Gallup: Americans using less cash, foresee a ‘cashless’ future
Fewer Americans are using cash for purchases than five years ago and two-thirds foresee a cashless future in their lifetimes, according to a new Gallup poll released Thursday.
Washington
Against the odds, Biden inches closer to nuclear deal with Iran
The Biden administration on Wednesday inched closer to restarting a controversial nuclear deal with Iran, brushing aside stark warnings from key American ally Israel and sidestepping mounting evidence that Tehran and its proxies have not moderated their behavior on other fronts and remain intent on targeting U.S. troops, officials, allies and interests.
US carries out airstrikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria
The US military on Tuesday carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran-backed forces in Syria, emphasizing these were conducted solely to protect American troops in the region and not to escalate tensions, the Washington Examiner reports.
Nuclear deal moves closer as US says Iran has ‘finally crossed the Rubicon’
Iran has dropped some of its main demands on resurrecting a deal to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program, including its insistence that international inspectors close some probes of its atomic program, bringing the possibility of an agreement closer, a senior US official told Reuters on Monday.
Durham loses key prosecutor in case against source of anti-Trump dossier as trial looms
A top prosecutor for special counsel John Durham has withdrawn from the criminal case against Igor Danchenko, who was a source for the anti-Trump Steele dossier, less than two months before the trial is set to begin.
US, S. Korea open biggest drills in years amid North threats
The United States and South Korea began their biggest combined military training in years Monday as they heighten their defense posture against the growing North Korean nuclear threat.
Gallup: Most Americans oppose vaccine mandates for grade schoolers
Less than half of Americans support making elementary students get COVID-19 vaccines as they return to school this month, according to a new Gallup poll.
Biden administration exempts religious schools from LGBTQ mandate on lunch funding
Private religious schools won’t be required to comply with the Biden administration’s gender mandate to qualify for student-lunch funding under a newly released exemption.
Cancer-causing chemicals contaminating water worldwide, University of Stockholm study says
There’s rainwater everywhere, but none of it is safe to drink because of man-made “forever chemicals” worldwide, according to a new study from the University of Stockholm.
Russia halts U.S. inspections of its nuclear arsenals
Russia on Monday announced a freeze on U.S. inspections of its nuclear arsenals under a pivotal arms control treaty, claiming that Western sanctions have hampered similar tours of U.S. facilities by Russian monitors.
Christian school fights to pray over loudspeaker at games, cites Supreme Court ruling
A Christian school in Florida is arguing for its right to air prayers on the loudspeaker at state championship sports events, pointing to the Supreme Court’s ruling this summer in favor of a Washington state public high school football coach who prayed on the 50-yard-line after games.
Christian school keeps school lunch funding despite refusing Biden admin’s Title IX expansion
A Christian school will be able to keep getting government funding for lunches, even though it does not abide by the Biden administration’schange to Title IX to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Senate passes Inflation Reduction Act after all-night vote series
The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act along party lines following hours of debate and a flurry of amendments that stretched through Saturday night and into Sunday afternoon.
Judge rules transgender surgeries must be covered by Medicaid
A federal judge ruled this week that the state of West Virginia must allow transgender patients covered by Medicaid to receive gender transforming surgeries, reasoning that individuals with a gender dysphoria diagnosis must be treated the same as those suffering from other medical conditions.
NASA releases astonishing image of Cartwheel Galaxy taken by James Webb Telescope
NASA on Tuesday released a spectacular image of a Cartwheel Galaxy that was taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, the Washington Examiner reports. Released on Tuesday, the image reportedly gives scientists new information about how stars are born and about the black hole at the core of the galaxy.
Biden Signs Pro-Abortion Executive Order, Defying Church
U.S. President Joe Biden signed a new executive order on Wednesday that he said aims “to protect access to reproductive healthcare” after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion.
U.S. to sell Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia in deal worth $3 billion
The U.S. government this week signed off on the sale of 300 Patriot missiles and related support equipment to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at more than $3 billion, defense officials said Tuesday.
Company to pay millions to employees over denying religious exemptions to COVID-19 shots
A Chicago-area hospital system could pay more than $10 million for denying employees religious accommodations to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to a proposed settlement negotiation pending before an Illinois federal court.
US: Catholic school entitled to fire employee who entered same-sex marriage, appeals court rules
A federal appeals court in Chicago on Thursday upheld the decision of a Catholic high school to fire a guidance counselor who entered a same-sex marriage after she began her employment there, the Washington Times reports.
Christian university sues Washington state to preserve anti-LGBTQ hiring practices
A Christian university in Seattle is suing the attorney general of Washington state, claiming that his office is interfering with the school’s First Amendment right to follow its religious beliefs and prohibiting staff from engaging in “same-sex marriage and activity,” Courthouse News reports.