Senate Reaches Deal to End Government Shutdown
The Senate has reached an agreement to end the government shutdown affecting most of the Department of Homeland Security, with a vote expected soon in the House. The deal comes after weeks of negotiations, during which both parties clashed over immigration enforcement tactics, with Democrats insisting on reforms and Republicans proposing to fund the department while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations related to detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.
Trump Administration Investigates Medical School Admissions Practices
The Trump administration has initiated investigations into the admissions processes at UC San Diego, Stanford, and Ohio State medical schools, focusing on potential racial discrimination. The Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, has demanded seven years of admissions data by April 24, warning that non-compliance could result in the loss of federal funding. This action is part of a broader effort to scrutinize affirmative action policies in higher education.
Major US Cities Face Population Declines Amid Migration Shift
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego are experiencing population declines, primarily due to a slowdown in immigration and increased domestic migration away from these cities. This trend reflects broader demographic shifts across the country, with approximately 80 percent of metropolitan areas seeing reduced population growth, while smaller cities in the Southeast, like Austin and Raleigh, are gaining residents. Overall, U.S. population growth has dropped to 0.5%, one of the lowest rates in recent decades.
