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• The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge that sought to outlaw the practice of counting mail-in ballots after Election Day, bringing relief to election officials in affected states. • Donald Trump condemned the ruling as a "tremendous loss" and utilized the decision to intensify his push for the "SAVE AMERICA ACT," a stalled election law bill. • The proposed legislation would implement national requirements for voters to document their U.S. citizenship, reflecting Trump's broader effort to tighten election laws.

Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson killed working to contain raging fires on Utah-Colorado borderThe US Department of Interior on Monday released the names of three firefighters who were killed while working to contain wildfires along the Utah-Colorado border.Two other firefighters who were part of the specialized helicopter-deployed crew were also injured in the blaze, although authorities did not identify them. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court issued twin rulings clarifying the extent of President Trump's authority to remove independent regulators from their positions. • The Court ruled that the President may fire certain independent regulators for any reason, significantly expanding executive power over administrative agencies. • However, the justices affirmed the independence of the Federal Reserve, ruling that its governors cannot be dismissed at will.

Police found man, who died of a heart attack, next to his girlfriend by abandoned vehicle in wooded area of AlabamaA man recently died in Alabama from a heart attack while trying to discard his girlfriend’s body after fatally strangling her, according to authorities.At the center of the unusually macabre case was Daniel Robbins, 44, and Jessica Folds, 47. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court issued a ruling that strengthens President Trump’s authority to fire independent agency members, a move Trump described as a historic expansion of presidential power. • Despite this broader authority, the Court specifically protected Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, ruling that Fed governors can only be fired "for cause" rather than for any reason. • This decision is significant as Trump seeks to transform the U.S. government by replacing independent officials with political allies to ensure executive control.

• The US Supreme Court issued a blockbuster decision expanding the president's legal authority to dismiss top government officials. • This ruling shifts control of dozens of federal agencies to the White House, removing protections for officials who previously operated independently. • The decision is significant because it fundamentally alters the balance of power between the executive branch and independent regulatory bodies.

Plan to limit scrutiny of polluters and shift financial risks to taxpayers is attack on democracy, advocates sayThe Trump administration is attempting to shrink public comment periods for fossil fuel leasing on federal land while shifting the financial risks of cleanup to taxpayers and allowing for more planet-warming emissions. It’s part of a broader effort to dismantle public input processes and save polluting companies money, advocates say.“By ignoring public comment [requirements] while propping up companies,” said Alexa Dietrich, research director at the science advocacy organization Union of Concerned Scientists, “they’re really attacking democracy in a very clear way.” Continue reading...