Center

• A new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey released May 8, 2026, found that strong majorities in both parties prefer an independent panel draw House district lines. • The polling data suggests voters across the political spectrum have grown frustrated with partisan gerrymandering and support reform measures limiting partisan advantage in redistricting. • The bipartisan sentiment contrasts with ongoing state-level redistricting battles where Republican and Democratic parties continue fighting over congressional boundaries.

• On May 5, 2026, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan presented a $1.03 million check to Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia, to establish the VSU Center for Generative AI & Industrial Cybersecurity. • The center will serve as a hub for research, education, and workforce development at the intersection of AI and cyberdefense, emphasizing hands-on student training and faculty-led solutions for secure AI infrastructure. • This funding underscores growing U.S. investment in HBCUs for critical tech fields, aiming to build domestic talent amid rising demand for AI security experts.

Prosecutors allege SPLC funneled over $3m to sources in extremist groups but legal experts say case is weakSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges related to allegations the organization committed fraud and conspired to money launder.The 11-count indictment filed last month accuses the civil rights organization of committing fraud in connection to a program in which it paid informants to monitor rightwing extremist groups. The program no longer exists. The investigation is being handled by the US attorney for the middle district of Alabama, which includes Montgomery, the state capital. Continue reading...

• Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle announced recent research findings on May 6, 2026, addressing multiple areas including improved outcomes for stem cell transplants and newly explored connections between solar jetlag and liver cancer development. • The research represents efforts to expand the range of cancer treatment targets beyond conventional approaches, with implications for patient outcomes across multiple cancer types. • These findings contribute to the broader understanding of both cellular and environmental factors influencing cancer development and treatment efficacy, potentially informing new therapeutic strategies.

• InterSystems Senior Vice President Scott Gnau highlighted explosive demand for power, infrastructure, and intelligent software as a pressing challenge of the AI era during a keynote at READY 2026. • The focus on interoperability and scalable AI systems reflects industry concerns about building sustainable AI infrastructure that can meet growing enterprise demands. • The conference discussion underscores the need for robust data infrastructure and integration solutions to support AI deployment at scale across enterprises.

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) inadvertently exposed Social Security numbers of thousands of doctors through a data breach. • The agency failed to adequately secure sensitive personal information in its systems, raising concerns about federal data protection practices. • The breach has prompted investigations into CMS security protocols and potential regulatory reforms.

• A new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey reveals that strong majorities in both Republican and Democratic parties support independent panels drawing House district lines. • The bipartisan finding suggests public appetite for reform of the politically charged redistricting process. • The survey highlights voter frustration with gerrymandering and calls for institutional change to ensure fair representation.

Denny Adán González, 33, whose death is being investigated as suicide, is 18th person to die in ICE custody this yearA Cuban immigrant died inside an immigration detention center in Georgia earlier this week, according to a congressional notification sent on Friday and reviewed by the Guardian.The Cuban man, identified as 33-year-old Denny Adán González, died inside the privately run Stewart detention center. His death is being investigated as a suicide. Continue reading...

• Legendary composer John Williams received a major tribute as his alma mater unveiled a new performing arts center named in his honor. • The event celebrates Williams' decades-long contributions to film scores, including iconic works for Star Wars and Jurassic Park. • The dedication highlights his enduring influence on American music and cinema, drawing attention from entertainment circles.

Justices in unanimous decision revive federal suit brought by anti-abortion ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ in the stateSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US supreme court sided on Wednesday with the operator of Christian faith-based anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers” in New Jersey that is trying to impede a state investigation into whether the facilities engage in deceptive practices.The justices, in a unanimous decision, revived a federal lawsuit brought by First Choice Women’s Resource Centers challenging a 2023 subpoena from the state attorney general seeking information on the organization’s donors and doctors. A lower court had thrown out the lawsuit. Continue reading...

• X-Energy, a nuclear power company, completed its Nasdaq debut with CEO Clay Sell announcing plans to deliver clean energy solutions to data centers and industrial customers. • The company is positioning itself as part of the broader reinvention of nuclear power to meet growing energy demands from artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. • The move reflects investor appetite for clean energy technologies as data center operators seek sustainable power sources to support AI expansion.

Janet Mills says moratorium would’ve been ‘appropriate’ if it didn’t interfere with ongoing datacenter project in MaineThe Democratic governor of Maine on Friday vetoed a bill that would have made it the first US state to impose a moratorium on large new datacenters, even as local opposition to the electricity-hungry facilities grows.The decision reflects the difficult trade-off facing political leaders, who must weigh the impact of datacenters on the environment and household energy bills against the millions of dollars in investment and tax revenue they can bring. Continue reading...

• The acting Attorney General announced charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center alleging fraud in its informant program. • Authorities assert that the SPLC's informant program paid sources to "stoke racial hatred," suggesting deliberate misuse of funds and inflammatory activities. • The investigation remains ongoing with the possibility of future indictments naming SPLC executives as defendants.

• Florida center Rueben Chinyelu announced his entry into the 2026 NBA Draft on April 22, maintaining his college eligibility to return if undrafted. • The decision follows teammate announcements five days prior, positioning Chinyelu as a promising big man prospect. • This move highlights growing trend of college athletes testing NBA waters without burning eligibility, impacting draft strategies.

• The Kennedy Center will hold its first award ceremony since President Trump overhauled the board of trustees earlier this year. • Changes aim to align cultural programming with administration priorities. • The event draws attention to federal arts funding debates and political influence on institutions.

Justice department’s focus seems to be on SPLC’s prior use of paid informants to monitor hate groups, group’s CEO says The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a prominent civil rights organization, the group’s CEO said on Tuesday.Bryan Fair, the CEO of the SPLC, said the details of the investigation were not entirely clear, though “the focus appears to be on the SPLC’s prior use of paid confidential informants to gather credible intelligence on extremely violent groups”. Continue reading...

• McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston launched the Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease, a multidisciplinary center bringing together experts in medicine, science, and engineering to transform understanding and treatment of the condition. • A major research focus involves recreating early human heart development using stem cells and bioprinted structures to study how congenital defects form. • The center bridges discovery and clinical care by advancing research, developing technologies, and translating innovations into patient treatment solutions across a lifetime of care.

Regan Prater admits to setting blaze at Highlander center and bid to aid Hezbollah. His sentencing is set for SeptemberSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA man linked to white supremacist movements pleaded guilty on Monday to setting a fire that destroyed an office at a historic social justice center in Tennessee with ties to champions of the US civil rights movements, a court document shows.Regan Prater also pleaded guilty to attempting to aid a foreign terrorist organization for efforts to provide the militant group Hezbollah “a list of personally identifiable information for individuals purportedly affiliated with the government of Israel”, according to a criminal information filed in February. Continue reading...

• Thomas Jefferson University launched a multicenter clinical trial led by Manisha Verma, MD, and Victor Navarro, MD, at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital to improve palliative care for advanced liver disease patients. • Advanced liver disease causes significant scarring and loss of function, leading to serious health challenges with limited quality-of-life support. • Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the trial addresses a major care gap for ALD patients nationwide.

• Following the closure of a rural Texas hospital, a local health center has expanded services to prevent care deserts for patients now traveling miles across county lines. • The initiative addresses immediate gaps in primary and emergency care in underserved areas, maintaining access for vulnerable populations. • Rural hospital closures exacerbate public health challenges, with this response demonstrating community health centers' role in continuity.

• Measles cases from Texas federal detention facilities infected at least 4 El Paso residents who worked there, marking a community outbreak. • Infectious disease expert Flor M. stated, 'By definition, when more than 2 measles cases occur in a community where there should be 0 cases, this is an outbreak.' • The incident highlights risks of contagious diseases escaping confined settings into wider US populations amid ongoing vaccination policy debates.

Ron Gibson had recently expressed support for a 14-acre, $500m data center project in Martindale-BrightwoodAn Indianapolis city councilor said his home was fired at on Monday, with a note left behind suggesting he had been targeted over his support of data centers.The case involving Ron Gibson – a Democrat on Indianapolis’s city council since 2024 – comes amid growing bipartisan concern in the US over political violence in the wake of cases such as the September murder of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist. Continue reading...

Some candidates are making public health a central part of their midterm campaigns amid Trump’s war on science As public health has become increasingly politicized in the US, with a particularly chaotic year under the Trump administration, some political candidates are pushing back by making public health a central part of their campaigns – and the grassroots organization Defend Public Health has ideas about how to do it.On Monday, the group launched guiding principles for campaigns to prioritize public health, called the People’s Health Platform, highlighting the importance of ensuring healthcare for all, protecting and expanding sexual, reproductive, and gender-affirming healthcare, preparing for the climate crisis and the next pandemic, and taxing billionaires, among other tenets. Continue reading...

• US poison centers reported a sharp increase in kratom-containing kava exposures from 2000-2025, serving as an early warning for substance harms. • After a 2002 FDA advisory on liver injury, kava reports declined but rose substantially since 2011, now mostly involving men aged 20+ with serious outcomes and co-use with kratom. • Higher rates of severe medical effects underscore risks of increasing popularity and polysubstance use.

• A stepwise hypertension medication algorithm, the UC Way, adopted across University of California's six academic medical centers, boosted blood pressure control from 68.5% to nearly 74% among 90,000 patients. • Among 11,500 UCSF patients, the improvement averted 72 strokes, 48 heart attacks, and 38 deaths, according to a two-year study ending mid-2025. • Developed by multidisciplinary UC Health experts and integrated into electronic health records since 2023, the tool allows customized treatment adjustments.

• Emerald AI announced a $25 million strategic funding round on March 31, 2026, led by Nvidia’s NVentures, Eaton, GE Vernova, Salesforce, Samsung, and Siemens. • The funding brings the startup's total capital to $68 million since its founding 16 months ago, targeting bottlenecks in AI infrastructure expansion. • The investment addresses the growing challenge of connecting data centers faster to power grids amid surging AI demand for electricity and land.

• French AI firm Mistral AI secured $830 million in debt financing on March 31, 2026, to build a state-of-the-art data center near Paris. • The funding underscores surging demand for AI computing infrastructure amid global expansions in hardware and power resources. • This move positions Mistral to compete in the intensifying AI race, highlighting shifts toward massive investments in data centers.

• The Artemis II crew held a virtual media briefing from their quarantine facilities at Kennedy Space Center on March 29, 2026, providing updates on mission preparations and crew status. • The media event represents a standard pre-launch protocol for NASA's crewed lunar missions, allowing the public and press to interact with astronauts before their departure. • This briefing marks a key milestone in the Artemis II mission timeline, bringing the crew closer to their scheduled launch date.