Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication
WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court on Thursday preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of abortions in the U.S. last year. It marked the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. The justices concluded that the abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and the FDA’s subsequent actions to ease access to it. The widely watched case had the potential to to restrict access to mifepristone across the country, even in states where abortion remains legal.
Elon Musk wins back his huge Tesla payday in shareholder vote
DETROIT (AP) — Tesla shareholders have voted to restore CEO Elon Musk’s record $44.9 billion pay package that was thrown out by a Delaware judge earlier this year. Vote totals were not immediately announced. The favorable vote doesn’t mean CEO Musk will get the all-stock compensation anytime soon. The package is likely to remain tied up in the Delaware Chancery Court for months as Tesla appeals the rejection. The court ruled in January that Musk essentially controlled the Tesla board when it approved the package in 2018, and that it failed to fully inform shareholders who approved it the same year. Tesla has said it would appeal, but asked shareholders to reapprove the package at Thursday’s annual meeting.
Cheers, cake and a fist-bump from GOP as Trump returns to Capitol Hill in a first since Jan. 6 riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill to meet with House and Senate Republicans for the first time since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. GOP lawmakers find themselves newly energized and reinvigorated by Trump’s bid to retake the White House. This is despite the federal charges against Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and his recent guilty verdict in an unrelated hush money trial. He held an hour-long closed-door morning meeting with House Republicans and then was meeting with Senate Republicans at campaign headquarters near the Capitol to discuss party priorities. It’s his first visit as the party’s presumptive nominee.
Phoenix police have pattern of violating civil rights and using excessive force, Justice Dept. says
PHOENIX (AP) — The Justice Department says Phoenix police violate people’s rights, discriminate against Black, Hispanic and Native American people and use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force. A report released Thursday says the police department unlawfully detains homeless people and disposes of their belongings and discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities. And the Justice Department said Phoenix police had violated the rights of people engaged in protected speech. Phoenix police didn’t immediately respond to the justice department’s report, but referred further questions to the city. Attorney General Merrick Garland says the government is committed to working with the city and police on reform.
G7 summit opens with deal to use Russian assets for Ukraine as Italy flexes its right-wing muscles
BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden says the agreement to tap into the windfall profits on  frozen Russian assets held in Europe would put that money to work for Ukraine. He says it’ll also serve as a “reminder to Putin: We’re not backing down. In fact, we’re standing together against this illegal aggression.” Biden spoke after the first day of a  summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations
President Biden says he won’t offer commutation to his son Hunter after gun sentence
FASANO, Italy (AP) — President Joe Biden says he will not use his presidential powers to lessen the eventual sentence that his son Hunter will receive for his federal felony conviction on gun crimes. Biden, following the conclusion of a news conference held Thursday at the Group of Seven summit of the world’s wealthiest democracies, responded he would not when asked whether he plans to commute the sentence for his son. Hunter Biden’s sentencing date has not been set, and the three counts carry up to 25 years in prison, though that’s unlikely as a first-time offender.
White House preps ‘dreamers’ celebration while President Biden eyes new benefits for immigrants
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host a White House event next week celebrating an Obama-era directive that offered deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. That comes as his own administration prepares potential new benefits for others without legal status but with long-standing ties in the United States. White House officials are closing in on a plan that would tap Biden’s executive powers to shield spouses of U.S. citizens without legal status from deportation, offer them work permits and ease their path toward permanent residency and eventually American citizenship. The plan was described by five people with knowledge of the deliberations who were granted anonymity because the talks are private.
Tropical rainstorms in South Florida lead to flight delays and streets jammed with stalled cars
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A tropical disturbance that brought a rare flash flood emergency to much of southern Florida delayed flights at two of the state’s largest airports and left vehicles waterlogged and stalled in some of the region’s lowest-lying streets.  Travelers across the area were trying to adjust their plans on Thursday morning after more than 20 inches of rain has fallen in some areas of South Florida since Tuesday, with more on the way. The disorganized storm system was pushing across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico at roughly the same time as the early June start of hurricane season, which this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory amid concerns that climate change is increasing storm intensity.
Washington’s Makah Tribe could once again harpoon whales as US waives conservation law
SEATTLE (AP) — The United States has granted the Makah Indian Tribe in Washington state a long-sought waiver that helps clear the way for its first sanctioned whale hunts since 1999. The Makah is a tribe of 1,500 people on the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula and is the only American Indian tribe with a treaty that specifically mentions a right to hunt whales. But it has faced more than two decades of court challenges, bureaucratic hearings and scientific review as it seeks to resume hunting for gray whales. Thursday’s decision would allow the tribe to hunt up to 25 Eastern North Pacific gray whales over 10 years.
Atlanta Falcons forfeit fifth-round pick, fined for tampering with Kirk Cousins
The Atlanta Falcons were stripped of a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft on Thursday for violating the NFL’s anti-tampering rules prior to signing quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Falcons and Cousins agreed on a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed shortly after the league’s 52-hour legal tampering window opened. It’s normal for teams and players to reach agreements quickly and there were other players who agreed to deals even before Cousins. But Cousins’ comments at his introductory news conference raised questions that led to the NFL’s investigation.
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