Reuters US Domestic News Summary

The dramatic increase along the border - notably in San Diego, California and the Texan cities of El Paso and Eagle Pass - marks a turning point after numbers had plummeted in recent months, and could create fresh political challenges for U.S. President Joe Biden heading into election season. Disgraced former South Carolina lawyer Murdaugh pleads guilty to bank fraud Disbarred South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who was convicted of murdering his wife and son, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to nearly two dozen bank fraud and other financial crimes in which he stole millions of dollars.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Shutdown looms as US House Republicans again block own spending bill

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's attempt to restart his stalled spending agenda failed on Thursday when Republicans for a third time blocked a procedural vote on defense spending, raising the risk of a government shutdown in just 10 days. The House of Representatives voted 216-212 against beginning debate on an $886 billion defense appropriations bill, with five hardline conservative Republicans joining Democrats to oppose the measure.

Rupert Murdoch steps down as chairman of Fox, News Corp

Rupert Murdoch has stepped down as the chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp, ending a more than seven-decade career during which he created a media empire spanning from Australia to the United States. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will become the sole chairman of News Corp and continue as the chair and CEO of Fox, the companies said on Thursday. The transition solidifies Lachlan's role as the leader of the media empire, putting to rest questions of succession within the Murdoch family.

Bus carrying high school band rolls off highway in New York, killing two

A bus carrying members of a high school marching band on a trip to a music camp ran off a highway and tumbled down a steep ravine in New York state on Thursday, killing two people and injuring dozens of others, several of them severely. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, speaking at a news conference hours later, said it appeared likely "a faulty front tire contributed to the accident," though the cause of the wreck remained under investigation.

US judge will not block Biden rule on socially conscious investing

A federal judge in Texas on Thursday rejected a bid by 25 states to block a Biden administration rule allowing employee retirement plans to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in investment decisions. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, declined to block the rule, which took effect Jan. 30. The judge granted a petition by President Joe Biden's administration to dismiss the Republican-led states' lawsuit claiming the rule will jeopardize millions of Americans' retirement savings.

Record numbers of migrants head to US border, in fresh test for Biden

Thousands of migrants have crossed into the United States in recent days, from California to Texas, with many more still arriving by bus and cargo trains to Mexican border towns on the heels of record migration flows further south. The dramatic increase along the border - notably in San Diego, California and the Texan cities of El Paso and Eagle Pass - marks a turning point after numbers had plummeted in recent months, and could create fresh political challenges for U.S. President Joe Biden heading into election season.

Disgraced former South Carolina lawyer Murdaugh pleads guilty to bank fraud

Disbarred South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who was convicted of murdering his wife and son, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to nearly two dozen bank fraud and other financial crimes in which he stole millions of dollars. Murdaugh, 54, the scion of an influential legal family in an area west of Charleston, was convicted in March for the 2021 murders of his wife, Margaret, and younger son, Paul on their family estate.

US Army, Marine Corps leaders confirmed; other military promotions still in limbo

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed General Randy George to be the chief of staff of the Army and General Eric Smith to lead the Marine Corps, as lawmakers moved to confirm some of the top senior officers whose promotions have been stalled by a Republican senator's blockade. The Senate confirmed General Charles Q. Brown to be the top U.S. military official on Wednesday.

Biden sets up White House office on gun violence prevention

U.S. President Joe Biden is establishing a new office of gun violence prevention to implement existing safety laws and work with states on the issue, officials said on Thursday. The new office will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris and run with the help of leading gun safety advocates, officials told reporters on a conference call.

California sues organizations for touting abortion pill reversal

California on Thursday sued two anti-abortion organizations for telling patients that they can help reverse the effects of the abortion pill mifepristone, a potentially dangerous claim not supported by evidence. In a complaint filed in Alameda County Superior Court, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, accused Heartbeat International (HBI) and RealOptions Obria of violating a state law against fraudulent business practices.

Sam Bankman-Fried to stay in jail, appeals court rules

A U.S. appeals court on Thursday upheld a judge's decision to jail former cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried ahead of his Oct. 3 trial on fraud charges stemming from the November 2022 collapse of his now-bankrupt FTX exchange. In a written decision, a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said it agreed with U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan's finding that Bankman-Fried had likely attempted to tamper with two witnesses.