Reuters US Domestic News Summary

Columbia called the police At Columbia University, tensions between the administration and students protesting over Israel's war in Gaza have reached the point that scores of New York City police marched onto campus to clear an encampment and arrest demonstrators who had commandeered a classroom building.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Fresh chaos, arrests on US college campuses as police flatten camp at UCLA

Police forcibly removed scores of defiant pro-Palestinian protesters at several colleges on Thursday, including taking down an encampment at UCLA in a jarring scene that underscored the heightened chaos that has erupted at universities this week. In the pre-dawn hours, helmeted police swarmed a tent city set up at the University of California in Los Angeles, using flash bangs and riot gear to push through lines of protesters who linked arms in a futile attempt to halt their advance.

Italy's Webuild sends proposal to rebuild collapsed Baltimore bridge

Italian construction group Webuild said on Friday it has pitched a project to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March after a container ship crashed into a support pillar. The project includes the design and planning for the reconstruction, which envisages a cable-stayed bridge with the aim to improve safety, adaptability, sustainability and to ensure maximum safety for navigation, the company said.

Houthis offer education to students suspended in US protest crackdown

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia, which has disrupted global shipping to display its support for Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, is now offering a place for students suspended from U.S. universities after staging anti-Israeli protests. Students have rallied or set up tents at dozens of campuses in the United States in recent days to protest against Israel's war in Gaza, now in its seventh month.

Status of Uber, Lyft gig workers hinges on Massachusetts court fight

Massachusetts has become the latest front in a years-long battle in the United States over whether ride-share drivers for Uber and Lyft should be treated as independent contractors or employees entitled to benefits and wage protections. The state's top court is set to hear arguments on Monday over whether to let dueling ballot measures go before voters in November that would redefine the relationship between app-based drivers and companies like Uber, Lyft, Instacart and DoorDash whose businesses help fuel the gig worker economy.

Biden to honor Olympian Katie Ledecky, actor Michelle Yeoh with Medal of Freedom

A winner of seven Olympic gold medals, a leader of the Mississippi civil rights struggle and a pioneer of television's tabloid talk show genre are part of this year's class of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. U.S. President Joe Biden will extend the highest U.S. civilian award to 19 people, including Team USA swimmer Katie Ledecky, the assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers and television host Phil Donahue.

US job growth slows in April; unemployment rate rises to 3.9%

U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in April and annual wage gains cooled, but it is probably too early to expect that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates before September as the labor market remains fairly tight. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 175,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department's Bureau of Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday. Data for March was revised up to show payrolls rising by 315,000 jobs instead of 303,000 as previously reported.

Berkeley takes light touch on Gaza protests. Columbia called the police

At Columbia University, tensions between the administration and students protesting over Israel's war in Gaza have reached the point that scores of New York City police marched onto campus to clear an encampment and arrest demonstrators who had commandeered a classroom building. It was the second time in as many weeks that the administration has called on police to control the protests. Students have been suspended, and threatened with expulsion. Police are now stationed around-the-clock on campus.

Trump trial hears Michael Cohen was 'despondent' he was denied a government post

Donald Trump's longtime fixer Michael Cohen was upset not to be offered a top job in Trump's administration after the Republican businessman-turned-politician won the 2016 presidential election, according to testimony at Trump's criminal hush money trial. Thursday's testimony by lawyer Keith Davidson could prove relevant during the trial when Cohen, having since split with Trump, is expected to appear as a star prosecution witness.

Biden expands health insurance access for DACA immigrants

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration will allow certain immigrants illegally brought to the U.S. as children greater access to federally run health insurance, the White House said on Friday, addressing a sensitive issue ahead of elections in November. With the move, an estimated 100,000 previously uninsured participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, are expected to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace and Basic Health Program, both created under the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said.

Exclusive-Biden campaign rolls out new abortion ads aimed at Latino men

Joe Biden will ramp up spending this month as part of a new advertising push aimed partly at convincing Latino men that abortion rights are a vital issue that affects them, the U.S. president's 2024 campaign said on Friday. A television, radio and digital advertisement airing in both English and Spanish in competitive "battleground" states features Cesar Carreon, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who now works as a Las Vegas carpenter, mentioning his daughters and attacking Trump as "not tough" for taking away women's "freedom."