News briefs
Trump forges ahead with DC cityscape transformation against growing resistance
WASHINGTON - A relentless push by President Donald Trump to reshape Washington‘s cityscape is facing mounting resistance, threatening a slate of transformative monuments intended to cement his legacy in the nation's capital.
Eager to see his projects completed before leaving office, Trump has responded to growing legal and political obstacles by pushing ahead, attempting to force approvals through faster than opponents can challenge them. But the scramble to fast-track construction has inflated their costs for taxpayers, imperiling his plans and amplifying his political risks as the midterm elections approach.
Urban design has become a preoccupation for Trump since the start of his second term. Cranes dot the skyline of the city, and construction fences block access to many of its most cherished parks and venues less than a month before the nation celebrates 250 years since its founding on July 4.
Government lawyers are defending the president's use of the wrecking ball, arguing in court that he has unfettered power to build and destroy. Should he ever choose to tear down the Statue of Liberty, the Justice Department told a judge Friday, no one could stop him.
-Los Angeles Times
NYC schools with declining enrollments to be fully funded, a practice that raises questions
NEW YORK - New York City schools with falling enrollment will not face budget cuts this fall, continuing a policy that guarantees each school in the system receives at least as much funding as it did the year before, even if they're expecting fewer students.
Staring down a multibillion-dollar budget gap, Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced pressure this year from fiscal watchdogs to rein in costs associated with the push known as "hold harmless," which was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure financial stability during a crisis.
Mamdani was ultimately able to avoid those contentious cuts with the help of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who provided state aid and budget flexibility for the city.
"We need to ensure that our schools are well-funded, despite the fact that we've seen enrollment declines," Chancellor Kamar Samuels told the City Council on Monday during a hearing on the education budget.
-New York Daily News
Transgender student sues Virginia school district for bullying, harassment, that left her with permanent brain injuries
NORFOLK, Va. - A transgender former student has sued the principal of Lake Taylor High School and Norfolk Public Schools, claiming they violated her right to equal access to public education by not taking steps to end abuse and bullying she faced.
Filed last week in Norfolk's federal court, the lawsuit claims principal Latesha Wade-Jenkins and the city's school system violated federal disability law. Norfolk native Tatiana Blount, formerly known as Tavion Blount, was 16 when she began attending Lake Taylor High School in September 2021 as a ninth-grader.
In early 2022, Blount began transitioning and identifying as a woman, including changing her preferred pronouns and the way she dressed, the lawsuit says.
During lunch or bathroom breaks, on the school bus and in between classes, the lawsuit says Blount's peers persistently bullied her, and at times sexually harassed and physically assaulted her for her transgender identity.
-The Virginian-Pilot
Pope urges justice for clergy abuse victims during Spain visit
Pope Leo XIV called for justice for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during a trip to Spain, where he plans to meet with those who have suffered.
"Faced with this scourge, the ecclesial community is called to respond with listening, truth, justice, reparation and an ever-more determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care," Leo said during a meeting on Monday with bishops in Madrid.
The pope stressed that these victims "have been wounded precisely by those who were meant to care for them, including members of the clergy."
The speech comes during the pope's week-long visit to Spain. The trip is partly being used to address the ongoing fallout from clergy abuse in the country as people seek compensation. The pope will meet privately with victims during his travels, the Holy See said, without disclosing details.
-Bloomberg News
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