deal that was part of the settlement would only apply retroactively to the president, two of his sons and the Trump organization. With the fund off the table, Cornyn and Tillis released a statement yesterday saying they "look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon."
The Spokane County Sheriff's Department has arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci on charges of first-degree arson in connection with one of the area's most destructive fires. Firefighters in Spokane, Wash., are battling three major wildfires — the Old Trails Fire, Autumn Lane Fire, and Fairview Fire — that have displaced around 65,000 people since last weekend. The fires have burned over 7,000 acres and destroyed approximately 600 homes. Photos from the area show the extent of the devastation.
After months of investigating, the bipartisan House Ethics Committee published a 20-page report recommending that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) be censured because of Edwards' "persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers." The committee said it did not find any evidence that the congressman propositioned or engaged in sexual activity with his staffers. The congressman's lawyers argued that the panel did not show that the staffers communicated their discomfort to Edwards.
Far out in the Pacific Ocean are tiny islands that few have seen. These pristine epicenters of biodiversity are teeming with life, from thriving coral reefs to sharks and seabird colonies. The Trump administration is now opening some of these waters — much of which are safeguarded as U.S. marine national monuments and sanctuaries — to commercial fishing. Hawaii's fishing fleet supports the move. People in the industry say they're facing increasing competition and rising diesel costs, and that opening the Pacific Marine Monument waters could give them more opportunities. But many Native Hawaiian cultural groups oppose this decision, viewing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as sacred. Conservationists also warn that, amid climate change, these marine areas require the highest level of protection to sustain their vibrant ecosystems.
📷 This area, far out in the Pacific Ocean, rarely gets visitors ... but NPR journalists went and documented the wildlife there. See the images from their visit now on the NPR app.
Seven-year-old Khalib Townsend poses with conservation biologist Keith Russel at the Audubon Discovery Center in Philadelphia. Beck Harlan for NPR hide caption
Seven-year-old Khalib Townsend is a first-grader with a huge love for nature and big dreams of becoming a conservation scientist. To help keep his early passion for science alive, NPR connected Khalib with someone who does his dream job: Keith Russell, a conservation scientist at the Audubon Discovery Center in Philadelphia. This spring, they went on a bird walk along the Discovery Center's nature trail, and Townsend got to interview Russell all about his career. NPR tagged along on the journey. Listen to their conversation and read about how the interview went.
U.S. Soccer and Mauricio Pochettino have agreed to a new contract that extends the men's national team coach's tenure through 2030. Martin Meissner/AP hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Source: NPR - Politics
