What to Know
- A federal appeals court ruled against President Donald Trump's executive order targeting six Muslim-majority countries
- If the Republican health reform plan becomes law, states trying to save money on health insurance are likely to seek cuts on some services
- Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman is calling out an airport worker who she says questioned whether she had enough muscles to be a gymnast
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Trump Travel Ban Blocked; Fight Headed for Supreme Court
President Trump's revised travel ban "speaks with vague words of national security, but in context drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination," a federal appeals court said in ruling against the executive order targeting six Muslim-majority countries. Trump's administration vowed to take the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 10-3 vote, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the ban likely violates the Constitution. And it upheld a lower court ruling that blocks the Republican administration from cutting off visas for people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th Circuit is the first appeals court to rule on the revised travel ban unveiled in March. Trump's administration had hoped it would avoid the legal problems that the first version from January encountered. A second appeals court, the 9th U.S. Circuit based in San Francisco, is also weighing the revised travel ban after a federal judge in Hawaii blocked it. The Supreme Court almost certainly would step into the case if asked. The justices almost always have the final say when a lower court strikes down a federal law or presidential action.
Republican Gianforte Wins House Seat, Apologizes After Assault Charge
Republican Greg Gianforte won Montana's special congressional election barely a day after he was charged with misdemeanor assault following accusations that he body-slammed a reporter, NBC News reported. Gianforte, a technology entrepreneur, claimed about a 50- to 44-percent lead over Democrat Rob Quist. "Tonight Montanans are sending a message to the Washington, D.C., establishment," Gianforte told a cheering crowd in Boseman after the results were announced. Gianforte also addressed his assault charge and clash with a Guardian reporter. "I made a mistake, and I took an action that I can't take back," he said. "I should not have treated that reporter that way ... I am sorry."
UK Police Make New Arrest in Concert Bombing Investigation
Local
British police investigating the Manchester Arena bombing made a new arrest Friday while continuing to search addresses associated with the attacker who killed 22 people. Seven other men are in custody in connection with Monday's blast, all are being held on suspicion of offenses violating the Terrorism Act. Their ages ranged from 18 to 38. A 16-year-old boy who had been arrested was released without charge, police said. Britain's security level has been upgraded to "critical" meaning officials believe another attack may be imminent. Authorities are chasing possible links between the bomber, Salman Abedi, and militants in Manchester, elsewhere in Europe, and in North Africa and the Middle East.
Jared Kushner Under FBI Scrutiny in Russia Probe, Officials Say
Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and one of his senior advisers, has come under FBI scrutiny in the Russia investigation, multiple U.S. officials told NBC News. Investigators believe Kushner has significant information relevant to their inquiry, officials said. That does not mean they suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him, NBC News reported. The FBI’s scrutiny of Kushner places the bureau’s sprawling counterintelligence and criminal investigation inside the Trump family circle. Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump are among the president's closest confidants and they have both assumed substantial roles in the White House; Ivanka Trump is an unpaid assistant to the president and Kushner is a senior adviser. Although Kushner has met with with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Russian banker Sergey Gorkov, it's unclear exactly why he has drawn the interest of the FBI.
How the GOP Bill Could Affect “Essential Health Benefits”
If the Republican health reform plan becomes law, states trying to save money on health insurance are likely to seek cuts on services like maternity care, mental health and dentist visits for kids, the Congressional Budget Office found. NBC News reports that health care advocates find the lack of an "essential health benefits" coverage requirement in the bill, passed by the House before the CBO score was released, will leave many patients without adequate coverage. "Women and their families will pay higher costs and receive less coverage, especially for maternity care, under the American Health Care Act," said Stacey Stewart, president of the March of Dimes, which funds research to prevent birth defects. Essential benefits requirements from "Obamacare" are very popular with American voters. The CBO predicted that some states will opt out of them, so they can seek lower premiums, leaving some people living there likely priced out of the market.
Man Arrested Inside Sandra Bullock's Home Convicted of Stalking
A man who broke into Sandra Bullock's home in 2014 and forced the Oscar-winning actress to hide in her closet while calling police has been sentenced to continued mental health treatment and probation after pleading no contest to felony stalking and burglary charges. Joshua James Corbett entered the plea and was also ordered to stay away from the actress and not attempt to contact her for 10 years. He was arrested inside Bullock's residence in June 2014 and authorities later uncovered a cache of illegal weapons at his home, but all weapons charges were dropped. Corbett entered the no contest plea without having an agreement for sentencing with prosecutors, the district attorney's spokesman said. Bullock never personally appeared during the case, but her frantic 15-minute 911 call was a key piece of evidence that led a judge in 2015 to order Corbett to stand trial. Corbett, 41, has received mental health evaluations while in custody and his attorneys had hoped to resolve the case with an agreement that ensured he received continued mental health treatment.
Aly Raisman Calls Out Airport Worker for “Muscles” Comment
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman is calling out an airport security worker who she says questioned whether she had enough muscles to be a gymnast. Raisman posted on Twitter that after a female Transportation Security Administration worker said she recognized Raisman by her biceps, a male employee said, "I don't see any muscles." Raisman called the encounter "rude & uncomfortable." Raisman, who turned 23 Thursday, says she works "very hard to be healthy & fit." She says that if a man can't compliment a girl's muscles, he's sexist. Raisman didn't say where or when the airport exchange took place.
