Reuters US Domestic News Summary

The justices heard arguments in an appeal by the city of Grants Pass of a lower court's ruling that enforcing these anti-camping ordinances against homeless people when there is no shelter space available violates the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. US Supreme Court to hear challenge to Biden's 'ghost guns' curbs The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide the legality of a federal regulation aimed at reining in homemade "ghost guns" as President Joe Biden's administration combats the increasing use of these largely untraceable weapons in crimes nationwide.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

White House weighs immigration relief for spouses of US citizens

The White House is weighing ways to provide temporary legal status and work permits to immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are married to American citizens, three sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, a move that could energize some Democrats ahead of the November elections. Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have pressured President Joe Biden to take steps to protect immigrants in the country illegally as Biden simultaneously considers executive actions to reduce illegal border crossings.

US Supreme Court scrutinizes anti-camping laws used against the homeless

U.S. Supreme Court justices confronted the nation's homelessness crisis on Monday as they wrestled with the legality of local laws used against people who camp on public streets and parks in a case involving a southwest Oregon city's anti-vagrancy policy. The justices heard arguments in an appeal by the city of Grants Pass of a lower court's ruling that enforcing these anti-camping ordinances against homeless people when there is no shelter space available violates the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments.

US Supreme Court to hear challenge to Biden's 'ghost guns' curbs

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide the legality of a federal regulation aimed at reining in homemade "ghost guns" as President Joe Biden's administration combats the increasing use of these largely untraceable weapons in crimes nationwide. The justices took up the administration's appeal of a lower court's decision finding that the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) exceeded its authority in issuing the 2022 rule targeting parts and kits for ghost guns, which can be assembled at home in minutes.

Trump says Biden would be 'responsible' for any TikTok ban

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Monday that President Joe Biden was "pushing" for a ban on TikTok and would be the one responsible if a ban were imposed, urging voters to take notice. The U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation on a 360-58 vote on Saturday that would give TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about nine months to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.

Biden unveils $7 billion for rooftop solar in Earth Day message

President Joe Biden on Monday celebrated Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in grants for residential solar projects that will power nearly a million low-income households. The announcement kicks off a week of activities aimed at touting his administration's record on climate change.

Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Yale, Columbia cancels in-person classes

Police arrested dozens of people at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Yale University on Monday, hours after Columbia University canceled in-person classes in response to protesters setting up tent encampments at its New York City campus last week. Demonstrators blocked traffic around Yale's campus in New Haven, Connecticut, demanding the school divest from military weapons manufacturers. Police arrested more than 45 protesters, according to the student-run Yale Daily News.

Trump accepts new restrictions on $175 million bond in New York civil fraud case

Former President Donald Trump agreed on Monday to additional restrictions on the $175 million bond in the former U.S. president's New York civil fraud case, resolving concerns by the state attorney general that the funds were not secure. The bond issued by Knight Specialty Insurance is meant to secure Trump's compliance with a $454.2 million judgment won by state Attorney General Letitia James if he does not succeed in an appeal.

Biden, Ocasio-Cortez meet as Israel policy vexes some liberals

President Joe Biden on Monday met with U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and two other prominent liberal lawmakers opposed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Gaza bombing campaign. The meeting came as Biden's support for Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack has divided Democrats, fraying Biden's coalition of voters ahead of November's presidential election.

On first day of Trump hush money trial, prosecutors say he corrupted 2016 election

New York prosecutors said on the first day of Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial that the former president broke the law and corrupted the 2016 election by trying to cover up sexual encounters with a porn star and a Playboy model, while his defense lawyer said he committed no crime. Jurors in the historic trial also heard briefly from the prosecution's first witness: former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who prosecutors say participated in a "catch and kill" scheme to suppress unflattering stories about Trump and help him get elected.

Biden administration issues privacy rule protecting abortion

President Joe Biden's administration issued a final rule on Monday aimed at strengthening privacy protections for women seeking abortions by banning the disclosure of protected health information related to reproductive health. The new rule, issued through the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, strengthens existing provisions under the Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) privacy rule.