TSA Workers Finally Paid After 44 Days, but Challenges Continue
After a 44‑day shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security issued retroactive paychecks to most TSA employees, ending weeks of unpaid work. However, staffing gaps persist, leading to longer security lines and continued absenteeism. The prolonged financial hardship has driven some agents to resign, forfeiting their security clearances and worsening morale. Union leaders are pressing lawmakers for reliable funding to prevent future shutdowns.
Iran Rejects Trump's Ceasefire Terms and Issues Own Demands as War Continues
Iran's military spokesperson rejected a U.S. cease‑fire proposal that included sanctions relief, nuclear monitoring, missile limits, and Strait of Hormuz de‑escalation, marking the fourth week of continuous airstrikes across the Middle East. The 15‑point plan, reportedly mediated by Pakistan, was...
Mideast Experts Analyze State of Iran War and Diplomatic Efforts to End It
In a recent interview, former State Department adviser Ray Takeyh and veteran diplomat Alan Eyre assessed the ongoing Iran‑U.S./Israel conflict. Both acknowledge that diplomatic proposals from Washington and Iraq remain far apart, making a direct cease‑fire unlikely. Iran continues to sustain a...
News Wrap: Mullin Sworn in as Homeland Security Secretary
Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security amid a month‑long DHS shutdown. He leaves his Oklahoma Senate seat, which was quickly filled by a Republican appointee. Republicans are negotiating a funding deal...
News Wrap: Senate on Track to Confirm Mullin as DHS Secretary
The U.S. Senate is poised to confirm Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the next Secretary of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem who was dismissed after controversy over immigration enforcement. Mullin, a longtime ally of former President Trump’s immigration agenda, secured...
Supreme Court Hears Mail-In Ballot Case that Could Impact the Midterms
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by the Republican National Committee challenging state laws that permit mail‑in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted after Election Day. Currently, 14 states and the District of Columbia...
Geoff Bennett Explores Black Comedy's History and Cultural Impact in 'Black Out Loud'
Geoff Bennett’s new book, *Black Out Loud*, chronicles the long‑standing history of Black comedy in America, zeroing in on the 1990s boom of sitcoms and sketch shows such as *In Living Color* and *Living Single*. The work blends oral histories...
Federal Immigration Agents Sent to U.S. Airports to Support Security During Budget Impasse
President Donald Trump announced that ICE officers will be deployed to major U.S. airports to assist the TSA amid a partial DHS shutdown caused by a budget impasse. Hundreds of thousands of TSA, Secret Service and Coast Guard employees have...
Sen. Scott Says U.S. Should Balance Budget but Also 'Demolish' Iran's Nuclear Ability
Senator Rick Scott warned that the United States must both demolish Iran’s nuclear and ballistic‑missile capabilities and keep a tight lid on federal spending. He noted the Pentagon’s likely request for $200 billion to sustain the three‑week‑old conflict, insisting any funding...
Flight Cancellations Pile up After Storms Dump Snow in the Midwest and Head East
A powerful storm system dumped heavy snow across the Midwest and moved east, triggering massive flight disruptions. On Tuesday airlines canceled more than 1,000 U.S. flights and delayed about 4,200, while Monday’s cancellations topped 4,800 with 12,800 delays. The worst...
A Successful USDA Program that Has Supported More than 533,000 Affordable Rental Homes in Rural America Is Being Phased Out
The USDA’s Section 515 loan program, launched in 1963, has financed more than 533,000 affordable rental units across rural America. By offering below‑market‑rate loans to developers, it keeps rents around $325 a month for households earning roughly $16,000 annually. No new...
Powerful Winds and Extreme Weather Knock Out Power, Damage Property and Fuel Wildfires Across Parts of U.S.
Powerful wind gusts across the Great Lakes region left nearly half a million customers without electricity and caused extensive property damage in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Wind speeds topped 85 mph in Cleveland and 66 mph at Pittsburgh International, toppling structures and...
Construction Finishes on a Major Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farm, the First During Trump's Time in Office
Construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm off Massachusetts has been completed, delivering 800 MW from 62 turbines—enough for roughly 400,000 homes. The project survived a Trump‑era halt that cited national‑security concerns, but federal judges allowed it to resume. Developers Avangrid...
Middle East Analysts on What the Iran War Has Accomplished and How It Might End
Analysts Alan Eyre and Behnam Ben Taleblu assess the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, noting that the IRGC has retained hard‑line control while the conflict has crippled Iran's ability to project power. They argue that military successes have also heightened Tehran’s...
Remembering Neon Artist and Glass-Bending Master Wil Kirkman
Wil Kirkman, a Boise‑based neon artist and glass‑bending specialist, passed away from cancer in 2025, leaving a legacy as one of Idaho's last practitioners of the craft. Known for creating and repairing intricate glass light fixtures, he worked with neon...
Iran Targets Commercial Ships, Dubai Airport and Oil Facilities as Concerns Grow over Global Energy
Iran launched drone and projectile attacks on commercial vessels, Dubai International Airport, and regional oil facilities, expanding its campaign amid escalating Gulf conflict. The strikes wounded four people at the airport, set a Thai cargo ship ablaze, and prompted interceptions...
A Look at Evidence Linking U.S. to Iranian School Strike
U.S. officials are investigating a June explosion that devastated a school adjacent to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard navy base, killing more than 150 people, most of them schoolgirls. Video and satellite analysis point to an American Tomahawk cruise missile as...
Kentucky Soldier Stationed in Saudi Arabia Is 7th U.S. Military Death in Iran War
Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, a 26‑year‑old from Glendale, Kentucky, became the seventh U.S. service member killed in combat during the Iran war after being wounded in a March 1 attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Pennington served in...