Texas lawmakers approve letting private citizens sue abortion pill providers
A bill that would let Texas residents sue out-of-state abortion pill providers for up to $100,000 has been passed by lawmakers and sent to the governor. It’s the first legislation of its kind in any state. Supporters hail it as a tool to stop medication abortions, which remain available despite being illegal in Texas. Abortion rights groups deride it as a “bounty hunter bill” that would encourage private citizens to engage in a form of legalized vigilante justice. Lawmakers agreed to cap the award for most people at $10,000, with the other $90,000 to go to charity. If the law is signed, it’s likely to face legal challenges.
Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates that have been a cornerstone of public health policy for decades in keeping schoolchildren and citizens safe from infectious diseases. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo describes current vaccine requirements as an immoral intrusion on rights. He argues that parents should make health decisions for their children. Vaccines have been proven over decades of use to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among schoolchildren. Dr. Rana Alissa from the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that removing vaccines increases risks for students and staff.
Epstein survivors implore Congress to act as push for disclosure builds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have gathered on Capitol Hill to demand the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier. On Wednesday, they pushed back against President Donald Trump's dismissal of the issue as a "hoax." During a news conference, the women shared their experiences and called for transparency and accountability. Lawmakers are divided on how to proceed, with some Republicans supporting a bill to force the Department of Justice to release records. The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee has released some documents. Survivors see this as a crucial moment for justice and accountability.
Famed streetcar in Lisbon, Portugal, derails and crashes, killing 15 people
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese emergency services say an electric streetcar that is one of Lisbon’s big tourist attractions has derailed, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others. Emergency response officials said five of the injured are in serious condition and a child is among the injured. It said an unknown number of the injured are foreigners. The yellow-and-white streetcar, which goes up and down a steep downtown hill in tandem with one going the opposite way, was lying on its side on the narrow road after Wednesday's accident. Eyewitnesses said the streetcar careened down the hill, apparently out of control. The City Council suspended operations of other streetcars in Lisbon and ordered immediate inspections.
Judge reverses Trump administration's cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Boston has ordered the reversal of over $2.6 billion in federal funding cuts to Harvard University. The ruling, issued Wednesday, marks a significant victory for Harvard in its legal battle with the Trump administration. Judge Allison Burroughs found the cuts were illegal retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to comply with White House demands on governance and policies. The administration had linked the funding freezes to antisemitism issues on campus, but the judge called this a smokescreen. The White House said the administration would appeal the decision, making it unlikely that researchers receive funding any time soon.
Trump says US strike targeting Venezuelan gang will cause cartels to think twice
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is justifying the lethal military strike that his administration said was carried out a day earlier against a Venezuelan gang as a necessary effort by the United States to send an unmistakable message to Latin American cartels. Meawhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that such operations “will happen again.” Rubio at news conference as he visited Mexico City on Wednesday added that previous U.S. interdiction efforts in Latin America have not worked. He said, “What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them."
Trump suggests National Guard could go into New Orleans, a blue city in a red state
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Trump suggests New Orleans could be his next target for deploying the National Guard to fight crime. This follows his decision to send additional law enforcement to Chicago and Baltimore. Trump said Wednesday that Louisiana's Republican governor wanted him to send in law enforcement to help police the state's biggest city. City leaders are balking at the idea. City Councilmember Oliver Thomas noted that crime has decreased in New Orleans and calls the move "very political or a major overreaction!” Trump’s latest comments came a day after he suggested that the National Guard might soon be deployed to Chicago and Baltimore.
With Israeli advance looming, Palestinians in Gaza City ask when to leave and where to go
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — With Israel promising a punishing new offensive, Palestinians in Gaza's largest city are paralyzed with fear. They are unsure where to go, when to leave and if they will ever return. Israel has declared Gaza City to be a combat zone while the military moves forward with plans to overtake it in a campaign to crush Hamas. Parts of the city are already considered “red zones,” where Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate ahead of expected heavy fighting. That has left people there on edge. Departing the city now could mean leaving for good, but staying behind could be deadly.
'Ketamine Queen' pleads guilty to selling fatal dose to Matthew Perry
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” has pleaded guilty to selling Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him. Jasveen Sangha became the fifth and final defendant charged in the overdose death of the “Friends” star to plead guilty Wednesday after an agreement with federal prosecutors. The plea means the 42-year-old will avoid a trial that had been planned for later this month. Prosecutors cast Sangha as a prolific drug dealer who sought to sell especially to celebrities and other wealthy customers. According to court documents, she sold Perry 25 vials of ketamine four days before his death from an overdose of the drug.
Conservative news network Newsmax files antitrust lawsuit against Fox News
NEW YORK (AP) — The conservative news network Newsmax has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News. It said Fox has sought to maintain its market dominance through intimidation and exclusionary business practices designed to stifle competition. The lawsuit says Fox has sought to block television distributors from carrying Newsmax or minimize its exposure, pressured guests not to appear on the rival network and hired private detectives to investigate Newsmax executives. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in south Florida. Newsmax seeks a jury trial. Fox, in a statement, said “Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they can’t attract viewers.”
