A majority of a New Mexico county commission voted to certify the results of a June 7 primary election after a court order to do so, according to multiple reports.
Why it matters: The vote puts an end to a standoff between state officials that threw election results into question and "set off national alarms about potential election subversion," CNN writes.
Why it matters: The Uvalde police department has faced fierce backlash for its failures in responding to the shooting, which killed 21 people, including 19 children. Officials have since retracted multiple statements and acknowledged that it was the "wrong decision" to keep 19 officers waiting outside the classroom while the shooter remained inside with children who made repeated 911 calls.
A North Carolina judge on Friday posthumously vacated the sentences of civil rights leader Bayard Rustin and three other men who participated in the first of the "freedom rides," according to the AP.
The big picture: The four men — Joe Felmet, Andrew Johnson, Igal Roodenko and Rustin — participated in the first "freedom ride" in 1947, which sought to challenge bus segregation laws.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte's office said that he returned to the state on Friday and was on "a long-planned personal, private trip" to Italy while the state was experiencing historic flooding, according to NBC.
Why it matters: Until Friday, Gianforte's office would not disclose where the governor was despite the flooding for undisclosed security concerns.
Why it matters: Trump's remarks at a gathering of Christian conservatives comes one day after the Jan. 6 select committee laid out the relentless pressure Trump put on Pence to reject electoral votes.
President Biden said Friday that the U.S. does not know where at least three missing Americans are in Ukraine, and stressed that other Americans should not travel to the country during Russia's ongoing, unprovoked invasion.
Driving the news: The Department of State confirmed Thursday that at least three Americans who traveled to Ukraine to assist the country's military effort against Russia have gone missing.
A former congressional candidate in Georgia filed suit on Thursday against Fox News and host Brian Kilmeade, claiming they conspired to help one of his political opponents win the Republican primary for Georgia's 2nd congressional district.
Driving the news: In the lawsuit first reported by WRBL, Wayne Johnson accused Fox News of violating election and campaign finance laws by allowing fellow Republican Jeremy Hunt to appear numerous times on its programs without offering the same benefit to other candidates.
SpaceX fired employees on Thursday who helped write an open letter criticizing CEO Elon Musk's tweets and other recent behavior, according to the New York Times.
Why it matters: Musk is currently attempting to acquire the social media platform Twitter in what he has said is an effort to create a haven for free speech. Musk has repeatedly said that open discussion and debate is necessary for society and democracy to function.
Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro pleaded not guilty to contempt of Congress charges on Friday over his refusal to comply with subpoenas from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, AP reported.
What's next: A federal judge in Washington scheduled Navarro's trial for November.
Iowa's Supreme Court ruled Friday that abortion rights are not protected by the state constitution, a move that paves the way for lawmakers to ban abortions in the state.
Driving the news: "All we hold today is that the Iowa Constitution is not the source of a fundamental right to an abortion necessitating a strict scrutiny standard of review for regulations affecting that right," the court ruled.
In the counties most devastated by this week's historic flooding in and around Yellowstone National Park, only 3% of residents have federal flood insurance, virtually guaranteeing huge losses and long waits for repair money.
Why it matters: Most Americans don't buy flood insurance,even as climate change makes epic catastrophes like the Yellowstone disaster more likely.
As the Supreme Court weighs the fate of Roe v. Wade,advocates and health care providers fear that cutting off access to abortion will lead to more pregnancy-related complications and deaths that disproportionately affect Black people.
Evidence from Mariupol indicates "serious" and "gross violations" of international humanitarian and humans rights laws occurred during the battle for the city and the remaining residents now face a "dire" situation, a top UN official warned Thursday.
Driving the news: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva residents have limited access to basic utilities and services including medical care and "risks of infectious disease, including cholera are being reported" in the Russian-occupied port city.
Why it matters: The House passed the bipartisan legislation on Tuesday, days after a man was charged for attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after police arrested an armed suspect outside his home.
The big picture: Simone Gold was sentenced to two months in jail and one year of supervised release for her role in the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine and $500 restitution.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with Politico Thursday that he raises LGBTQ+ rights in meetings with Saudi officials "invariably, in every conversation," but stood by President Biden's planned July visit to Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters: The kingdom has criminalized same-sex sexual activity, which can carry the death penalty, and sets a range of severe restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights.
A Nebraska man pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening an election official on Instagram in the Justice Department's first conviction under its Election Threats Task Force.
Why it matters: The U.S. saw a spike in threats directed at election workers during and after the 2020 election. These workers left in droves after facing persistent threats of violence and harassment while performing their jobs.
