On campuses from New England to Southern California, students leading one of the largest protest movements in decades have increasingly strapped on face masks and checkered Palestinian kaffiyehs in a polarizing bid to protect their anonymity even as they demand universities and governments be held to account. (Fandos, The New York Times)
Read MoreThe United Methodist Church is moving to end its longstanding ban on the ordination of gay clergy, following decades of debate over the role of LGBTQ people in the church. (Albert, The Wall Street Journal)
Read MoreThe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is moving toward reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The Justice Department proposal would recognize the medical uses of cannabis, but wouldn’t legalize it for recreational use. The proposal would move marijuana from the “Schedule I” group to the less tightly regulated “Schedule III.” (Peltz & Whitehurst, AP News)
Read MoreIn an orderly morning meeting Tuesday (April 30), a series of rules were dissolved as part of a packet of 106 agenda items with no debate on the floor of the Charlotte Convention Center. They were part of long-awaited motions that over the course of the conference, which concludes on Friday, may result in the nation’s second largest Protestant group officially dropping some, or all, of its LGBTQ restrictions. (Shimron, Religion News Service)
Read MoreThe restriction replaces a 15-week ban that's been in effect since July 2022, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion rights supporters say it will dramatically curb access to the procedure for thousands of residents in Florida and around the South. Proponents of the ban say it "protects life." (Colombini, NPR)
Read MoreAll 31 songs from Swift's 11th studio album made the top 100 plus "Cruel Summer" from "Lover," according to Billboard. This adds to Swift's collection of records. "Tortured Poets" is her 14th chart-topping album, tying her with Jay-Z for the most No. 1s by a solo artist. The Beatles have 19. (West. USA Today)
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