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WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats have powered a massive $3 trillion coronavirus response bill through the House, over Republican opposition. The 1,815-page measure is aimed at propping up a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system overwhelmed by a pandemic that’s still ravaging the country. It's also an election-year statement of priorities by Democrats. The measure has no chance of passing the GOP-controlled Senate and has already drawn a White House veto threat. Passage sets up difficult negotiation with the White House and Senate Republicans over what's likely to be the last major COVID-19 response bill before November’s presidential and congressional elections.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — China is going after the United States over more than $1 billion that the Trump administration owes the United Nations in unpaid dues for its regular operating budget and arrears for its separate budget for peacekeeping operations. The unusual singling out of the U.S. by China's U.N. mission comes as President Donald Trump continues to accuse Beijing of not being open about the coronavirus when cases were initially reported in December and early January. A U.S. Mission spokesperson said Friday that China “is eager to distract attention from its cover-up and mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis.”
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court has put on hold a lower-court ruling that allowed vote-by-mail by voters concerned with catching the new coronavirus at polling places. Justices issued the stay late Friday at the request of the state’s Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton. The attorney general petitioned the court Wednesday for the stay. The petition was filed before the 14th Texas Court of Appeals upheld an April lower-court ruling that lifted restrictions on mail-in voting. Voting by in Texas is generally limited to those 65 or older or those with a “sickness or physical condition” that prevents voting in person.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has fired the State Department's inspector general, an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of alleged political bias in the agency's management. The ouster is the latest in a series of moves against independent executive branch watchdogs who have found fault with the Trump administration. A senior department official says Trump removed Steve Linick from his job Friday but gave no reason for his removal. In a letter to Congress, Trump said Linick no longer had his full confidence. Linick had served in the job since 2013. His office had issued several reports critical of the department's handling of personnel matters, including accusing some Trump appointees of retaliating against career officials.
Associated Press (AP) — A federal judge has ordered Los Angeles city and county to move thousands of homeless people who are living near freeways, saying their health is at risk from pollution and the coronavirus. Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction Friday requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges. The order would take effect on May 22. Carter says those people are at risk from the coronavirus, lead and other pollutants, and from accidents and earthquakes.
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