The CDC reported that the number of babies born in the U.S. in 2022 was lower than in 2021, indicating that the rebound from the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. The teen birthrate also reached a record low, with a 3% decrease from the previous year. This is a smaller decrease than in previous years, suggesting that the nation is reaching a plateau due to years of progress.
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Clifford Walters, a Hawaii resident, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge and been fined after helping a bison calf out of the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park. The calf was later euthanized, and the National Park Service has warned visitors to never approach, feed, or intentionally disturb wildlife. Walters was fined $500, along with a $500 community service payment, a $30 special assessment and a $10 processing fee.
Federal prosecutors have obtained a recording of former President Donald Trump discussing a sensitive military document during a July 2021 meeting at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The recording is a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation of Trump's handling of classified documents, and could be seen as obstruction of the investigation. It has been presented in grand-jury proceedings by special counsel Jack Smith's office, and the outcome of the investigation is yet to be determined.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed John Scott as the interim Attorney General following the impeachment of Ken Paxton by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Scott is a former Texas Secretary of State and Deputy Attorney General, and Abbott praised his decades of experience and expertise in litigation. The Senate will have the final say on whether or not Paxton is removed from office, but it is unclear when they will take up the issue.
Danny Masterson, best known for his role in the sitcom “That ’70s Show”, has been found guilty of two counts of rape in a Los Angeles retrial. After more than six days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third count. The Church of Scientology played a central role in the trial, with Masterson's wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, present in court and weeping as he was led away. He faces up to 30 years in prison and will be sentenced at a later date.
On Wednesday morning, a boiler explosion at the Oak Grove Power Plant in Franklin, Texas resulted in the death of one contractor. There was no fire and no danger to the public, and the cause of the explosion is under investigation. The plant is still in operation and generating power, and Luminant, the plant's owner, has not released any further details about the incident.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that two state laws banning abortion are unconstitutional, but the procedure remains illegal in most cases. The ruling found that the Oklahoma Constitution provides an "inherent right of a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy when necessary to preserve her life." The ruling is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and provides a measure of clarity on the legality of abortion in the state.
Raul Ortiz, the U.S. Border Patrol Chief, is retiring from federal service at the end of June after more than three decades with the agency. Acting Commissioner Troy Miller praised Ortiz for his service and leadership, and the agency is currently searching for a replacement. Ortiz's retirement comes after he helped oversee policy changes this month to curb irregular crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.