A recent Supreme Court ruling temporarily allowed the purchase and use of the abortion pill mifepristone in the US, preventing a lower court's ruling that would have essentially banned the pill. The FDA approval of mifepristone was under threat after a judge in Texas suspended its 20-year-old approval. Although the majority of the court granted the Biden administration's emergency request to protect the approval while litigation is ongoing, they did not explain why. Two justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented, with the latter calling three female justices by name in an apparent act of judiciary "theater," according to constitutional law expert Scott Lemieux. The case was considered under the court's "shadow docket," which does not involve a thorough review of the case and is known for its lack of explanation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats voiced cautious optimism about the ruling, while some Republicans cited the supposed "real risks" of the drug. The case will continue in appeals court next month.

Sudan's military is leading the coordination of the safe evacuation of diplomats from several countries, including the U.S., Britain, France, and China, according to reports on Saturday. Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan has requested safe evacuations, with the Sudanese army helping to facilitate the process. Foreign countries have had difficulty trying to retrieve their citizens amid the violent clashes between Sudan's army and paramilitaries groups in Khartoum. Foreign embassies have been unable to evacuate their citizens, including journalists stuck in Sudan while waiting for evacuation flights. Sudan's main international airport, located in the capital city, is closed, as the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces continues to attack the complex, making it challenging to implement evacuation plans. The violence has killed over 400 people, according to the World Health Organization, and the main hospital system has collapsed, with medical teams and facilities being targeted in the fighting. Thousands of people, mainly civilians, have been injured, with Khartoum and the western region of Darfur being the worst affected areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden administration is expected to propose new regulations that target power plants, which generate a quarter of all US planet-warming pollution, according to the EPA. While the specifics of the plan have not been disclosed, it is believed that the regulations will be a significant step in curbing global warming.

David Doniger, from the Natural Resources Defense Council's Climate & Clean Energy Program, states that emissions from power plants and vehicles (as recently proposed by the Biden administration) are the two most important facets that can be addressed to combat climate change. It remains uncertain whether the EPA will regulate both existing coal and gas power plants, but the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) warns that emissions reductions could vary by seven percent if only coal stations are targeted.

The regulations are considered to have long-reaching consequences in the fight to combat climate change. While the Inflation Reduction Act contributed to regulations, there are concerns that it could disrupt the reliability of the electrical grid, particularly with the push for electric vehicles.

Eight people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in two related shootings in southeast Washington, DC on Friday night. Police responded to the first incident around 10 p.m. ET, finding seven men with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds on the 500 block of Lebaum Street SE, Congress Heights neighborhood. During their investigation, police were informed of a second shooting located less than a mile away in the 2600 block of 2nd Street SE, where the young girl was found shot in the leg. Both scenes had multiple shell casings found and are believed to be connected. Witnesses told police they saw a black sedan, possibly a Mercedes, driving through the area, firing indiscriminately at people on Lebaum Street. The motive and suspects behind the shootings are unknown. Police are asking for the public's assistance and ask anyone with information to call them. This marks the fourth mass shooting in the District and the 169th mass shooting in the United States this year.

Texas law enforcement officials are trying to discover who, or what, was responsible for slaughtering six cows found dead and with their genitalia, tongues and anuses removed along the Texas State Highway. Bodies were discovered in three counties - Madison, Brazos and Robertson. A "straight, clean cut, with apparent precision had been made to remove the hide around the cow's mouth", the Madison County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. At every scene no predators or birds appeared to scavenge the remains, indicating that death had possibly occurred several weeks before the discovery of the bodies. There were no blood spills or signs of struggle and no footprints or tire tracks. The cause of death remains unknown. Law enforcement officials asked anyone with information to come forward, adding that similar incidents had occurred elsewhere in the US.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the California Highway Patrol and National Guard to join forces with the San Francisco authorities in order to fight the fentanyl crisis in the city. This comes as the overdose deaths shoot up due to the drug’s high potency. Newsom’s statement focused on ““crack(ing)down on crime linked to the fentanyl crisis” and vowed that the operation would not affect those with drug addiction issues. The two agencies will be working with the local police and district attorney’s office to stop illegal drug trafficking. The two agencies will increase their presence in public areas to subdue crimes associated with the drug. While the operation details remain unclear, the California Highway Patrol will assist local police enforce drug trafficking in the Tenderloin district where Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency in December 2021 over crime and drug overdoses. The California National Guard will aid in dismantling drug trafficking rings with a focus on fentanyl operations. The multi-agency effort seeks to stem the trafficking of the synthetic opioid amid raids conducted by the police in the worst-hit areas.

As the conflict in Sudan continues to escalate, Egypt finds itself in a difficult position. Egypt has historically seen Sudan as an important ally in its long-standing dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam. However, with the current conflict in Sudan, Egypt's position has become increasingly unclear. On one hand, Egypt is close to one side of the conflict - the Sudanese army - while the other side, the Rapid Support Forces, is believed to be backed by the United Arab Emirates, a major financial supporter of Egypt. On the other hand, Egypt hosts an estimated five million Sudanese refugees who are fleeing poverty and the conflict. The two countries have a free movement agreement which allows for people to move in both directions to live and work. The increase in the number of Sudanese migrants in Egypt is significant, marking their presence everywhere as workers, housemaids or restaurant staff. Should the conflict continue, these numbers could easily increase. A weak regime in Khartoum or an alternative political order that is hostile to Cairo could also have serious repercussions further north.

Montana's first and only openly transgender lawmaker, Representative Zooey Zephyr (D), was once again silenced by Republican colleagues for a second day in the Legislature's floor on Friday. GOP lawmakers refused to let her speak until she apologizes for saying that they would have "blood on their hands" if a law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth was passed. The bill is expected to be signed by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, given it's now in his hands. However, Zephyr said she intends to keep requesting to speak on legislation because "I was elected to represent my constituents and speak on their behalf." House Speaker Matt Regier has declined to recognize Zephyr twice, maintaining that the silencing was necessary to "maintain decorum," and that he would still uphold the same standard for all representatives in the House. Minority Leader Kim Abbott, along with Zephyr, have expressed concerns that Regier, who is also Republican, is blocking the former from speaking on bills entirely.

The 11th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting was held at Ramstein Air Base. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III praised 50 participating countries for their contributions over the past year after Russia invaded Ukraine. These contributions included delivering tanks, armor vehicles, howitzers, HIMARS, and ground-based air-defense capabilities. This equipment helps the Ukrainians defend their citizens from Russian cruise missiles and Iranian drones. Austin hoped that the past contributions and efforts would have a significant impact on the battlefield for Ukrainian soldiers. During this 11th meeting, Ukrainian defense officials discussed their pathway to victory and their latest hopes that the attacks could include greater air and naval systems from the West in the future.

The UDCG meets to coordinate military aid to Ukraine against the Russian forces. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had to deal with the discord between the US and its allies over the massive US leak of classified documents involving the status of the war in Ukraine and the delivery of weapons and other equipment to Ukrainian forces in battle. The document leaks posed a multi-pronged concern for other defense officials who were keenly involved in intelligence and who were worried that the US might clamp down on its own dissemination of intelligence involving the war.

Overall, the 11th UDCG meeting shows the global community's continued support for Ukraine and that they will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces for as long as it takes.

McCurtain County, Oklahoma, has come under national scrutiny following the release of an article and audio recording where county officials, including Sheriff Kevin Clardy, make racist and violent comments about Black people and threaten to kill journalists. This comes after a 2021-2022 investigative series by the McCurtain Gazette-News, covering serious allegations against specific county officials, including misconduct and failure to investigate a rape. Gazette reporter Chris Willingham filed a lawsuit for slander and then recorded county officials making the threats on the same day, leading to national outcry and at least one commissioner resigning. Oklahoma's Republican Governor, Kevin Stitt, has called for Sheriff Clardy and others involved in the conversation to resign, and he has asked the Attorney General to investigate possibly removing Clardy from office. Concerns were raised about how these events could affect the growing tourism industry that has transformed McCurtain County's economy in the past few decades. Although the sheriff's office has released only one statement, claiming that the recording was illegally obtained and refusing to address the statements, more transcripts and audio recordings are expected.

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and other officials over a state-run police department and appointed judges in the majority-Black capital, Jackson. The organization warns of “separate and unequal policing,” saying that the legislation takes control of the police and some courts out of the hands of residents, thus treating Black people as “second-class citizens.” Jackson is governed by Democrats and has an 83% Black population, the highest of any major US city. Though the governor claims expanding the Capitol Police's jurisdiction into Jackson is necessary in response to rising violent crime, critics say it violates the principle of self-government. In a statement, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said, “If elected officials in Mississippi want to help address the results of their negligence and improve the lives of Jackson residents, they should start with completing improvements to Jackson's water system, not undermining the constitutional rights of their citizens.” Mississippi’s state House and Senate passed the controversial bill.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to request a disaster area declaration from the Biden administration due to flooding in Broward County caused by a 1-in-a-1,000-year deluge that lasted from April 12th to 13th. If granted, the declaration would allow Broward residents who incurred damage to their homes and other property to access a wide range of loans and other assistance. More than 2 feet (0.6 meters) of rain were reported in some parts of Broward County, thereby leaving some parts of the county with up to 3 feet (0.9 meters) of water. Broward County officials have estimated that the flooding caused about $10 million in damages to a dozen schools, nine of which were the hardest hit in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. Although schools reopened on April 19th, much of the cost from the floods would go toward overtime work as the district worked over the weekend to clear water, install ventilation, and use humidifiers.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to propose regulations that would limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, which make up 25% of such emissions in the U.S. If successful, the new rules would see almost all coal and gas plants cut or capture most of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2040, while future plants would also be subject to the new standards. David Doniger, senior strategic director for the Natural Resources Defense Council's Climate & Clean Energy program, said that regulations of this nature, along with new emissions standards for vehicles, are among the most important the administration can implement to tackle climate change. However, if implemented, the regulations will face opposition from the fossil fuel industry and power plant groups, which are likely to seek a legal challenge.

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi against Gov. Tate Reeves after he signed House Bill 1020 into law. The bill allows Capitol Police to have primary jurisdiction across Jackson, leaving the Jackson Police Department with secondary jurisdiction. Additionally, the Capitol Police will have "concurrent" jurisdiction with the Jackson Police Department beginning on July 1st. According to the Governor, this legislation is designed to address the serious violent crime problem in Jackson, as the city has had more than 100 homicides in each of the last three years. The NAACP disagrees with the bill and claims that it violates the principle of self-government through taking control of the police and certain courts out of the hands of residents, bringing "separate and unequal policing" back to Mississippi's majority-Black capital. The Jackson community is governed by Democrats, and more than 80% of the community members are Black.

Gervonta Davis, known as Tank, has made a name for himself in the boxing world through his skill in the ring and the viral knockouts that he delivers. Davis has a massive celebrity following and has become one of boxing's biggest stars. However, Davis has also faced controversy outside of the ring, which has made fans question how he conducts himself outside of his fighting career. Despite the setbacks, Davis will return to the ring on Saturday against Ryan Garcia, another popular fighter in the sport. The fight is shaping up to be a massive showdown between two of boxing's youngest and brightest stars. The two men match up in skill in different ways, with Davis favoring technical skills and powerful hits while Garcia is known for his quick punching and long reach. The fight will be contested at a 136-pound catchweight, and it's sure to be a thrilling event for boxing fans everywhere. The question remains, can Davis change his image by exhibiting more charisma and flamboyance to match his fighting talent, or will he continue to be known only for his knockouts?

David Morrell Jr was set to defend his WBA (Regular) Super Middleweight title against Sena Agbeko, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission denied Agbeko's license, leading to Yamaguchi Falcao replacing him in the co-main event for the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia fight on April 22. Morrell is considered one of the top fighters in the division, with a record of eight wins, seven of which are knockouts. In his last fight, Morrell managed a twelfth-round stoppage against mandatory challenger Aidos Yerbossynuly. Falcao, who has a record of 24-1-1 with 10 knockouts, has won eight consecutive fights, but has not faced any significant opposition in that span. Falcao has expressed his determination to become the WBA Super Middleweight Champion, but Morrell has declared himself ready to face any opponent.

Showtime will broadcast two preliminary fights on their YouTube page: Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs Elias Espadas and Vito Mielnicki Jr vs Jose Sanchez Charles. Although the switch of opponents is not unusual in boxing, Morrell expressed his readiness and determination to make a statement in his upcoming fight. The Cuban lefty may face David Benavidez, the two-time unbeaten WBC 168-pound champion, later this year.

Elijah Garcia, the 19-year-old middleweight contender, won the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia undercard against Kevin Salgado by unanimous decision in a 10-round bout in Las Vegas. Salgado had a strong start, outworking Garcia in the first three rounds with hard, accurate body shots. Garcia picked up his pace in round four, controlling the rest of the fight and pulling away on the cards. Although Salgado lost a point in round seven due to repeated low blows, it did not factor into the decision. Elijah Garcia retained his WBC Latino middleweight title with a final unanimous score of 97-92, 97-92, and 95-94. In the post-fight interview, Garcia maintained his goal to be a world champion by 21. Although Salgado was tough opposition, Garcia gave his opponent 100% utmost respect. Elijah Garcia remains undefeated with 15 wins and 12 knockouts in his professional career in boxing.

Luke Campbell, 35, has explained that despite rumours of a comeback, he won't fight again due to wanting to focus on building a life outside of boxing and spending more time with his family. “Every time I had a fight, she came down ill afterward, 'cause of all the stress - she couldn't handle it. [She'd be] exhausted, and sick for a week or two afterward,” Campbell said. However, he admits that there have been days where he’s cried himself to sleep, saying, “I need to go back to boxing - it's the only thing I know, it's the only thing I'm good at”. Campbell won an Olympic gold medal before testing himself against the very best as a professional. While he loved the sport, he also acknowledges that being away from his family took its toll on him. “I'd rather miss boxing than miss my kids growing up. I still love the sport and have a passion for it, but I'm trying to create a life for myself outside of boxing, and that's the hardest bit,” Campbell explained.

Gervonta Davis has always made sure to arrive in style for his fights and his last fight was no different. The 28-year-old American boxer arrived in his custom USSV Rhino GX for his showdown against Hector Luis Garcia in Washington DC earlier this year. At close to 10,000lbs, the armoured vehicle costs around $300,000 and is one of the largest luxury SUVs on the market. Although it isn't bulletproof, it can be armored to become so. The vehicle can seat up to seven people and is equipped with a 6.7-litre diesel or 6.8-litre V8 engine. Davis has been seen in various custom versions of the car, both tan-colored and pure black, which feature a 40-inch TV, a super-modern touch screen entertainment system, and a luxury leather interior.

While Davis always makes headline-grabbing entrances, he has also been in trouble with the law. In December 2022, he was arrested and charged with causing bodily harm to his longtime partner and the mother of his child, Vanessa Posso. Reportedly, Davis hit Posso with a "closed hand type slap" on the right side of her head, leaving her with a small abrasion on the inside of her upper lip. Davis has had previous allegations of assault and was charged with aggravated assault in 2017 but the charges were dropped later.

Bektemir "Bully" Melikuziev will be entering the ring on Saturday to face Gabriel "King" Rosado with revenge on his mind, following his sole career loss against Rosado two years ago. Although Melikuziev was firmly ahead on the cards prior to getting knocked out by a devilish left hook, he remains determined to secure sweet revenge, even though he is an overwhelming favorite for the upcoming rematch. Rosado, who has only won five of his last 17 fights, says that Melikuziev is underestimating him and is using that as motivation to prove his critics wrong. Oddsmakers are heavily favoring Melikuziev, therefore the ball is in his court to avoid mistakes and prove that he is a better competitor. Despite the hype surrounding the fight, it remains to be seen if Melikuziev will be able to avenge his previous loss against the seasoned veteran Rosado or if Rosado will pull off another upset victory.

Miami Heat’s veteran point guard Kyle Lowry’s (knee) status for Game 3 against Milwaukee remains uncertain. Lowry has dealt with a knee issue for most of the 2022-23 season and is being listed as questionable. He received a questionable tag in the first two contests of the Heat vs. Bucks series and played in both games, although he only saw 18 minutes of action in Game 2. If Lowry suits up in Game 3, expect him to receive a similar workload. In his two postseason appearances this season, Lowry has only averaged 3.5 PPG. He is considered a risky DFS option if he plays. On the other hand, Gabe Vincent, who has been starting in the point guard position, has averaged 15.5 PPG so far in the series. The Heat will have to wait to see if their veteran guard can play in a crucial Game 3 on Saturday.

Javaris Crittenton, former Georgia Tech and NBA player, might be released from prison early, according to sources. Crittenton was sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in shooting Julian Jones in August of 2011. A 2015 plea and sentencing led to a reduced sentence from former DA Paul Howard. Howard's agreement required Crittenton to illustrate he had learned from the incident, prompting him to accept responsibility for his actions and speak to others about avoiding similar paths. However, the current DA, Fani Willis, who at one point had represented Crittenton, has rejected the modified sentence and requested the courts to reinstate the original sentence. Crittenton, presently at Wilcox State Prison, awaits the judge's decision.

Crittenton pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. His sentence was reduced to 20 years that he had already served while awaiting judgment, and he has been instructed to complete 7,200 hours of community service over ten years. Crittenton must also wear a monitoring system for the first five years following his release, and he will have a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. This sentence modification has led to the current DA's protest of the modified sentence, leading to the possibility of a special prosecutor's appointment for the case.

Milwaukee Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo left Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat with a lower back contusion and did not return. The injury occurred in the first quarter after taking a swing pass from Joe Ingles and driving hard to the basket. Kevin Love slid underneath in an attempt to take a charge, resulting in Antetokounmpo crashing hard on his lower back. Although the Bucks ruled the play to be a blocking foul on Love, Antetokounmpo left the game to shoot his free throws, then continued playing for a few more minutes before retreating to the locker room.

The Bucks' power forward checked back into the game with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter, but he only lasted a little over a minute before moving gingerly towards the locker room. Antetokounmpo had to exit the game early before the end of the first half. Budenholzer, the Bucks' head coach, confirmed that x-rays on Antetokounmpo's back contusion came back "clear", but the team will continue to monitor his health.

Moreover, Tyler Herro, the shooting guard for the Miami Heat, will also miss the rest of the game due to a broken right hand. The Bucks won 118-95 against the Miami Heat in the first game of the playoff series. However, with key players' injuries, the rest of Milwaukee's playoff run may be uncertain.

Following a Game 2 blowout loss, Los Angeles Lakers fans took great pleasure in jeering Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks off the court after being ejected for hitting LeBron James in the groin. Brooks had made derogatory comments about his opponent before the game stating that he sees James as "old" and he wouldn't respect him until he scores 40 points. Brooks had a tough night, going 3-of-13 from the field, which prompted the Lakers' game plan to challenge him to shoot.

When reporters quizzed James about Brooks' comments during a Lakers practice session, he refused to get involved in the trash talk, focusing solely on Game 3, which is critical to the rest of the series. However, fans will likely be anticipating what may happen come Saturday night. Will LeBron James give Brooks the satisfaction of a 40-point haul or will he concentrate on leading the Lakers to an important win on home court? The contest, which pits the league's youngest star against its oldest, promised to be intense, featuring two teams with authentic animosity towards each other. So far, the series is still up in the air, played between two teams with no clear identity, with games dominated by players who are experiencing this kind of moment for the first time.

The Miami Heat might be open to trading their All-Star forward, Jimmy Butler, according to a former NBA Executive who spoke to NBA Analysis Network. The Heat, who have made several unsuccessful moves in recent years, have committed a lot of money to Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, but neither player lived up to their expectations.

As a result, the Heat have been struggling, failing to make it to the playoffs this season, and a rebuilding phase may be on the horizon. If the Heat trade Butler, they could receive draft capital and players who line up with the same timeline as Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, two of their younger stars. Butler would have several interested suitors, and the New York Knicks have already been mentioned as a possible destination.

The Heat have not made a final decision on trading Butler, but it is clear that they are open for business, having explored options to trade Kyle Lowry earlier. The offseason will bring more clarity to Miami's direction, with a deep playoff run possibly changing the plan.