VA Rule Changes Spark Concerns Over Patient Discrimination
The Department of Veterans Affairs has imposed new guidelines on VA hospitals nationwide that remove language that explicitly prohibited doctors from discriminating against patients based on their political beliefs or marital status. The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers. Under federal law, eligible veterans must be given hospital care and services, and the revised VA hospital rules still instruct medical staff that they cannot discriminate against veterans on the basis of race, color, religion and sex.
Minnesota Mourns Politician Killed in Political Attack
By Mike Wendling Jessie Ebertz held back tears as she stood in front of a makeshift memorial honouring Democratic politician Melissa Hortman and her husband who were killed last week. “Minnesota has felt a little bit like a safe haven,” said Ms Ebertz, a government employee who lives in the state capital,“because we have been able to keep our atmosphere of respecting one another here.” “This has blown that out of the water.” The death of Hortman and her husband, Mark, has sent a shockwave through the state. They were shot dead early on Saturday morning by a man disguised
Judge Reverses Trump-Era Ban on DEI, LGBTQ Health Grants
By Joseph Choi A federal judge on Monday ruled that the Trump administration’s canceling of federal health grants over their connections to “gender ideology” and “diversity, equity, and inclusion” was unlawful and void. U.S. District Court Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, ruled on Monday that targeting research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) based on certain topics was unlawful and arbitrary. The federal government has been directed to immediately make the funds available to grant recipients again. In February, the NIH issued directives terminating grants relating to LGBTQ issues; gender identity; and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Trump Leaves G7 Early Amid Escalating Iran-Israel Crisis
By Danielle Kurtzleben President Trump left the G7 in Canada early to return to Washington to focus on the conflict in the Middle East, telling reporters, “I have to be back as soon as I can.” Trump departed at the end of the first day of the summit in the Canadian Rockies, where trade issues had been expected to be a major focus. But instead, the Iran-Israel strikes dominated the discussions, with leaders signing a joint statement on the conflict. “I have to be back. It’s very important,” Trump told reporters after posing for the traditional ‘family photo’ with the
Congress to Get Briefed Amid Rising Political Violence
By Kaia Hubbard Members of Congress will receive security briefings this week after a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were killed, and another state lawmaker and his wife wounded in targeted shootings on Saturday. Senators are set to receive a security briefing from the Senate Sergeant at Arms and the U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday. The briefing comes at the request of Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer said Sunday that the bipartisan briefing would concern security for Senate members and the country more broadly. “We have to reevaluate how we are protecting members
Judge Blocks Trump Ban on DEI, Trans Rights in Grants
A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing anti-diversity and anti-transgender executive orders in grant funding requirements that LGBTQ+ organizations say are unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar said Monday that the federal government cannot force recipients to halt programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion or acknowledge the existence of transgender people in order to receive grant funding. The order will remain in effect while the legal case continues, although government lawyers will likely appeal. The funding provisions “reflect an effort to censor constitutionally protected speech and services promoting DEI and recognizing the existence of
Senator Padilla Forcibly Removed at Noem DHS Briefing
Written By Lexx Thornton Senator Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed and handcuffed after interrupting a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, in an episode that deepened partisan tensions over the Trump Administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts in Los Angeles. The confrontation came shortly after Noem made a forceful declaration of the federal government’s intentions in the city. “We are continuing to sustain and increase our operations inthis city, we are not going away. We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and burden some leadership that this governor and this
HBCU Innovation Internship Graduates Third Cohort
Written By Lexx Thornton The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) graduated the third cohort of the HBCU Innovation Internship Program on Friday, April 4. The event, held at Innovation Depot in downtown Birmingham, was not one of pomp and circumstance but instead was a professional development opportunity for the graduating participants, as well as members of the incoming fourth cohort. Students had the opportunity to sharpen their networking and interview skills with group and one-on-one talks with professionals from Alabama Power and other area businesses and organizations. Graduating participants made presentations sharing highlights of their internship experience. For the
Trump-Backed Cuts Threaten Public Media in Red States
By Scott McFarlane The looming federal funding cuts to public television and radio would overwhelmingly gut outlets in states won by President Trump in 2024, according to a new congressional report. Approximately 60% of the hundreds of radio and television stations that could suffer funding cuts are in Trump-won states, according to a congressional report obtained by CBS News from Senate Democrats. The organizations that would be affected include public media outlets in cities as large as Houston and Miami, as well as smaller stations in tiny communities like Douglas, Wyoming, which has a population of 6,000 and hosts the
CDC Staff Protest Firings and Vaccine Panel Dismissals
By Brandy Zadrozny, Aria Bendix and Erika Edwards Tuesday’s scheduled all-hands meeting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would have been the first during the new Trump administration. Instead, after it was canceled at the last minute, dozens of current and former employees at the country’s leading public health agency rallied outside CDC headquarters in Atlanta to protest what they described as a wave of unlawful firings, the dismantling of lifesaving programs and the censorship of science. Amid the roar of cowbells and car horns, protesters held colorful signs with sharp messages, including “Save CDC,”“RFK’s War on Kids”
