Mary McCue Bell

Kennedy Center eyes ‘partial closure’ after judge blocks full shutdown for renovation

The Trump administration told a federal judge Friday that the Kennedy Center may be looking at a "partial closure," even as a previous ruling required the performing arts center to stay open, effectively blocking it from shutting its doors for a two-year renovation.

June 20, 2026

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, blaming Israel for violating ceasefire

Iran said it's shutting down the Strait of Hormuz just three days after it reopened, citing Israel's strikes in Lebanon amid a fragile ceasefire agreement.

June 20, 2026

Trump says ‘vandalism’ caused Reflecting Pool’s paint peeling

President Trump said that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was vandalized, comments that come on the heels of an algae bloom and peeling paint after the more than $14 million renovation.

June 20, 2026

Van Hollen ‘kicking the tires’ over a 2028 presidential bid

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a sharp critic of President Trump, is mulling over a 2028 presidential bid.

June 20, 2026

Rep. Thomas Kean set to return to Congress June 30 after three-month illness

The House's missing lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., will be returning to Washington by the end of the month after leaving Capitol Hill more than 100 days ago.

June 19, 2026

Texas judge can’t be punished for refusing to officiate same-sex weddings, court rules

A district court has sided with a Texas judge who recused herself from performing same-sex weddings on account of her Christian faith.

June 19, 2026

NYC carriage horse industry on pause after teenage tourist death in Central Park

A teenager's death after being thrown from a horse carriage in Central Park has prompted the age-old New York City attraction to shut down temporarily.

June 19, 2026

Blue coating is peeling off bottom of newly renovated Reflecting Pool

Blue material at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is peeling off, less than two weeks after the more than $14 million renovation was completed.

June 19, 2026

NIL reform legislation advances to Senate floor for full vote

Legislation that complements President Trump's executive order on name, image and likeness in college sports is advancing to the Senate floor.

June 18, 2026

Senators threaten Hegseth’s travel budget to get disclosures about military strikes

Tucked inside the Senate's annual National Defense Authorization Act is a provision to withhold 75% of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel budget unless the Pentagon turns over information on the bombing of an Iranian elementary school and the U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats.

June 18, 2026

Trump settles $100 million lawsuit against niece over financial leaks to New York Times

President Trump settled a $100 million lawsuit against his niece, Mary Trump, over his accusations that she leaked his confidential information to The New York Times for an investigation into his finances.

June 18, 2026

Gas prices fall below $4 a gallon

U.S. gas prices are hovering just below $4 a gallon on average Thursday, marking the first time since March that the cost for regular has fallen that low.

June 18, 2026

Georgia Republicans decline governor’s request to redistrict

Georgia Republicans on Wednesday rejected Gov. Brian Kemp's calls to redraw the state's congressional and legislative maps, holding off due to the Supreme Court's landmark decision that restricts states' use of the federal Voting Rights Act to add more minority districts.

June 17, 2026

Gas prices fall in anticipation of U.S.-Iran deal

Gas prices have dipped following the announcement of a peace pact to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

June 17, 2026

Military used Musk’s Grok in strikes against Iran, Pentagon reveals

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence tool Grok was used to identify targets to strike against Iran, a top defense official revealed Tuesday.

June 17, 2026

‘AI is here’: Lawmakers pressed to prepare students for future that has already arrived

The outcry for federal guardrails on artificial intelligence shouldn't stop the government from helping get AI into K-12 classrooms, education specialists recently told senators.

June 17, 2026

Foiled plot targeting UFC event at White House meant to set off revolution by killing Trump

A plot to unleash explosive drones and sniper fire at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House was meant to "jump-start" a revolution by killing President Trump and other top political figures, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

June 16, 2026

Red, white and green: Interior Dept. kicks off efforts to kill algae growth in Reflecting Pool

Algae is again plaguing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and the White House's newest plan to fix the $14.2 million makeover is hydrogen peroxide.

June 16, 2026

Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes hit with lawsuit

A handful of Washington preservation organizations are suing the Trump administration over President Trump's National Garden of American Heroes -- a massive outdoor complex planned to feature 250 larger-than-life statues of notable American figures.

June 16, 2026

FBI foils plot targeting White House UFC Freedom 250 event

The FBI said five people have been arrested in connection with a plot to target Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House with explosive-laden drones.

June 16, 2026