The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently denied a request from health officials in Milwaukee to investigate a lead poisoning crisis in that city’s aging schools. Instead, the city’s 67,500 public school students seem to be caught in the crosshairs of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mission to massively overhaul the Department of Health and Human Services.

“I sincerely regret to inform you that due to the complete loss of our Lead Program, we will be unable to support you with this,” Aaron Bernstein, director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, told city officials in an email obtained by CBS News.

Kennedy is a longtime vaccine skeptic whose unorthodox approach to health and medicine has made him a perfect acolyte for Donald Trump and his best known sidekick, Elon Musk. Despite recently flip-flopping on the measles vaccine after a recent outbreak in Texas, he’s also forced a top vaccine official out of office and killed the National Institutes of Health’s climate change programs.

As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy promised to cut 10,000 of the agency’s 82,000 jobs in an effort to streamline the federal government’s efficiency. “We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl,” Kennedy told reporters in March, according to the Guardian. “We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic.”

On Friday, Federal District Court Judge Paula Xinis ruled that the Trump administration had failed to comply with a court order requiring it to provide information about what it is doing to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the US government mistakenly sent to one of the world’s worst prisons in El Salvador.

When Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign appeared in federal court in Maryland earlier on Friday, he had no information to provide about what his client, the Trump administration, had done to comply with her order. 

“Have they done anything?” Xinis asked, according to the Hill. 

“Your honor, I don’t have personal knowledge,” Ensign replied. 

On March 15, federal agents rounded up more than 230 Venezuelan nationals who were then deported to El Salvador and locked up in the country’s notorious megaprison. The Trump administration said the men belonged to a violent Venezuelan gang, but presented no evidence, and there were no court hearings in which the men could contest the allegations. 

Nearly a month later, families of the Venezuelan men say they have heard nothing about their fate. It’s as if they disappeared. 

“We’re living in a world where you can just be rounded up with no hearing, not even an administrative hearing, nothing,” says immigration attorney Joseph Giardina. “Why couldn’t you have let their cases be adjudicated? There’s no logical answer other than a publicity stunt.” 

On March 15, federal agents rounded up more than 230 Venezuelan nationals who were then deported to El Salvador and locked up in the country’s notorious megaprison. The Trump administration said the men belonged to a violent Venezuelan gang, but presented no evidence, and there were no court hearings in which the men could contest the allegations. 

Nearly a month later, families of the Venezuelan men say they have heard nothing about their fate. It’s as if they disappeared. 

“We’re living in a world where you can just be rounded up with no hearing, not even an administrative hearing, nothing,” says immigration attorney Joseph Giardina. “Why couldn’t you have let their cases be adjudicated? There’s no logical answer other than a publicity stunt.” 

This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Dogs have “extensive and multifarious” environmental impacts, disturbing wildlife, polluting waterways and contributing to carbon emissions, new research has found.

An Australian review of existing studies has argued that “the environmental impact of owned dogs is far greater, more insidious, and more concerning than is generally recognised”.

While the environmental impact of cats is well known, the comparative effect of pet dogs has been poorly acknowledged, the researchers said.

A Louisiana immigration judge ruled Friday that recent Columbia graduate and Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported—even though Khalil has a green card, is a lawful permanent resident, and has not been charged with any crimes.

The judge gave Khalil’s attorneys until April 23 to ask for a stay of the deportation. There is a separate case in federal court in New Jersey still ongoing over whether Khalil’s arrest on March 8th violated his First Amendment rights.

The rationale for deporting Khalil is obscure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio submitted a two-page letter arguing, essentially, that Khalil is deportable on the basis of ideas: his “past, current, or expected beliefs,” though “otherwise lawful,” nonetheless make his presence a threat to US foreign policy. Rubio relied on a little-known law that says the Secretary of State can personally determine whether a noncitizen’s presence in the US harms national security goals.

The US, following the Trump administration’s executive order on antisemitism, has said Khalil—and other pro-Palestine activists—are harming the US goal of combatting antisemitism. Immigration judge Jamee Coman said she has no authority to question the Secretary of State.

Democratic lawmakers are calling for federal agencies and state attorneys general to investigate whether President Donald Trump, members of his administration, or any of his associates manipulated markets or helped enrich allies in connection with Trump’s sudden reversal on tariff polices Wednesday.

Six top Democrats wrote to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins Friday, asking the agency to investigate “whether the tariff announcements, which caused the market crash and subsequent partial recovery, enriched administration insiders and friends at the expense of the American public and whether any insiders, including the President’s family, had prior knowledge of the tariff pause that they abused to make stock trades ahead of the president’s announcement.”

In varied missives over the last few days, Democrats—who for months have publicly struggled with how aggressively to combat Trump—have taken direct aim at the economic damage inflicted by the president’s erratic tariff policy. And they have zeroed in on seemingly suspicious trading activity that took place ahead of Trump’s about-face.

“It is unconscionable that as American families are concerned about their financial security during this economic crisis entirely manufactured by the President, insiders may have actively profited from the market volatility and potentially perpetrated financial fraud on the American public,” Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote.

On Wednesday, S.W., an award-winning probationary worker at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), spent the day crying in bed. 

S.W., who is being identified by her initials due to fear of retaliation for speaking out, is one of more than 24,000 federal probationary employees, those who have been in their jobs for a year or two or less, who were fired en masse on Valentine’s Day as part of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s purge of federal workers. A month later, in mid-March, she and thousands of other probationary workers were reinstated following a court order. For S.W., who said she is five months pregnant and her family’s breadwinner, getting that news felt like a win. “I felt so happy, I was on top of the world.” 

Her hope was dashed Wednesday, when an appeals court allowed the Trump administration to resume terminations of probationary workers. It was one of two court rulings this week that allowed the firings of federal probationary workers to proceed, along with a Tuesday decision from the Supreme Court in which a majority of the justices ruled that the nonprofit organizations fighting the firings lacked standing to sue over them.

After getting the news, S.W. felt herself slipping back into the depression that she fell into after initially being fired in February. “This week, I feel like I’m failing my child,” she said, referring to her pregnancy. “Her mom is not emotionally in a good place.” 

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ADMIN COMMENT

Arsenal were held to a draw by Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon, losing further ground in the Premier League title race.

Playing before Liverpool could either benefit or hinder Arsenal, depending on the outcome of their match.

The Gunners needed to beat Everton, just as Liverpool had done a few days earlier, but with Real Madrid in mind, they opted to rest some key players.

Without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in the starting XI, it was always going to be challenging, and Arsenal struggled to create clear chances in the early stages, even though Everton allowed them to dominate possession.

Their control eventually bore fruit when Leandro Trossard produced a superb strike that beat the Everton goalkeeper.

Arsenal head to Goodison Park this afternoon and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has picked to start the game.

Sitting second in the Premier League table with 61 points, the Gunners are in a strong position, leading fifth-placed Newcastle United by 11 points and maintaining a four-match unbeaten streak. With eight games left, they remain 12 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool but will be eager to keep the pressure on at the top while solidifying their hold on a top-four finish.

Their recent form has been steady, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fulham showcasing their resilience. Arsenal have also been impressive on the road, boasting a 10-match unbeaten streak away from home. Their last defeat in an away fixture came back in November against Newcastle United, and they’ll look to extend this run against an Everton side struggling for consistency. Historically, Arsenal have dominated this fixture in recent years, remaining unbeaten in their last four league meetings with the Toffees and outscoring them seven goals to one during that period.

Everton, meanwhile, find themselves in 15th place with 34 points. They suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in their previous outing, ending a nine-match unbeaten streak. The Toffees have shown resilience at home this season, losing only four of their 15 matches at Goodison Park and currently enjoying a five-match home unbeaten run. However, their attacking output has been modest, with joint top scorers Beto and Iliman Ndiaye managing six goals each.

The reverse fixture between these sides ended in a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium back in December. While Everton will be motivated to end their winless run against Arsenal dating back to February 2023, the Gunners’ superior form and away record make them favourites heading into this clash. With Champions League qualification within reach, Arsenal will be determined to secure all three points and continue their march towards European football next season.

David Raya is fully aware that Arsenal’s trip to Goodison Park to face Everton will be a challenging encounter, as the Gunners aim to maintain their impressive run of form.

Although Arsenal remain behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, their focus is firmly on continuing to secure victories in each of their remaining fixtures. The gap of twelve points to the league leaders is a significant one, and while bridging it may prove difficult, Arsenal must remain resolute in their pursuit of consistency and momentum.

Everton, under the guidance of returning manager David Moyes, have shown a marked improvement in recent performances. Their most recent outing was against Liverpool, where, despite a narrow 1-0 defeat, they offered strong resistance and made the contest highly competitive. That display highlighted the challenge they can pose, particularly when playing at home.

Known for their resolute defending, Everton often commit the majority of their team to defensive duties, with only Beto typically positioned further forward. This compact and disciplined structure makes them a difficult side to break down, something Arsenal have recognised in their preparations.

Speaking ahead of the match, David Raya acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture. As quoted by Arsenal Media, he stated: