National News
National News

U.S. Will Protect Gay And Transgender People Against Discrimination In Health Care
Gay and transgender people will be protected from discrimination in health care, the Biden administration announced Monday, effectively reversing a Trump-era rule that went into effect last year.

Ransomware Attack Shuts Down A Top U.S. Gasoline Pipeline
A ransomware attack has shut down one of the largest refined products pipelines in the United States, and a security analyst said it shows that “core elements of our national infrastructure” remain vulnerable to cyberattack.

In Response To Justice Department, Arizona Senate Republicans Halt Plan To Canvass Voters
Responding to concerns raised by the U.S. Justice Department about aspects of a controversial election review, the leader of Arizona’s state Senate says plans to go door-to-door asking residents about their voting history are “indefinitely” on hold.

Justice Department Brings Federal Criminal Charges Against Derek Chauvin, 3 Others
The Justice Department has filed federal criminal charges against Derek Chauvin, accusing the former police officer of using excessive force and violating the civil rights of George Floyd. Floyd died after Chauvin pressed on his neck for more than nine minutes on the pavement outside a convenience store last year in Minneapolis.

Judge Strikes Down Federal Eviction Moratorium, Setting Up High-Stakes Appeal
A federal judge has issued a sweeping ruling that would revoke a pandemic eviction moratorium put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Facebook Ban On Donald Trump Will Hold, At Least For Now, Company’s Oversight Board Rules
Facebook was justified in its decision to suspend then-President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the company’s Oversight Board said on Wednesday.

Derek Chauvin Files For New Trial In George Floyd Murder Case
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin who was convicted last month of murdering George Floyd filed court documents for a new trial on Tuesday.

Why Lagging COVID Vaccine Rate At Rural Hospitals ‘Needs To Be Fixed Now’
President Biden on Tuesday is set to announce new steps to reach rural Americans in the push to get as many people as possible vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official tells NPR. This emphasis comes as rural hospitals are raising alarms about the pace of vaccination — even among their own employees.

U.S.-Mexico Efforts Targeting Drug Cartels Have Unraveled, Top DEA Official Says
A senior Drug Enforcement Administration official told NPR efforts to target drug cartels operating inside Mexico have unraveled because of a breakdown in cooperation between law enforcement agencies and militaries in the two countries.

Idaho’s Transgender Sports Ban, Basis For Other States’ Bans, Faces A Major Legal Hurdle
Do transgender women and girls have a constitutional right to play on women’s sports teams? That question will be argued before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday.

Wyoming Doubles Down On Coal With Threat To Sue Other Western States, Including Washington
Last year, Wyoming and Montana — another major coal state — asked the Supreme Court to override a decision by Washington state to deny a permit to build a coal export dock on the Columbia River. The interstate lawsuit followed years of unsuccessful attempts by the dock’s developer, Utah-based Lighthouse Resources, to contest the permit denial in federal court.

Pope Francis Issues Orders Aimed At Cracking Down On Vatican Corruption
Pope Francis is taking additional steps to crack down on corruption at the Vatican by decreeing that all bishops and cardinals be tried if they are suspected of criminal behavior. This marks the second time in two days that the pope has worked to hold top church officials accountable for their actions.